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Kendra Kimbrough Dance Ensemble (KKDE), founded in 1996 by Artistic Director Kendra Kimbrough Barnes, focuses on paying respect to the rhythmic cycles of life to create a holistic cyclone of expression. The multicultural group consists of well-versed dancers that strive to bridge cultures through performances and workshops that reach a diverse audience. KKDE is committed to representing a range of ages, body-types, and movement styles and strive to inform audiences about various social issues. The ensemble creates and performs dance works that build on a wide array of dance forms and the choreography integrates modern dance with movements inspired by African, Brazilian, and North Indian cultures. KKDE is a vehicle for dancers to expand their inner awareness of self while strengthening their ability to move creatively. Choreographic themes stem from real-life events and spiritual challenges while adding emotional theatrics to the arena of dance. The company has performed with such notables as The Robert Henry Johnson Dance Company, Robert Moses' Kin, and Deborah Vaughan-Dimensions Dance Theater. Since its founding KKDE has self-produced a home season in Oakland. Kimbrough-Barnes has worked in collaboration with dancers, musicians, composers, and poets to assist with realizing her artistic vision. World music, both live and recorded are the focus in accompanying the integration of cultural ideas and movements from Africa, Brazil, and India. Kimbrough has collaborated with Mutama, directed by Kelly Takunda Orphan, musicians from Les Ballets Africains, Brazilian Master drummers Jorge Alabe, and Gamo da Paz and has commissioned work from renowned Brazilian choreographer Rosangela Silvestre. KKDE has toured throughout California and Internationally to Bahia Salvador Brazil. The company has performed in several Bay Area dance series, including East Bay Dance Festival, Oakland Arts Festival, WestWave Dance Festival, Black Choreographers Festival, and Dance Mosaic. |
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