ABOUT EMERGE125
EMERGE125 is a Black female-led dance company that expands the reach and impact of dance through creation, performance, and education. Through a body of expressive, athletic modern dance work, EMERGE125 explores social dynamics and personal identity, illuminates and challenges systemic inequities, and inspires reflection and connection. We believe that dance can serve as a uniting force across differences in age, race, class, and more.
Founded in 1981, EMERGE125 has been led by celebrated choreographer Tiffany Rea-Fisher since 2017. Based in Harlem, EMERGE125 also has a strong presence in the Adirondacks, tours nationwide, and shares virtual content globally.
By performing in multidisciplinary or non-arts spaces, as well as engaging in cross-disciplinary collaborations, we reach beyond traditional dance audiences—we attract audiences who like to be surprised, challenged, and in dialogue with art of all kinds. Our youth dance education programs—serving K-12 students as well as pre- and early-career professionals—cultivate these same values in the artists and audiences of the future.
VISION STATEMENT
Under this new leadership, the company has redefined our organizational identity while remaining true to our founding vision. The company had always wanted to be grounded in the vibrant artistic culture of Harlem; we’ve since realized this goal by establishing a thriving education program that operates throughout the neighborhood, forging deep creative partnerships with leading Harlem arts organizations, and devising community engagement activities that respond directly to local constituents’ core interests. Tiffany has also set the company apart in our prioritization of care for the whole artist: from our professional dancers to our students, each person is celebrated as both an individual and a vital contributor. Our company doesn’t see dancers as simply tools to bring choreography to life, but as artists in their own right and critical collaborators – a perspective that is a significant shift from the field’s traditionally strict view of a dancer’s role.
“Tiffany and her team help you to understand that there’s more than just becoming a principal dancer––there’s so many different types of things you can do with dance. [They teach you that] you need to be healthy in your mind, not just your body but in your mind too.”
Active│Grounded│Powerful
“The mission is to have a high level of dance performance, but I think intertwined with that is a high level of awareness about what’s going on in the world...”
E125’s relationship to our company members embodies the organization’s larger ethos towards equality, equity, and elevation: our dancers are viewed as holistic artists who deserve our support and resources to push themselves and discover new levels of their artistic practice. In recent years, the company has moved our work beyond traditional stages, creating immersive experiences in large-scale spaces.
![[April 14 2021] EMD H.E.R Morningside-46 (1).jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5333328de4b0daf4c7fe189a/1620197582284-34KINU6GIC2V7HZZOO00/%5BApril+14+2021%5D+EMD+H.E.R+Morningside-46+%281%29.jpg)
Leader│Innovative│Present
“One of the things that drew us to EMERGE125 [is] that the arts have so much to say and to do in terms of social issues.”
Being an artist is inherently a political act – since we channel our insights and views about the world into our creations – and E125 is proud to use our artistic platform to serve as a community organizer for civic action.
![[April 14 2021] EMD H.E.R Morningside-69.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5333328de4b0daf4c7fe189a/1620197388960-WHHY3WLQLFYFEMNX5L81/%5BApril+14+2021%5D+EMD+H.E.R+Morningside-69.jpg)
Meaningful│Vital│Audacious
“What spoke to me was the relationship of preserving the past and moving the company forward at the same time. That’s what really sets the company apart and makes it special, it has a strong lineage with a really forward thinking leader. [...] This company is a pioneer and it has the history to back it up, it takes our history and our community forward while still holding onto masterpieces.”
With our values of developing the whole artist and providing access as our guide, we look forward to continuing to build community within our Harlem neighborhood, New York City, and the entire dance field.