the feminine essence

About Franchesska

Award-winning choreographer, educator, and cultural award developer with 20 + years of experience producing and managing intercultural programming for government, arts, and non-profit organizations.

Franchesska Berry is a talented performer, choreographer, and international intercultural arts educator. She specializes in dances and traditional cultures of West Africa and the African Diaspora, but her expertise extends beyond African-based forms. Franchesska's comprehensive background heavily influences her unique dance style in Western classical forms such as ballet, modern, jazz, and improvisational dance. She believes that all movement stems from the same wellspring of human expression and considers them dialects of the same language. Franchesska has developed her expertise as an academic leader in international, intercultural art education, which she terms the Relational Model of Education. Her pedagogy is firmly rooted in the philosophical anthropology of African and African American dance and cultural history. Franchesska aims to explore the possibility of enlightenment, appreciation, and healing from original African cultures - cultures lost, forgotten, distorted, and denied - through the arts.

Expertise:

West African and African Diaspora dances and traditional cultures
Western classical dance forms (ballet, modern, jazz, improvisational)
Intercultural arts education
Relational Model of Education
Philosophical Anthropology (Aspects of Cultural Differences) of African and African American dance and cultural history

Bio:

Franchesska Berry is a celebrated visionary artist and educator known for her groundbreaking contributions to intercultural art education. Her extensive dance and cultural studies background has enabled her to develop a novel pedagogical approach prioritizing empathy, relationality, and cultural sensitivity. Berry's scholarly work is widely recognized, solidifying her position as a leading authority.

Artistic Objective:

Franchesska's unwavering dedication lies in weaving her experiences from Africa, Australia, and Egypt. This endeavor propels her to fortify her position as an international, intercultural educator and celebrated performing artist. She comprehends the profound importance of infusing art with imagination and insight, making it a vibrant and compelling force.

Academic Achievements in Excellence:

Franchesska earned the Distinguished Honor of Fulbright Fellow/Scholar to Cairo, Egypt, at the prestigious Academy of Arts as an artiste, choreographer for the Royal Ballet of Cairo and as professor, performer, and lecturer of "Dance and The Relationship Model for A Multicultural Classroom" at the American University of Cairo, the American/African critical pedagogy she fashioned into an intercultural arts program – international in its reach and value.

Antioch University, Seattle, WA

Master’s in Education & Social Sciences, June 2008
Thesis: The Philosophical Aspects of Cultural Differences
Graduated Summa Cum Laud e with Distinguished Mention and Performance

The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts, Education, June 2004
Thesis: Leadership Sustainability through Arts in Education

International Resident Scholar/Teaching Residencies

Cairns, Queensland, Australia 2005
Acadmeyet Du Arts of Cairo, Egypt 2009
American University Cairo 2009
University Cairo Egypt 2009

Grant and Award Funded Projects and Choreographies

2023-24 Humanities Arts Apprenticeship Awardee from The Center for Washington Cultural Traditions
City of Seattle Parks & Recreation's "Get Moving" Grant Recipient 2017 & 18, "Dance is Where I Heal" 2021, "Dance is Where We Heal" 2022
Seattle Office of Arts & Cultures "Arts in The Park" "Sabar in Park" Grant Recipient 2016, "Sabar in the Park" 18 & 19
Seattle Office of Arts & Cultures "smArt Ventures" Grant Recipient 2017, Keur Fouta - Sabar & Djembe @ Cafe Ibex 19
Co-Director/ Choreographer of the Reprisal in 2011-13 of 'Days in the Life of Dr. King' Broadway Center for the Performing Arts
4Culture Special Projects Grants for New Works 2005-08 & 11-13
King County 4Culture Touring Artist Roster for 2005-24 seasons.
Complete Artist Support Program 2004 (with Som La Bi Joli Dance & Drum): Recorded traditional West African musicians, enabling the company to rehearse and perform more efficiently.
Washington State Artist Roster for the 2003-5 seasons
Broadway Center for the Performing Arts Residency Program 2001-04
King County Cultural Education Grant, 1999, 2000-03
Artist Trust Emerging Artist (2000).
King County Special Arts Projects, 1998-9/2001
Artist Trust GAP Grant, 1998

Cultural Bridging & Achievements:

In 2020, Everett College's Student LIFE Programs Board and Black Student Union celebrated in the presentation of a Black Legacy Month Event: "The Very Franchesska Berry": Living the Legacy.

The Black Student Union honored Franchesska's achievements as a distinguished scholar, cultural theorist, gifted artiste, and ambassadress to Senegal, West Africa. Franchesska compacts her performances with audiovisual and interactive lectures on cultural aspects and critical pedagogy on the first and second middle passages and historical civil rights events of the past. They conclude with a motivational conversation and a silhouetted African dance performance .

The Boeing Black Employee Association celebrated Black History by presenting "In Motion" with Franchesska Berry. The program celebrated Boeing's Diverse workforce and each employee's unique contributions to Boeing. Franchesska utilized her Griotess skill sets as a storyteller and conduit, sharing the "Greatness of African American Dance" and the importance of "Symbolic Imagery" for African American peoples. The program concluded with a motivational conversation and a silhouetted African dance performance.

21st Century Storytelling

The Seattle Public Library's 2015 Summer Learning STEAM program chose Franchesska Berry. (STEAM) stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. Franchesska's culturally based proposal, "Bridging Communities through...'The Stories that Bind Us.'" is deeply based on Philosophical Anthropology and the Social Sciences. International participants (Ethiopian and Somali) were instructed on the importance of building a family narrative, sharing family heritage and history, and continuing tradition.

Cultural Bridging & Achievements

Creative Advantage Community Roster for Teaching Residencies. Since 2014, Creative Advantage recognized Franchesska's significant accomplishments in Seattle and the larger King County schools since her arrival in 1996. She has instructed thousands, possessing the rare ability to engage students from every social economic and diverse cultural backgrounds from all ages imbuing them with compassion, love, kindness, self esteem, and care through dance cultural awareness and sensitivity. Her artistic achievements on stage in the U.S., Senegal, Australia, and Egypt also placed her ahead of the curve in this highly selective process.

Professional Development for Teachers in Arts Integration

In 2015 and 2023, Franchesska led an active, experiential, reflective, and collaborative Arts Integration program for the Seattle and Puyallup School District's cross-cultural art classes for teachers.

From 1998 to 2005, Franchesska led the Tacoma Arts Impact Summer Institute program, training elementary classroom teachers to independently teach visual and performing arts. Teachers participated in Intensive, hands-on, 30-hour training in foundational art concepts and skills in visual art, dance, and theater. During the school year, teachers paired with Franchesska for a 9–10-hour mentorship. She assisted teachers in planning, writing, teaching, and assessing arts lessons.

In 2011-14, Franchesska co-directed and co-choreographed in the development of the original and new reprisal touring performance titled Eleven Days in the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a twelve-movement work that marries choreography with spoken word based on more profound research and visits both critical moments and a deeper contextualization of King's work.

Franchesska's six choreographies affiliated with events that include parallel a re-examination of King's letter from a Birmingham Jail in light of current race and privilege realities, as well as other historical moments, including the impact and sacrifices of the freedom riders, Dr. King's Nobel Prize speech and other less examined aspects of Dr. King's life works and the many communities that enabled Dr. King at the nascence of civil rights, power and the rise of race consciousness call to assert control and love as a tactic to establish change. Franchesska's work, in collaboration with Dr. Gordon and led by playwright Lucas Smiraldo, impacted over 50,000 youth in a six to eight-week touring period.

In 2011, Franchesska Berry co-directed and co-choreographed the development of the Broadway Center Conservatory productions of The Jungle Book.

In 2009-10, Franchesska received recognition as a Washington State Arts Commission Folk Arts "Master Artist in African Dance," where she shared her knowledge of the regional intersections between dance, language, clothing, and spirituality and emphasized the role of musical and oral traditions of West Africa.

Selected Professional Dance Performance and Choreography

Som La Bi Joli (Sweeter than Sweet) Dance Ensemble (Artistic Director) 1997-2010

Franchesska & Ensemble Featured at Seattle International Folklife Festival 2002-5.

Full-length Senegalese Traditional Dance and Music Spectacles at Seattle Art Museum, Paramount Theater Tacoma, Carco Theater 2000-07; 1994-6; The Raymond Johnson Dance Company 1993; Ballet Sangomar 1992-4; The California Arts Project 1992-4; Ko-Thi Dance Company 1991-3.

Ensemble Performances

Our curriculum is designed to provide a well-rounded dance education that includes technique, creativity, and performance skills. We also offer opportunities for our students to participate in competitions and performances throughout the year.

Solo & Principal Roles

Tropical World Arts Carnival, International Cairns Festival; 2005, Australia. Franchesska taught master classes and performed in the Tropical World Arts Carnival at the Tanks Art Center, receiving standing ovations at the International Cairns Festival in Cairns, Australia.

Created and featured as the African Angel in Seattle's Intiman Theater's 2004 production of the Langston Hughes masterpiece 'Black Nativity.'

Berkeley Jazz Festival 94-5; The Henry J. Tanner Exhibit 94; Marin Jazz Festival 93-4; Pharaoh Sanders 1993-4; African Roots of Jazz 1993; Koncept's Cultural Arts Gallery 92-3; The Nova –Ghost Sect Tect 1990-5.

Guest Performances

Ballard High School 2012; Town Hall Drumming 2011;

Oumou Sangare 2002-4;

National Ballet du Senegal 1999-2006;

Youssou N’Dour 1993 to 2009;

Baaba Maal 1991, 2011, 2024, Prince 1990

Residencies & Conferences

Doudou N’Diaye Rose 2000, 7-10; Alvin Ailey Dance Company 93-5

Abdoulaye Camara 89-2003; Dance Theatre of Harlem 1993-5.

Muntu Dance Theatre 1992; Les Ballet Africans 87-91; Dimension Dance Theater 86-93;

Les Ballet Africans 87-91; Fatala 87-91;

Kankouran Dance Company 1989-14; Maimounta Keita School of African Dance 1989 to 15;

Katherine Dunham 1987-94;

Donald McKayle 1986-91.

Dance Training (with respective instructors):

Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Betho Filho; Xiomara Rodriquez 1999-2005.

Jean-Leon Destiny 1989-96; Afro-Cuban, Judith 1989-96;

Haitian Lynn Coles 1987-89;

Afro-Haitian Ronnie Marshall 1986-93;

Linda Goodrich 1983-87;

Modern jazz, Leon Jackson 1983-86;

Contemporary modern jazz dance, Ehud & Nurit Krauss, 1974-77;

Interpretive Modern and Jazz; Sheila Nelson, Ballet & jazz Berle Davis, 1974-76;

Ailey Technique, jazz, modern blues 1968-76.

Theatrical & Television Performances

TV One’s Unsung Hollywood’s What’s Happening, 2014

Created and featured as the African Angel in the Intiman Theater’s 2004 production of the Langston Hughes masterpiece ‘Black Nativity’: 2005

Artist Trust Emerging Artist; 2002

Ceremonies in Old Dark Men; 1993

What’s Happening; 1978-80

In Concert; 1976-77

Soul Train; 1974-80

Cultural Program Manager | International Arts Educator | Events Producer