by Barbara Smith

Storytelling through dance has the power to educate and inspire, and even more, to move to action. As part of California’s coordinated response to a nationwide increase in hate, the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), alongside state and community partners, has initiated programs in concert with CA vs Hate legislation, launched in 2023, reaching out to communities to find innovative and creative ways to provide services to combat hate.

San Bernardino’s Precinct Reporter Group has taken on the challenge, producing a series of interactive concerts, bringing together diverse communities in a celebration of the universal language of dance. The series opened last November with a performance at San Bernardino Valley College and a second at Santa Ana College. The third and final concert in the series is set for Friday, September 6, at Cal State Dominguez Hills at the University Theatre. With executive producer Brian Townsend, Publisher, Precinct Reporter Group and under the capable leadership of Project Director Kathryn Ervin, Theatre Arts emeritus professor, Cal State San Bernardino, and Associate Producer Maura Townsend, Choreographer/Educator/Dancer, Maura Townsend Dance Project, audiences can share in an evening of thought-provoking, uplifting and exhilarating talent.

The concert features a confluence of choreographers and dancers, who are passionate about their art as a means to connect with their audience and build bridges. The program, which is FREE, will present Dance, Visual Art, Spoken Word and Music. Selections will address differences in race, gender identity, religion and more. Audience members will have the opportunity to share personal experiences, giving them a voice and an opportunity to be heard.

Kybele Dance Theater

According to Project Director Kathryn Ervin, a main objective is to showcase the artist’s role in educating the community about the trauma that hate is creating in our communities and to underline the importance of taking action through the services provided by the state. “Art has a way of engaging the audiences, of cutting to the chase,” she says. “This is a passion project to get that conversation going and reveal a path forward.”

The 90-minute program is narrated by Actor/Director/Personal Mediator Ron Berglas, and Filmmaker/Performer/Writer Joyce Lee, who serve as storytellers, sharing information between pieces to build awareness of what hate crimes are and resources that are available for reporting and receiving help.

Among the performers are Maura Townsend Dance Project, which incorporates an eclectic blend of Modern, Ballet, Jazz, and West African dance; Kybele Dance Theater, under the direction of Seda Aybay, a company that infuses theatrical and contemporary dance with Turkish socio-cultural narratives and imagery; FUSE Dance Company, led by Artistic Director Joshua Estrada-Romero,  a group that merges contemporary dance with other movement practices;  BrockusRED, led by Deborah Brockus, a highly energetic, edgy and innovative company that has toured internationally; and southern California-based soulful vocalist William Lacey.

Each performance reflects the artist’s/choreographer’s personal story experiencing and overcoming hate and/or trauma. While such experiences are difficult to navigate, in the hands of these consummate performers, each piece is expressed in a deeply poetic way and the stories resonate deeply with audiences, allowing them to see others and know they are not alone.

“The arts act as a bridge between cultures,” says Associate Director Maura Townsend. “Bringing in dancers of different backgrounds, cultures, different gender identities is a way of opening the door of communication. The arts have been bringing about change for years,” she says, “in fact centuries. This is our time and we’re using our platform so that communities can have a dialogue, break down walls and build bridges to better understanding.”

For further information on the Precinct Reporter Group “Stop the Hate” project, visit www.precinctreporter.com or phone (909) 889-0597.

This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to https://www.cavshate.org/.