NEWS
THIS JUST IN! I am happy to announce I will be going to Ireland…
I am happy to announce I will be going to Ireland for the screening of ‘Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop and the Church.’ Droppin Science Screening – FLYER
Just Another Girl on the IRT is a part of the centennial Installation of “YOU ARE HERE”
The exhibition “This Is New York: 100 Years of the City in Art and Pop Culture” is displayed on a 16-screen immersive experience that features clips from 400+ movies set in New York City at the Museum of the City of New York. My work representing Brooklyn can be viewed until July 2024!
The Masters in Applied Theatre Racial Justice Conference 2024
Series Opener: The screening of Spiritual Cyphers Hip Hop and the Church
Special Invitation: Community Engagement for Judge Songhai Armstead.
“I was so honored to be invited and spend time with the honoree and engage with fellow community artists and arts organizations.” Ariyan Johnson
Conferences: A Difficult Conversation Recounted
Dance Studies Association – October 13-16, 2022 and National Dance Education Organization – October 28-31, 2022.
Published Article in Book: Dance in Popular Culture
Article: Popular Dance Cultural Masters by Ariyan Johnson
50th Anniversary Celebration with Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop and the Church
Screening and talk – August 2023
Invited to Share My Research at the Global Hip Hop Studies Special Edition
The inaugural session for Breaking and the Olympics Speaker Series. Several Hip Hop Educators and Practitioners discussed their research in Global Hip Hop Studies. Fellow presenters: Rockafella, Kwikstep, and Ariyan Johnson. Q&A followed.
Historic Screening of Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop and the Church at the TLC Mann Chinese Theatre
In the picture from left to right Dona Thomas, Michele O’Quinn, Ariyan Johnson, Nicol Howard, Tanya Robertson, and Erin Banks
Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop and the Church at TCL Chinese Theatre
TCL Chinese Theatre 896 reviews 6925 Hollywood Blvd Hollywood, CA 90028 Wednesday, Jun 28, 4:30 am What/Why: Actress, dancer, choreographer, and first-time documentary film director, Ariyan Johnson shares her personal journey about the struggles and triumphs of her two conflicting loves: Hip Hop and the Church in this first installment of her docuseries Spiritual Cyphers: […]
LA Hip Hop Events: Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop and the Church
Actress, dancer, choreographer, and first-time documentary film director, Ariyan Johnson shares her personal journey about the struggles and triumphs of her two conflicting loves: Hip Hop and the Church in this first installment of her docuseries Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop and the Church, which will have its Los Angeles debut celebrating this year’s 50th Anniversary […]
LA Times: ‘Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop and the Church’
Dances With Films is underway and this upcoming screening is one you won’t want to miss. Dancer and choreographer Ariyan Johnson documents her conflicting faith and passion in “Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop and the Church.” Her documentary includes interviews with pastors, historians and female dancers about the role of hip-hop in the Black Christian church. […]
BED-STUY LIVES
Honored by the NYC Cultural Affairs, The Office of Council Member Osse 36th District, Bridge Street Development Corporation, The Laundromat Project through the Bed-Stuy Create & Connect Fund, and the Brooklyn Arts Council in a recognition of “BED-STUY LIVES”.
Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop and the Church Press: COVER STORY for OUR WEEKLY
From the sanctuary to the hip hop soundstage Erin Herriford June 21, 2023 . 4:35 PM Ariyan Johnson journey to self discovery June is a month full of celebrations, including Juneteenth, Father’s Day, Pride, and graduation. For the past 44 years June is also recognized as Black Music Month, originally established by President Jimmy Carter […]
LA Dance Chronicle: Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop + The Church
The Dances with Films Festival, despite its name, isn’t all dance films, but some are, including dancer/choreographer Ariyan Johnson‘s directorial debut in Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop + The Church screening with three other short films at TCL Chinese 6, Hollywood & Highland, Hollywood; Wed., June 28, 4:45 pm, $19 pre-sale to June 21. The festival runs June 22 to July 3. A complete […]
Cultural Daily: Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop + The Church
The Dances with Films Festival, despite its name, isn’t all dance films, but some are, including dancer/choreographer Ariyan Johnson‘s directorial debut in Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop + The Church screening with three other short films at TCL Chinese 6, Hollywood & Highland, Hollywood; Wed., June 28, 4:45 pm, $19 pre-sale to June 21. The festival runs June 22 to July […]
Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. on TCM
Turner Classic Movies Juneteenth episode with Jacqueline Stewart featuring Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. – filmmaker Joie Lee discusses the work with host, Ms. Stewart. WATCH HERE: https://www.facebook.com/tcmtv/videos/222774400599481/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v
Do LA: Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop and the Church
Actress, dancer, choreographer, and first-time documentary film director, Ariyan Johnson shares her personal journey about the struggles and triumphs of her two conflicting loves: Hip Hop and the Church in this first installment of her docuseries Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop and the Church, which will have its Los Angeles debut celebrating this year’s 50th Anniversary […]
Beverly Press: Hip hop and the church explored in new documentary
Actress, dancer, choreographer, and first-time documentary film director, Ariyan Johnson shares her personal journey about the struggles and triumphs of her two conflicting loves: hip hop and the church in this first installment of her docuseries “Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop and the Church,” which will have its Los Angeles debut celebrating this year’s 50th Anniversary […]
BKLYN Premiere of Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop and the Church
BKLYN Premiere of Spiritual Cyphers: Hip Hop and the Church at the Historic Billie Holiday Theatre in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn. Cast and Crew from Left to right: Leslie Saltus-Evans, Dr. Kathleen Turner, Cetra Dance, Ariyan Johnson, Joy Rushiel, Suncerae Clark Fredericks, and Rev. Shaun Lee The Talk photo:
Article in GLOBAL HIP HOP STUDIES JOURNAL
Special Issue BREAKING AND THE OLYMPICS Article: The Overlooked Contributions of African American Women Hip Hop Dancers to Breaking and Hip Hop Culture by Ariyan Johnson
LA Stage Insider
Raven Wilkinson was an American dancer who is credited with having been the first African American woman to dance for a major classical ballet company. Wilkinson broke the color barrier in 1955 when she signed a contract to dance full-time with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Born on Feb 2, 1935, she passed away on […]
Celebrating the Late Ballerina Raven Wilkinson for her Greatness
At 4:00 pm on March 19, 2023, the Ebell Club Los Angeles will host a celebration of the life and legacy of world-renowned ballerina Raven Wilkinson. The memorial event will be presented by Robyn Gardenhire, former ballerina and Founder and Artistic Director of City Ballet of Los Angeles, and Ariyan Johnson, UCI Dance Historian and […]
Within her delicacy, strength: Raven Wilkinson appreciated
Raven Wilkinson (1935-2018) broke as rigid a color barrier as could be found in the mid-fifties, when she was hired, in 1955, to join the all-white corps de ballet of Sergei Denham’s Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She went on to dance with the Dutch National Ballet as a soloist, and (similar to Janet Collins, […]
PRESENTATION at the WILSHIRE EBELL THEATRE
Ariyan Johnson was invited as a Dance Historian to research, speak, and coordinate the March 19, 2023, event at the Ebell Club of Los Angeles called Celebrating the Life of Raven Wilkinson. Robyn Gardenhire the founder and artistic director of City Ballet of Los Angeles invited me to speak about the legacy of Ms. Raven Wilkinson, the first […]
Ballet pioneer Raven Wilkinson to be celebrated at Ebell
Wave Production March 16, 2023 By Shirley Hawkins, Contributing Writer LOS ANGELES — The life and legacy of Raven Wilkinson — the first African-American woman to dance for a major classical dance company — will be celebrated from 4 to 7 p.m. March 19 at the Ebell Theatre with a tribute performance. The performance will include […]
Performance celebrates life of renowned Black ballerina in LA
LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS By Allyson Vergara | avergara@scng.com PUBLISHED: March 16, 2023 A Sunday, March 19 performance by dance students at The Ebell Club Los Angeles will celebrate and pay tribute to a pioneer in the ballet world. Raven Wilkinson was the first African American woman to dance full-time for a major classical ballet […]
Remembering Pioneering Black Ballerina Raven Wilkinson
Calling all balletomanes! Mark your calendars for March 19, when the late American dancer Raven Wilkinson — she’s credited with being the first African American woman to dance for a major classical ballet company — will be celebrated in a talk and performance program led by Robyn Gardenhire and Ariyan Johnson. Gardenhire, the founder and […]
BISHOP KENNETH C. ULMER: Historic Pastor Retires
Benediction is a piece that was commissioned to return to its original installation after twenty years. The piece was choreographed, styled, and performed by Ariyan Johnson. The conceptual cornerstone for the updated rendition took place February 12, 2023, in Inglewood, California in front of a 2500-packed house. Link to Post: https://vimeo.com/802507619
A Difficult Conversation Recounted: Working Together Creatively
At the California Dance Education Association (CDEA) Conference in Fullerton, California called, “Finding Common Ground: in Movement, Policy, and the Creative Process”.
UCI: Ariyan Johnson teaches hip hop, jazz and healing to her dance students
A Revelation By Christine Byrd Ariyan Johnson is used to being ahead of the curve. First as a pioneer of East Coast hip hop and as an actor and, since coming to UCI in 2020, as a scholar, too. This year, she is one of seven UCI junior faculty to be named a 2022-23 Hellman […]
CUNY Dance Initiative Residency: Ariyan Johnson / D.I.M.A.B.A.
2022-23 | Queensborough Community College | The CUNY Dance Initiative (CDI) is a transformative incubator that secures two vital yet scarce resources—rehearsal time and performance space—for New York City choreographers and dance companies across the five boroughs. Housed within the City University of New York (CUNY)–the nation’s largest public urban university system–CDI is a residency program […]
Seven UCI faculty members named Hellman Fellows for 2022-23
Program supports research by assistant professors July 8, 2022 UCI’s 2022-23 Hellman Fellows, from upper left, clockwise: Ariyan Johnson, Katherine Thompson-Peer, Benis Egoh, Xiaoyu Shi, Yanning Shen, Nadia Chernyak and Samar Al-Bulushi. Irvine, Calif., July 8, 2022 — Seven assistant professors at UCI will receive Hellman Fellowships, which are bestowed annually to support research by junior […]
46th Newark Black Film Festival Preview
Saturday, July 16, 4:30pm–6:30pm – Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. Long Documentary | Directed by Leslie Harris. (92 min). R. A spirited Brooklyn teenager copes with the challenges of life, sustained by her fierce desire to go to college and become a doctor. Join us for this throwback screening of an underrated classic on its 30th anniversary. Screening will be followed […]
“Have I Mentioned I’m Working on a Sequel?” Leslie Harris on Her Groundbreaking 1993 Film Just Another Girl on the I.R.T.
In 1993, director Leslie Harris had an enormous breakthrough. Her debut feature Just Another Girl on the I.R.T., a coming of age story about a Black teenager named Chantel (Ariyan A. Johnson) who becomes unexpectedly pregnant, premiered at Sundance to overwhelming critical acclaim. The film won the festival’s special jury prize and was picked up by […]
Film: A Difficult Conversation
The link to the performance for ‘A Difficult Conversation’: https://www.arts.uci.edu/event/dance-visions-2022 Dance Visions 2022 ONLINE Molly Lynch and Tong Wang, artistic directors Filmed Live On-Stage at Irvine Barclay Theatre Live Streaming: March 10-12, 2022 On-Demand: March 10-26, 2022 ONLINE The in-person performances for this event, originally scheduled in February, have all moved online this March. […]
DANCING GODDESSES: African American Women Hip Hop Dancers – Cultural Contributors
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 […]
Conference – Aesthetics of Anti-Racist Dance Pedagogy
Aesthetics of Anti-Racist Dance Pedagogy – October 8, 2021 11:00 AM-12:00 PM ET (8:00 AM-9:00 AM PT) Experiential Workshop LEARN MORE Ariyan Johnson Assistant Professor University of California, Irvine Sarah Leddy Lecturer Pasadena City College Session Themes: Pedagogy, Somatics; The intended audience for this session is Higher Education and K-12 (public or private). Colleagues Sarah Leddy and […]
Conference – Using Hip Hop: The Dance Educators’ Ethical Questions for Navigating Social Justice Spaces and Being
Using Hip Hop: The Dance Educators’ Ethical Questions for Navigating Social Justice Spaces and Being – October 9, 2021 1:15 PM-1:45 PM ET (10:15 AM-10:45 AM PT) Paper Presentation LEARN MORE Ariyan Johnson Assistant Professor University of California, Irvine ***This session will not be recorded at the request of the presenter(s). Session Themes: Pedagogy, Standards & […]