Katharine Pettit Creative – KPC is partnering with the Black Mental Health Alliance to curate “Transcend, Uplifting Their Voices,” a virtual dance-centered concert that will elevate Black Trans, Non-Gender Conforming, and Queer Youth mental health resources Wednesday, July 14th, 2021, 6pm.

In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, KPC wanted to contribute and continue our work with the Black Lives Matter movement. When we discussed it as a company, we decided the most impactful way would be to elevate Black and Brown dance makers and raise funds and resources for young people who identify as Black Trans, Non-Gender Conforming, and Queer who are pursuing a career in dance.

The BMHA has an awesome group of young poets, “Do More, Be More,” that will be sharing their spoken word in between dance pieces during this two-hour concert. We’ll be featuring 6 Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA led dance companies/Choreographers who will have the chance to share their work.

We’ve also curated a panel of dance educators, creators, and wellness workers to offer context for our audience and artists as we aim to decolonize dance through discussion and a moderated Q&A as an intermission between dance acts one and two.

Each company/choreographer who is a part is offering their time and resources in some way to the scholarship package we’re putting together for the Black Trans young people pursuing a career in dance. We’re raising funds and offering resources within the community of dance organizations, companies and choreographers that are a part of the event. Examples include, but aren’t limited to, one on one facetime advising session(s), partaking in company rehearsals or classes (pro bono), interning with the company, any foothold that will allow these scholarship awardees opportunities to elevate their goals in the field of dance.

We’ll be opening applications for the scholarship to anyone high school or college-age at the beginning of May 2021. We aim to make this an annual event to continue to raise funds and resources for the Black LGBTQIA community.

For more information about Transcend, Uplifting Their Voices, visit https://www.katharinepettitcreative.com/