STEPHEN SHYNES
choreographer | creative director
As a queer Black interdisciplinary artist, choreographer, dancer, and teacher, I delve into the unspoken, taboo topics society often avoids through movement and narrative. My work examines identity, mental health, and the human experience from the intersection of my Black and queer identities. I create environments where audiences feel seen and understood, allowing for individual interpretation while pulling at the emotional threads that connect us all. This invitation encourages reflection on humanity and poses questions for self-exploration within and beyond the work. Through dance, I illustrate life’s lessons, enabling freedom of expression and deeper contemplation of what it means to be human.
My artistic inspiration draws from the Afro-surrealist storytelling of Toni Morrison, Donald Glover, Kara Walker, and Missy Elliott, whose works blur the boundaries between reality and dreams. I channel their influence to craft bold performances that dissolve the imaginary barriers between performer and audience, between the stage and real life.
By using evolving vignettes as a foundation for emotional exploration, my work channels raw vulnerability and introspection through movement. Combining Horton, contemporary, and improvisation techniques with natural gestures and expressive physicality, I transform the body into a beacon of authentic emotions. Much like the heightened characters in television shows Atlanta or The Boondocks, I use movement to immerse audiences in the emotional resonance of each motif. I engage viewers with vocal introductions, diverse music scores, projections, dynamic movement, and by placing dancers within the audience dissolving the boundary between performer and observer to spark reflection on shared humanity.
My body of work is more than self-expression, it is an offering to a world that too often silences stories like mine. Through my practice, I amplify marginalized voices and challenge perceptions of identity, freedom, and belonging. Vulnerability becomes a catalyst for connection, and dance serves as a conduit for liberation, empathy, and the shared pursuit of truth.
