RAWdance Information

Founded in San Francisco in 2004, RAWdance is a contemporary dance company known for transforming theaters and public spaces with intellectually and emotionally layered performances. Critical Dance has hailed its “pioneering artists who continually astound with their talent, wit, intelligence and authenticity.” Led by Co-Directors Wendy Rein, Ryan T. Smith, and Katerina Wong, the company’s works pose questions ranging from the broadly social to the intimately personal. A Home Company of ODC Theater, RAWdance has been supported through residencies at the National Center for Choreography in Akron, DZINE, Ucross, Djerassi, 836m, CounterPULSE, Zaccho Dance Theatre, and Marble House. The company has performed through commissions and festivals in Asia and across the U.S. and has screened short dance films on four continents. In addition to theatrical performances, RAWdance prioritizes increasing access to art by bringing dance directly into public spaces, such as SF’s art galleries, UN Plaza, Yerba Buena Gardens, restaurants, City Hall, the Westfield mall, a boat house, and more. RAWdance curates the annual YBG ChoreoFest and produces the biannual CONCEPT series salon. In 2019, the company expanded to include a new branch in NY’s Hudson Valley.