top of page
Green squiggle mark

Affiliate Artist

A 2023 commission and collaboration with former B.L.A. Co-Director Hope Mohr. Hope will converse with B.L.A. co-directors on strategies to support choreographers equitably and brainstorm ways B.L.A. can build and sustain a program for choreography and performance.

Artist Statement

My primary tool in making dance is deconstruction.

I break down movement to get at strangeness and to excavate a voice closer to the bone. I break down movement to push against the traditions of white formalism that have shaped me. I break down movement to create a space where freedom can arise. 

 

Poetry can unmake the self that culture has made.  Poetry can create space for a self that does not yet exist. When I speak of poetry, I speak of dance. Making a dance feels like doing a million close readings of the body.

 

I am an activist formalist. This means that I value thinking about subject matter through form. Also that doubt corrodes my forms. I make art to stir up ambivalence, to imagine values other than those of the dominant culture, and to fall into places that scare me.

Headshot of Hope Mohr

Hope Mohr

she/her

Hope Mohr (Affiliate Artist) has woven art and activism for decades. In 2007, she founded Hope Mohr Dance. In 2010, she founded HMD's core program, The Bridge Project. In 2020, she co-stewarded the organization's transition to an equity-driven model of distributed leadership. As a dancer, Mohr trained at S.F. Ballet School and on scholarship at the Merce Cunningham and Trisha Brown Studios in New York City. She performed in the companies of dance pioneers Lucinda Childs and Trisha Brown, among others. As a choreographer, Mohr makes work that “conveys emotional and socio-political contents that just ride underneath the surface of a rigorous vocabulary.” (Dance View Times) She was named to the YBCA 100 in 2015. In 2014, Dance Magazine editor-in-chief Wendy Perron named Mohr as one of the “women leaders” in dance. Her book, Shifting Cultural Power, is out now from the National Center for Choreography.

Passionate about pursuing both activism and dance, Mohr earned a J.D. from Columbia Law School. She works as a lawyer at the intersection of the arts and the solidarity economy as a Fellow with the Sustainable Economies Law Center.

Current Projects

Collaboration with visual artist Ranu Mukherjee

Workshops with immigrant and refugee artists are a core part of this project, in partnership with ARTogether (Oakland) and 18th Street Art Center  (LA). Development in residency Winter 2022 with support from 836M Gallery

Nancy (The Poetry Project, NYC)

Collaboration with playwright/poet Maxe Crandall

Affiliate Artist
Upcoming Events

  • Fiscal Sponsor Talk
    Fiscal Sponsor Talk
    Wed, May 08
    Zoom
    May 08, 2024, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
    Zoom
    May 08, 2024, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
    Zoom
    Public Dialogue with B.L.A. Co-Director Rebecca Fitton
  • Experiments In Motion
    Experiments In Motion
    Fri, Mar 22
    SPACE 124 | Project Artaud
    Mar 22, 2024, 8:00 PM – Mar 24, 2024, 2:00 PM
    SPACE 124 | Project Artaud, 401 Alabama St, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
    Mar 22, 2024, 8:00 PM – Mar 24, 2024, 2:00 PM
    SPACE 124 | Project Artaud, 401 Alabama St, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
    Live performance featuring new works by Rebecca Fitton, Cherie Hill & Hope Mohr.
  • Embodying Shared Leadership (In-Person)
    Embodying Shared Leadership (In-Person)
    Sat, Jan 27
    The Shotgun Studios
    Jan 27, 2024, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
    The Shotgun Studios, 1201 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702, USA
    Jan 27, 2024, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
    The Shotgun Studios, 1201 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702, USA
    A movement workshop exploring the ways shared leadership can be practiced and embodied.
  • Embodying Shared Leadership (Online)
    Embodying Shared Leadership (Online)
    Fri, Jan 26
    Zoom
    Jan 26, 2024, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    Zoom
    Jan 26, 2024, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    Zoom
    A movement workshop exploring the ways shared leadership can be practiced and embodied.
  • Tactics & Tacos
    Tactics & Tacos
    Fri, Oct 20
    Oakstop
    Oct 20, 2023, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    Oakstop, 1721 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
    Oct 20, 2023, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    Oakstop, 1721 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
    A Reimagining of Business Models in the Arts & Community Celebration
  • Virtual Happy Hour w/ B.L.A. Board
    Virtual Happy Hour w/ B.L.A. Board
    Wed, Sep 06
    Zoom
    Sep 06, 2023, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    Zoom
    Sep 06, 2023, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    Zoom
    Meet & learn more about joining B.L.A.'s Board at our virtual happy hour
  • Progression: A somatic dance workshop for Black women
    Progression: A somatic dance workshop for Black women
    Sat, Aug 26
    In The Groove Studios
    Aug 26, 2023, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
    In The Groove Studios, 580 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
    Aug 26, 2023, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
    In The Groove Studios, 580 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
  • Building Bridges: Virtual Conversations with B.L.A.’s Newest Co-Director and Team
    Building Bridges: Virtual Conversations with B.L.A.’s Newest Co-Director and Team
    Mon, Aug 14
    Zoom, Virtual Meetings
    Aug 14, 2023, 2:00 PM – Sep 22, 2023, 2:00 PM
    Zoom, Virtual Meetings
    Aug 14, 2023, 2:00 PM – Sep 22, 2023, 2:00 PM
    Zoom, Virtual Meetings
    Meet B.L.A.'s newest Co-Director, Rebecca Fitton, and members of the organization's team. Open to Bay Area based artists.
  • Mixed Mixer hosted by Asian Babe Gang
    Mixed Mixer hosted by Asian Babe Gang
    Sat, Apr 29
    Lake Merritt @ Cameron-Stamford House
    Apr 29, 2023, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    Lake Merritt @ Cameron-Stamford House, 1418 Lakeside Dr, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
    Apr 29, 2023, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    Lake Merritt @ Cameron-Stamford House, 1418 Lakeside Dr, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
    A space for mixed ppl to connect, process, politicize, and build
  • Horizon Stanzas
    Horizon Stanzas
    Thu, Apr 27
    Joe Goode Annex
    Apr 27, 2023, 8:00 PM – Apr 30, 2023, 8:00 PM
    Joe Goode Annex, 401 Alabama St, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
    Apr 27, 2023, 8:00 PM – Apr 30, 2023, 8:00 PM
    Joe Goode Annex, 401 Alabama St, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
    A new dance theater by B.L.A Affiliate Artist Hope Mohr, inspired by Alice Notley's feminist epic poem, The Descent of Alette, featuring Tegan Schwab-Alavi, Suzette Sagisi, and Belinda He.
  • Liberating Bodies: What Lies Beneath
    Liberating Bodies: What Lies Beneath
    Fri, Apr 07
    Shawl-Anderson Dance Center
    Apr 07, 2023, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
    Shawl-Anderson Dance Center, 2704 Alcatraz Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705, USA
    Apr 07, 2023, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
    Shawl-Anderson Dance Center, 2704 Alcatraz Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705, USA
    A movement workshop with jose e. abad & Stephanie Hewett
  • Liberating Bodies: Revolutionizing Sites Through Integrative Performance
    Liberating Bodies: Revolutionizing Sites Through Integrative Performance
    Mon, Apr 03
    Zoom
    Apr 03, 2023, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM PDT
    Zoom
    Apr 03, 2023, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM PDT
    Zoom
    A public dialogue with Onye Ozuzu & amara tabor smith
  • Bacchae Before
    Bacchae Before
    Thu, Mar 30
    John Hopkins University
    Mar 30, 2023, 8:00 PM – Mar 31, 2023, 8:00 PM
    John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
    Mar 30, 2023, 8:00 PM – Mar 31, 2023, 8:00 PM
    John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
    A collaboration with Maxe Crandall, Mike Chin, and B.L.A Affiliate Artist Hope Mohr inspired by the tragedies of gender reveal parties and Anne Carson's Bakkhai.
  • Public Dialogue on Equitable Artist Pay
    Public Dialogue on Equitable Artist Pay
    Fri, Mar 10
    Community Arts Stabilization Trust CAST
    Mar 10, 2023, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Community Arts Stabilization Trust CAST, 447 Minna St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
    Mar 10, 2023, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Community Arts Stabilization Trust CAST, 447 Minna St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
    A facilitated conversation around equitable approaches to artist pay
  • Ensemble for Nonlinear Time
    Ensemble for Nonlinear Time
    Sat, Feb 18
    FREIZE LA
    Feb 18, 2023, 7:00 PM PST
    FREIZE LA, 18th Street Art Center, Los Angeles
    Feb 18, 2023, 7:00 PM PST
    FREIZE LA, 18th Street Art Center, Los Angeles
    B.L.A. Affiliate Artist Hope Mohr and visual artist Ranu Mukherjee will present Ensemble for Nonlinear Time at FRIEZE LA, in partnership with 18th Street Art Center and Gallery Wendi Norris.
  • CER Artist Reception
    CER Artist Reception
    Sat, Oct 22
    White Swan Patio
    Oct 22, 2022, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    White Swan Patio, 845 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
    Oct 22, 2022, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    White Swan Patio, 845 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
    Open to all past & current CER artists, join us for an afternoon of re-connection and celebration of our CER community. Refreshments will be provided!
  • Celebrating Bridge Live Arts: A Community Party and Fundraiser
    Celebrating Bridge Live Arts: A Community Party and Fundraiser
    Sun, Oct 09
    The Lab
    Oct 09, 2022, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM PDT
    The Lab, 2948 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
    Oct 09, 2022, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM PDT
    The Lab, 2948 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
    Celebrate the reveal of our new name and B.L.A.'s years of intentional work re-imagining what an arts organization can be.
  • Our Work / Our Dignity
    Our Work / Our Dignity
    Sat, Sep 24
    Dance Mission Theater
    Sep 24, 2022, 8:00 PM
    Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
    Sep 24, 2022, 8:00 PM
    Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
    A powerful new work by CER Lead Artist Andreína Maldonado in collaboration with Dance Mission Theater, La Colectiva de Mujeres, SF Day Labor Program, and CA Domestic Workers Coalition using theatrical storytelling about worker dignity, homecare, Ecofeminism, and our role in environmental justice.
BLA_GraphicArtboard 35 green.png
bottom of page