I teach dance in our Colorado State Prisons under the prison arts program I started, The Sky Inside.
I and am currently working on a live dance performance, Been to the River; River Been to Me, with those who are incarcerated. It is slated to be performed at Limon Correctional Facility in summer 2025.
Before starting my own prison arts program, I worked with The Prison Arts Initiative at The University of Denver (DU PAI). While working at DU PAI, I guided the choreographic process for the performance, If Light Closed Its Eyes, which was directed by Ashley Hamilton.
Here are two trailers for If Light that took place at Sterling Correctional Facility in the summer of 2022:
Click here for Trailer #1.
Click here for Trailer #2.
The Dance Team rehearsing for IF LIGHT closed its eyes. Images by Drummond West.
On November 21st, 2020, DU PAI and the Colorado Department of Corrections presented a virtual showcase, A/LIVE INSIDE, featuring the art work of those who are currently incarcerated in our state, including the dance team mentioned and seen above.
In December, 2020 A/LIVE INSIDE was presented with a 2020 True West Award.
Click here to see a trailer for A/LIVE INSIDE.
The A/LIVE INSIDE film crew included: Director of Photography and Camera Operator: MeiLi Smith. Camera Operator: Stephan Anderson. Editor: MeiLi Smith. Assistant Editor: Stephan Anderson. Assistant to film crew: Angel Lopez.