adia

I am a dancer, choreographer, educator, singer, songwriter, student, lover, fighter, and visionary. I came to New York in 2000 where I founded and continue to artistically direct Ase Dance Theatre Collective. We are based at Embora Wellness Studio in Brooklyn, NY. I'm from the Bay Area (The Suckafree), the WEST of the west, San Francisco, not Oakland...although I do be there like everyday when I'm around the area. I got hella respect for the Town, but black folks from Frisco are a special and dying breed so I try to go dumb and hard for da'SCO in the most positive and politically correct way whenever possible. My family is from South Carolina, so I rep that (803) as well.
Aside from that...
I'm bigger than MYspace and MYbody , smaller than "GOD/DESS/NATURE/DIVINE LAW" or whatever you wanna call it...LOL. I am guided by spirit, inspired by young people, humbled by old people, and rooted in African tradition. Time is my best friend and my worst enemy...And HOME, is where people know my name. Anything more than that means you have probably already experienced me or my work and have your own opinion which, I welcome, challenge, and will most likely act like I don't care about when I really do. Word. Oh, care bears are my shit, twins protect me, cemeteries make me smile, and I HATE bad costumes....But if you need the official biography...
EMBORA WELLNESS STUDIO (Short Documentary)
SCOURGE (Short Documentary)
DRAINS, DOORS, & LOTUS FLOWERS
ase dance theatre collective 2007 promo
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ASE DANCE THEATRE COLLECTIVE 2003-2005
ADIA TAMAR WHITAKER, artistic director of Ase Dance Theatre Collective, graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Dance. Ms. Whitaker is a former member of Group Petite La Croix and has performed Afro-Haitian dance in the U.S. and abroad for 13 years. Adia completed the Professional Division U.S. Independent Studies Program at the Ailey School (2001), was Choreoquest Resident Artist @ Restoration Dance Theater (2004), a Ford Foundation Special Initiative for Africa Grant Recipient (2004), an Urban Bush Women Apprentice (2005), and a Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography @ FSU Creative Entry Point Choreographic Fellow (2006). She was also a co-choreographer and touring cast member of “Scourge”, a choreopoem written by Marc Bamuthi Joseph, featuring choreography by Rennie Harris and Stacey Printz. “Scourge” toured in the U.S. and abroad for two years. Most recently, Adia became a 2007 BAC Re-Grant Recipient.
Adia’s work has been featured (Off-Broadway) in the International Dance Festival (2002), Oberon’s Macbeth (2008), and several other national and international dance festivals. These include The African Caribbean Concert at FAMU and TCC, (Tallahassee, FLA 2008), The Living Word Festival at Dance Mission (San Francisco, CA 2007), Summer of Love at The Whitney (NYC 2007), V-Day at the BMA (NYC 2007), Spring Dance Festival @ Stadsschouwburg (Utrecht, Holland 2007) & Lantern Venster (Rotterdam, Holland 2007), Festival De Liege (Liege, Belgium 2007), Festival De Les Pyrenees (France, Spain, & Germany 2002), E-Moves at Aaron Davis Hall (NYC 2006), and the IABD Dance Conference at Symphony Space (NYC 2006).
Adia has also been presented by Arts Connection (2006 &2007), Thelma Hill Performing Arts (2002 & 2005), Dancing in the Streets (2002-2007), NYC Hip Hop Theater Festival (2005-2007), Community Works (2005-2008), The Kitchen (2004) and The Schomburg Center (2003-2005). Ms. Whitaker’s full-length work includes;
Shugaculuwata (2004) A 90-minute multi-media dance theater piece that discovers the mirror between Hip Hop Culture and Vodou.
The Truth About Medusa (2008) A 90-minute multi-media dance theater piece that investigates the African origin and mythology of Medusa.