Centering the Artist Series presents Deaf/Disabled Access as Artistic Practice: DeafDisabled Leadership and Well-Being in Dance
Centering the Artist is Dance/USA's public learning series, which advances well-being in the arts through artist-driven dialogue, reflection, and collective inquiry.
More About the Series:
Continuing Dance/USA’s programming for and about independent artists, this series of critical conversations will bring together artists from diverse backgrounds to share and reflect on their journeys in dance, their artistic work, and their practice around wellness. Guided by the artists’ experience and interests, these conversations center storytelling and invite deep listening and collective learning. Exploring these and other issues, this series of programs will offer a learning journey, with moderated and unmoderated conversations, opportunities for attendee participation, and curated readings. Thank you to the Wallace Foundation for their partnership in presenting this series in 2026.
More About the Conversation:
Meet Your Panelists
Oakland native Antoine Hunter, aka PurpleFireCrow, is an award-winning, internationally known Black, Indigenous, Deaf, and Disabled choreographer, dancer, actor, instructor, speaker, producer, and Deaf advocate. Hunter creates opportunities for Disabled, Deaf, and hearing artists; produces Deaf-friendly events; and founded the Urban Jazz Dance Company in 2007 and the Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival (BAIDDF) in 2013. Awards include the 2022 Disability Futures Fellowship, 2021 Dance Teacher Award, 2019 National Dance/USA Fellowship recognized by the Mayor of Oakland, 2018 inaugural Jeanette Lomujo Bremond Humanity Arts Award, and the 2017 Isadora Duncan (Izzie) for BAIDDF. In response to COVID-19 in July 2020, Hunter founded #DeafWoke, an online talk show that amplifies BIPOC Deaf and Disabled stories as a force for cultural change.
Fred Michael Beam is an American deaf performing and visual artist known for his work as a dancer, actor, choreographer, director, educator, DASL, poet , historian and advocate for Deaf culture. He was one of the founders of The Wild Zappers, all deaf male dance company and established Invisible Hands International,Inc., which promoted Deaf awareness thru performing arts. This past year, He was selected to perform at Super Bowl LX.
Brandy R. Mimms is a DeafBlind dancer, choreographer, educator, and founder of Listen With Your Eyes Dance Troupe. She holds an MFA in Choreography and creates inclusive performance spaces for Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard-of-Hearing, and hearing artists. Her work centers accessibility, sensory diversity, and leadership in Deaf arts communities.
A San Francisco native and Deaf from birth, Ms Zahna is a professional dancer, choreographer, chemist, and Deaf advocate and access consultant. Simon received a BS/BFA in Chemistry and Dance at UCI. Ms Zahna is the Assistant Director for Urban Jazz Dance Company and the Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival and a full time office manager at a Professional Fiduciary Office. She has been featured in KPBS TV, CBS Bay Sunday, Dance Magazine, Dance Teacher Magazine and Ikouii Creative’s Book, IN THE STUDIO, published on Stance on Dance and was a Deaf Editor for Sins Invalid Disability Justice Primer.