Sarita Smith Childs, a native of Chicago's West Side is a Choreographer and Master Instructor infusing Graham and Horton based modern influences with Jazz and West African Foundations to create contemporary works. She received her B.A. in Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College, NY. Her work has been commissioned by Grammy nominated Blues Harpist, Billy Branch; Blues and Folk Fiddler Anne Harris; Joffrey Ballet Community Engagement; Visceral Dance Chicago and Grayscale Dance – Los Angeles. She is currently a Company Class Instructor for Inaside Chicago Dance; on faculty at the Academy of Movement and Music; a Guest Teaching Artist for Joffrey Ballet Community Engagement; Guest Faculty, Extensions Dance Company; former Contemporary Faculty, Visceral Dance Chicago; and a Lecturer/ Instructor of Dance at Loyola University Chicago. Sarita is a recipient of the Ruth Page Award for Dance Performance and the Black Theater Alliance Ira Aldridge Award for Best Performance; and a 2019 & 2016 Nominee for the 3Arts Chicago Award for Choreography. A 2017 Chicago United Business Leader of Color Nominee, she currently is the Strategic Advisor for Para.Mar Dance Theatre and sits on the Board of Directors of the Oak Park Area Arts Council; Roosevelt University Chicago College of the Performing Arts; Chicago Dancers United; and the Chicago Dance History Project.
Performer: Alicia Delgadillo performs courtesy of Para.Mar Dance Theatre (https://www.paramardance.com/)