SAN FRANCISCO: The African & African American Performing Arts Coalition and K*Star*Productions have announced that the 19th annual Black Choreographers Festival: Here and Now (BCF) will take place from Feb. 11, 25, and 26, with performances in Hayward and San Francisco. A new venue, the University Theater on the campus of Cal State East Bay (CSUEB) in Hayward, has been added to bring contemporary dance artists to wider audiences in the Bay Area. Tickets range from $10 to $30.

BCF @ CSUEB will feature choreographers who have presented work at BCF over the last decade and are alums of Cal State University Eastbay. The performances at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 11 will feature original works by Bay Area and national choreographers including Krystal Bates, laura elaine ellis, Shawn Hawkins, Justin Sharlman, Latanya d.Tigner/Dimensions Dance Theatre, and Dazaun Soleyn. 

Presented on Feb. 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m., New Voices/New Works in SF will showcase premieres of new works by BCF artists including Gregory Dawson/dawsondancesf, Robert Moses/Robert Moses’ KIN, Justin Sharlman, Natalya Shoaf, Raissa Simpson/PUSH Dance Company, Dazaun Soleyn, and Jordon E. Dabney. Each performance will be followed by a cake and chat event, an opportunity for audience members to mingle and to chat with the choreographers.

The Black Choreographers Festival: Here & Now (BCF) is directed by Bay Area nonprofits AAAPAC and K*Star*Productions. Since 2005, BCF has served local, national, and international artists with over 150 public events, acknowledging the diverse artistic expression within the context of African and African American dance and culture. BCF hosts live performance, mentoring, master classes, workshops and special events throughout the year.