Stage Lighting Fellowship

We are pleased to announce our Stage Lighting Tech Fellows for Women of African Descent!

These 8 fellows will study and apprentice the art and skill of theater lighting.

We are honored to be able to provide this opportunity to create equip the Arts Industry with more professionals of African descent. This fellowship is presented in collaboration with Dance Mission and, Black Choreographers Festival, and is made possible with support from Center for Cultural Innovation and our individual donors.

2019 Fellows

Tanika Baptiste is a producer, actor, vocalist and entrepreneur. “The stage is my happy place”.

Tracy Baxter is an Oakland-based writer who will sing, dance, or act at the drop of a hat. She's performed with Theater of Others and Ninjaz of Drama in San Francisco. A new playwright whose very first work, KUDZU 2012, was a 2016 Bay Area Playwrights Foundation festival semifinalist, she's now exploring the worlds of stage directing and lighting design.

Niki Brown is an Oakland-based drummer, dancer and performance artist who loves to explore rhythm through many avenues of creativity and exploration.

Destiny Evans is a black, non-binary androgynous, femme. Their work is rooted in telling the stories and prioritizing the work/healing of queer and trans black folks.

Kimberly Harvey-Scott’s passion for eclectic dance began at age eight. Her career started and excelled with Diamano Coura West African Dance Company in 2006. With this, she has been able to spread her message and volunteers her time and talent to Berkeley High students since 2008, as Stage Manager, counselor, and teaching

Shaunnah Ray is an Oakland native who is committed to applying her passion for the performing arts and expression to perpetuate activism in her communities. As a means to nurture her own creative outlets Shaunnah has found and is pursuing a growing interest interest in lighting design, a craft that she has been exploring at EastSide Cultural Center through EastSide’s Live Arts and Resistance Theater programming.

Tyler Musgrave is a futurist and activist who believes that all that is beautiful in this world is illuminated.

Saoirse Weaver is a 23 year old from San Francisco with a background in Art and Design. In her spare time she likes to read & make jewelry. movement and choreography.

About the fellowship

The Stage Lighting Tech Fellow is mentored and trained by Dance Mission Theater’s in-house Technical Director, Harry Rubeck in introductory and intermediate basics of stage lighting production. The Stage Lighting Tech Fellowship has emerged from years of conversations between Black Choreographers Festival, Dance Mission, and Afro Urban Society about what would better our field. Our collaborating team is passionate about expanding the opportunities for womxn and people of color in stage production, and is committed to creating accessible, professional, and relevant skill sets that live up to our high standards of production.

Who it’s for

The fellowship is open to all people of African descent. Priority will be given to Black womxn-identified and gender non-binary peoples.

What you get

• A $500 stipend upon successful completion and attendance of all sessions

• Free professional training

• Paid opportunities to work future shows at Dance Mission including Black Choreographers Festival and the Choreographers Showcase

• Ability to attend shows free of charge at Dance Mission Theater during the time of the fellowship (dependent on ticket availability)

• Professional referrals to other venues throughout the Bay Area

How to Apply

APPLICATION CLOSED FOR THIS ROUND