About

Karar Dance Company exists to provide professional contemporary dance performance, education, and development opportunities to audiences and artists locally, nationally, and internationally. Karar’s work extends beyond the stage, educating young dancers through classes, workshops, and intensives, and providing them direct access to dance field professionals.

Since the company’s inception in 2016, Karar has grown into a collaborative conduit, providing a platform for artists from multiple disciplines to showcase their work. Collaborative artists include costume designers Damion Bond and Karl Green, lighting designer Weston Corey, musician Ryan Davis, lighting designer Michael Jarett, visual artist Katy Pumphrey, scenic designer of Crux Scenica, and videographer Torian Ugworji.

Recently, the company has presented Shapeshifter at the Red Rock Dance Festival in St. George Utah and the second installment of INFORMAL at the Gottwald Playhouse at the Dominion Energy Center. Karar was thrilled to also host the second annual Summer Workshop this past July 2023.

Karar returned to the stage post pandemic with INFORMAL. A presentation of dance in its purest form. No lights. No costumes. Audiences were involved in the choreographic process through open dialogue and choreographic demonstrations. The company premiered three new works; “Wave and Flight”, “Pass”, and “Dead Weight”. Karar hosted the River City Dance Film Festival featuring dance films from artists throughout the country and premiered their own “Symphonic Variations”.

The company has presented work for the 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 Richmond Dance Festivals hosted by Dogtown Dance Theatre. Karar presented their first evening length work Circadian as part of the 2019 Dogtown Presenter’s Series, drawing inspiration from Fan Ho’s collection of photographs entitled “Hong Kong Yesterday”. In 2018, the company performed at the First Annual Artist Showcase co-hosted by Harper Continuum Dance Theatre and the Barns of Kanak in Prince George, Virginia. Across Disciplines was included as part of artoberVA 2018 and comprised of collaborative works, promoting the community of artists who call Richmond home. The company presented their inaugural concert in April 2017 at the Grace Street Theatre in the heart of Richmond. In March 2020, Karar presented Affected as part of “Boundless” hosted by the Vanessa Long Dance Company in Philadelphia. The company also presented Affected at the 2019 Small Plates Choreography Festival in Lorton, Virginia. New York performances include for the American Dance Guild Festival and Newburgh Illuminated Festival.

Karar Dance Company continued to provide opportunities in 2020 and 2021 amidst the cancellation of scheduled programs and events due to COVID-19.  Karar was expecting to perform in Charlottesville and audition new dancers to expand their company dancer roster for ongoing projects.  The inaugural EXPAND Summer Workshop was scheduled for August 2020.  As a response to these canceled events, the company cultivated safe opportunities for dancers and audiences to both see and experience modern dance.

The company participated in the 2020 virtual Take Up Space Festival.  ACTIVATE took place outdoors and socially-distanced at Maymont Park.  In October 2020, Karar presented an evening of dance hosted by Brambly Park as part of artoberVA.  Affected was selected for the virtual “Take Up Space” festival in December 2020 hosted by Chicago companies Moonwater Dance and Peckish Rhodes Society.

Partially supported by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts, Kara released the Interview Series which highlights the careers and experiences of working dance professionals Ryan Davis (musician and educator), Jonathan Hsu (dance media pro and educator), and Becky Ferrell (Director of Programs at DanceUSA). The Interview Series has formed into an annual program and enters its third season this Fall.

The company’s education programming has included the 2023 Winter Workshop, 2022 Summer Workshop, ACTIVATE 2020 outdoor workshop, 2020 Winter Workshop MOVE, a 4-day residency at the Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Salem High School in Virginia Beach, and 2019 workshop series featuring guest artist instructors Taylor Raley, Aria Roach, and Robert Rubama.

The Young Dancer Mentorship program enters its second year in 2023 and was supported in 2022 by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation. Karar hosts the first annual Summer Workshop this Summer and weekly modern dance classes begin in Fall of 2022. Dance film, “Symphonic Variations”, premieres for the River City Dance Film Festival. The company is currently in the studio creating new work in preparation for performances in Tennessee and Chicago as well as for the company’s first Informal Performance in June 2022.

Karar Dance Company was named an “upcoming company” by RVA Magazine following their performance in the 6th Annual Richmond Dance Festival.  The company has received attention by CultureWorks Richmond, Virginia this Morning on Channel 6, VCU Alumni in spotlight feature including article “Refined movement”, and Broadway World.