Raissa Simpson (Artistic Director & Founder) has an extensive performance career in the Bay Area. She received a BFA from Purchase College at SUNY on talent-based scholarship; subsequently attending the schools of Dance Theatre of Harlem, Paul Taylor School, among others. She has toured and performed as a company member with Robert Moses Kin (2002-2007) and Joanna Haigood’s Zaccho Dance Theatre (2007-Present). Performances include numerous national festivals like Jacob’s Pillow where Village Voice dance critic Deborah Jowitt noted, “Simpson dances big.”
Raissa was born Cleveland — raised in San Jose, California — hailed by Dance Spirit Magazine for “Reflective Contemporary Choreography”, Simpson makes vibrant dances embodying socially relevant issues. Her artistic achievements include Peoples Choice Award from San Jose State University, Margaret Jenkins Dance Company’s CHIME, Regional Dance America Award plus numerous honors and commissions.
Raissa is an African American-Filipina choreographer whose cross-cultural works gain a deeper understanding of challenges of mixed heritage by using non-traditional dance forms. At the heart of her study, she seeks to engage the multiracial community to gain deeper understanding of rigid American color-lines. She specifically gathers materials from intercultural patterns of isolation or adaptation.
Formed in 2005 by Raissa Simpson, Push Dance Company is a mixed-media San Francisco dance company.The mission of Push Dance Company is to dive into social changes by way of relentless dancing. Push made its company debut at CounterPULSE, and has gone on to perform at such venues as Joyce SoHo, Washington Ensemble Theater, Laney College, 418 Project Santa Cruz, ODC Theater, Museum of the African Diaspora/MoAD and San Jose State University. Push has also been granted residencies at Margaret Jenkins Dance Company’s CHIME, Garage Artspace, and Zaccho Dance Theater.
Bitter Melon (2012) is a 3D dance work exploring obligatory parallels of cultural histories and tragedies of African Americans with that of the native people of the Philippines. By examining the deficiency of humanitarian aid in response to flood disaster and congressional legalization of water torture, Push will build a linkage to African American and Filipino American histories in relationship to water- a source of natural disaster, of suffering, and of rebirth.
Mixed Messages (Two-year exploration process: Premier in 2011) is a lush 40-minute multimedia septet able to be excerpted or shown in its entirety. Audience members pass through a series of intricate mixed-race imagery bound by isolation, identity, self-image, and acceptance.
“In Mixed Messages, dancers will investigate ideas, time and space through the body movements of mythical creatures in an urban environment.” ColorLines Magazine
Black Swordsman Saga (2010) is a 1-hour millennial allegoric hip-hop opera set to the rapping of MC Kirby Dominant and music of JooWan Kim. A post-apocalyptic setting is created as dancers sift through dynamic storytelling and an Ariel dance flying sequence.
“Simpson reinvents classical ballet and modern dance aesthetics with a sleek and sexy edge. Ultimately, her sleek style transcends confining categories. While her movement style refuses to be pinned down…”
-SF Guardian
Judgments In Milliseconds (2008) is a humorous 8-minute multimedia solo inspired by the simulation facing African American hair in today’s culture.
The company has offered master classes, workshops and performance opportunities to students at Stanford University, San Francisco State University, UC Santa Cruz, Berkeley High School, Alonzo King Lines Dance Center, ODC School, African American Arts Cultural Complex and many more. Additionally, the company has formed community partnership with 3rd St Youth Center & Clinic in Bayview Hunters Point, offering positive, creative outlets of expression to less-privileged youth.
Raissa Simpson/Push Dance Company are available for choreography and teaching opportunities including residency and workshop activities. This includes creating and remounting of repertory for companies and student ensembles, teaching a wide range of classes ranging from contemporary technique, improvisation, site-specific, Taylor-style, and an array of dance along with composition. The company is also available for presenting interactive lecture/demonstrations for professional, college-level and K-12 dancers and non-dancers alike.
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| SEP 23-24, 2011 |
Harvest, The Fall Choreographer’s Showcase
Dance Mission Theater, San Francisco, CA |
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| JAN 8, 2012 | Pentacle’s Gallery Showcase The Theater at Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School 120 West 46th St (bet 6th and 7th Aves) 7:00 – 10:00 pm Push Dance Company: 9:00 pm |
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| FEB 18-19, 2012 | Black Choreographers Festival San Francisco, CA http://www.bcfhereandnow.com/ |
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| MAY 25-28, 2012 | BITTER MELON 3D Installation, Dewey Monument, San Francisco, CA |
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