Shange Productions

Inspired by West African dance and ballet, Baltimore-based Shange Dance Productions performs a diverse repertoire on subjects ranging from Hurricane Katrina to sisterhood.

In 2004, Kutia Jawara founded Shange Dance Productions to provide talented dancers and choreographers the opportunity to work in the professional arena. Since the beginning, Shange continues to amaze its audiences with inspiring choreography that speaks to the experiences of African Americans. Ms. Jawara aims to create new work that is rooted in modern techniques and laced with ballet and West African dance.

The repertoire of Shange Dance Productions is sharp, powerful, and technical. It is feminine and athletic by nature but not by force. The Washington Post describes Shange's choreography as "elegantly fused West African dance, balletic technique and gymnastic movement." The choreography has grown from years that Kutia Jawara worked as a professional dancer. Critics have described her movement as having "marvelous precision" as stated by Gia Kourlas of the New York Times and "eloquent" by Jennifer Dunning, also of The New York Times. These statements are Ms. Jawara's strong qualities as a dancer but they are also her expectations as a choreographer.