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By Ariyan Johnson “When rap aesthetics and hip hop style are embraced, the acquiescence implicit in the ascribed ‘place’ of the female is often contested by the signifier of rebellious youth.”  Halifu Osumare Why do discussions of Hip Hop dance and its major contributors seldom acknowledge the role of African American women? As with many …

DANCING GODDESSES: African American Women Hip Hop Dancers – Cultural Contributors Read More »

Ariyan Johnson (right) on set on “Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop and the Church.” Director of Photography Leslie Saltus Evans, sets up an outside shot with Victor Lewis, a dancer for Philadanco. By Jezebel Ramirez-Robles and Lauren Knight Professor Ariyan Johnson is a multidisciplinary artist with a rich background in dancing, choreographing, acting, producing, and directing, …

Ariyan Johnson Brings Innovation and Passion to UCI Dance Read More »

SOURCE: https://www.blurb.com/books/10771673-spring-summer-2021-issue

Image: Ariyan Johnson’s Grand Prize Winner project, “Spiritual Cyphers: A Hip Hop Movement. / Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop and the Church (series 1)”.   Since its founding in 2017, the Institute for 21st Century Creativity (21C) has sought to cultivate experimental and arts-based research to innovate and challenge creativity for this century and beyond. With …

21C Supports Faculty and Graduate Student Creative Research in the Arts Read More »

Ariyan becomes newest Faculty member at University of California, Irvine. She follows in the footsteps of Artists who also “Professor” like Spike Lee, Oprah Winfrey, Esperanza Spalding, Tyra Banks and James Franco.

Ariyan Johnson received the grant from Pasadena Cultural Affairs and Commission for the March 2020 ArtNight concerning her interactive work – an African Diaspora theatrical presentation.

In January 2020, the Film Forum honoring Black Women: TrailBlazing African American Actresses and Images in Films and Ariyan Johnson was among great actresses like Pam Grier to be recognized for her work in the film Just Another Girl on the I.R.T.