EMERGE125

EMERGE125 is a Black female-led dance company that expands the reach and impact of dance through creation, performance, and education. Through a body of expressive, athletic modern dance work, EMERGE125 explores social dynamics and personal identity, illuminates and challenges systemic inequities, and inspires reflection and connection. We believe that dance can serve as a uniting force across differences in age, race, class, and more.

EMERGE125 has been led by celebrated choreographer Tiffany Rea-Fisher since 2016. Based in Harlem, EMERGE125 has a strong education program, tours nationwide, and shares virtual content globally.

By performing in traditional, multidisciplinary and non-arts spaces, as well as engaging in cross-disciplinary collaborations, we reach beyond traditional dance audiences—we attract audiences who like to be surprised, challenged, and in dialogue with art of all kinds. Our youth dance education programs—serving K-12 students as well as pre- and early-career professionals—cultivate these same values in the artists and audiences of the future.

Website: www.emerge125.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emerge125

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emerge125/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@emerge125

YouTube/Vimeo: www.youtube.com/@emerge125dance

Lesar Stepputat and Cameron McKinney

Lesar Stepputat aka Lesar Junior is a force rooted in the soul of house dance — a culture he has dedicated his life to preserving, evolving, and sharing. His influences from capoeira, hip hop, and contemporary dance have shaped a versatile artistic voice that moves fluidly across styles and disciplines. Deeply embedded in the NYC club scene, he believes house culture has the power to unite people of all walks of life. Beginning his training in Paris in 2009, his journey led him through California and into New York City in 2021, where he currently works with Kizuna Dance Company while developing his own work as a choreographer and teacher. He has collaborated with Embodiment Project, Botega (Italy), and artists like DJ Tony Touch and Two Lee from Nervous Records, teaching workshops internationally in Berlin, Budapest, Amsterdam, Beijing, Melbourne, Strasbourg and more. A dedicated community builder, he has hosted weekly house sessions for over 8 years and won top positions at battles including Summer Dance Forever, Step Ya Game Up, La Mera Mera Conexión Housera, Osaka Get Down, and more.

With more than 20 years of Japanese language study, Cameron McKinney founded Kizuna Dance to create dance works that connect the American and Japanese cultures. He was recently named a U.S.-Japan Foundation 2026-27 First Year Delegate alongside other emerging leaders building relations between the two countries. He was also named a 2019-20 U.S.-Japan Friendship Commission Creative Artist Fellow to collaborate with renowned Japanese choreographer Toru Shimazaki and present work in Japan. He has also been a Choreography Fellow at The School at Jacob’s Pillow, a Hearst Choreographer-in-Residence at Princeton University, an Alvin Ailey Foundation New Directions Choreography Lab Fellow, an Asian Cultural Council Individual Grantee, and a NYFA Choreography Fellowship Finalist. His work has been supported by the MidAtlantic Arts Foundation, the New York City Artists Corps, Brooklyn Arts Council, and the Rader Young Artists Foundation. Through Kizuna Dance, Cameron has also presented work and taught in over twenty states and in Mexico, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Japan, France, and the UK. In 2020, Cameron performed his original choreography alongside Sayo Homma (Dance Barbizon) in Tokyo, Japan in the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence. He has received over 30 commissions from institutions across the U.S. and abroad, and is currently on faculty at NYU Tisch. 

Instagram: Cameron (@kizunadance), Lesar @lesarjunior

Ballet Inc.

Ballet Inc. was founded in 2012 by Executive Artistic Director Aaron Atkins. Ballet Inc. provides a platform to artists regardless of race, ethnicity, body type, or traditional ballet ‘limitations’. Since its founding in 2017, Ballet Inc. has been awarded the Multicultural Award of Excellence by the state of New York for its mission.

Critically acclaimed nationally and internationally as: “Hard-hitting…Powerful..Beautiful..” – Broadway World Dance –
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Ballet Inc. annually reaches global audiences and patrons of the arts through festival appearances, national touring engagements, NC & NYC Home Season Programs, SpringWorks, Summerworks, and Fall Works.
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In addition, Ballet Inc. annually reaches nearly 3,000 underserved youth throughout Mr. Atkins’ hometown of Lancaster, SC, in partnership with the Lancaster County School District through Ballet Inc.’s ‘667-Miles Away’ Program, presenting innovative performances and workshops that engage the youth of today and the leaders of tomorrow.

Website: www.balletincnow.org

Facebook: Balletinc

Instagram: Balletinc

YouTube/Vimeo: Balletinc