To ignite social awareness and change through dance performance, education, and community engagement
The acronym R.A.C.E. stands for Radical Application of Creative Energy. We strive to provide our collective with intentional, inclusive, and empowering artistic experiences through our performances, community collaborations, and RACE the Space classes.
RACE Dance Collective was founded in 2009 by Korean American immigrant Hui Cha Poos, who wanted to create more performance opportunities for professional dancers in Oklahoma.
With a vision to redefine who engages with dance how, while focusing on accessibility and collaboration through a deliberate approach to artistic choices, RACE has provided over 35 multi-genre performance experiences, nearly 350 community classes annually, and youth training programs. RACE also partners with dozens of organizations to bring dance education and mentorships to underserved populations.
our vision is to build a community that redefines who engages with dance and how
community
We strive to inspire, uplift, and unite individuals through the communal language of dance to enrich lives, celebrate diversity, and build a stronger, more connected community.
intention
We are deliberate in the artistic choices we make as a collective to provoke thought, ignite emotions, and create meaningful connections. By carefully curating our creative endeavors, we strive to cultivate enriching experiences for artists and audiences, fostering a deep sense of engagement, authenticity, and artistic excellence.
inclusivity
We are dedicated to providing multi-genre performance opportunities, mentoring, and training to our community to unlock the full potential of those who engage with us, inspiring lifelong passion and fostering a vibrant, interconnected dance culture.
empowerment
By cultivating a culture of intrinsic growth, creativity, professionalism, and collaboration in a supportive environment, we empower individuals of all ages and backgrounds to thrive as dancers, artists, and individuals.
our COMMITMENT to diversity, inclusion, equity, and access
At RACE Dance Collective, a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace is where all employees and volunteers, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education, or disability, feel valued and respected. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and provide equal employment and advancement opportunities in all of our departments, programs, and worksites. We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices are valued and heard. We’re committed to modeling diversity and inclusion for the entire arts industry of the nonprofit sector and to maintaining an inclusive environment with equitable treatment for all.
IDEA has been intrinsic to RACE Dance Collective since its beginning. Founded by a Korean-American immigrant, Hui Poos created a dance company that challenged societal perceptions of what professional companies look like and the artistic content they deliver. Dancers who perform with RACE represent individuals from varying backgrounds and dance experiences who work together to bring accessible arts programming to Oklahoma City. By keeping community engagement at the forefront of its programming, RACE offers approximately 350 dance classes, with a range of styles that represent the cultural fabric of Oklahoma City, to over 2000 individuals annually and reaches over 3500 audiences through its full-length performances and community events.
Through IDEA and collaboration, RACE believes it can empower its community to embrace the world of dance in creative and exciting ways. RACE values collaboration in a collective manner to generate innovative ideas to ignite social awareness and change through its artistic programming. Because of its collaborative nature, RACE has brought together diverse populations to build a community to redefine who engages with dance and how.
a letter from our founder, hui cha poos
Dance brings people together and allows them the creative freedom to celebrate, mourn, laugh, and share in the commonality of life. Our organization is named RACE Dance Company to unite us through a force, which is bigger than us, and our differences.
In this time of divisiveness, we strive to bring our community together by teaching, mentoring, modeling, and performing from a basis of love. We give love through our classes, company rehearsals, and performances while encouraging thought provoking conversation through those works. Our mission is to provide intentional and genre-inclusive dance experiences through performances, education, and community outreach. We strive towards our mission with a Radical Application of Creative Energy that drives us to work with passion and intention.
Our work in the community involves directly working with many (over 75 a year) OKCPS students to bridge the gap of opportunity in the dance world. Since its beginning RACE Dance Collective members have led Oklahoma dancers to new heights both in academia and the commercial/concert dance world. You can find a former RACE dancer in LA, Vegas, New York, and beyond fulfilling their goals as a professional dancer, dance educator, studio owner, etc. RACE’s Hip Hop Nutcracker, one of our most popular programs, has been responsible for mentoring and guiding young dancers in under-served areas into several college programs since its inception in 2012.
One of the benefits of having such a local presence is its longevity and promise to future dancers in Oklahoma. We're unlike a competition or dance studio in that we care about the community as a whole and hope to continue to grow ourselves, grow the dance community, as well as grow the minds and hearts of Oklahomans for many years to come.