Artist Spotlight: Sierra Christine Sanders
“…the personal story building inside the work that makes me feel on a cellular level the memory of our ancestors.”
This week we are shining a light on Sierra Christine Sanders, one of our senior company members.
Why We’re Excited:
Sierra’s presence in the room invites reflection. There’s a depth to her, a complexity in how she moves between roles — artist, activist. She doesn’t just dabble in art for art’s sake; every conversation had, every action she takes, speaks to a larger, more intricate narrative. It’s as if she is the embodiment of what the work is, the intersection where intellectual rigor, creative expression, and social change converge into something larger than the sum of its parts.
Please enjoy the conversation we had with her about her start as dancer, her place in this project, and other fun facts!
Full Interview with Sierra
What inspired you to become a dancer?
My mother as well as Michael Jackson music videos. I officially knew it was my career path when I saw Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre with Linda Celeste Sims performing the soloist role in Flowers. She was incredibly strong, graceful, muscular, and deeply alive in the poetry of the work. She looked like me and it gave me courage to know that I could be just like her as a professional dancer.
What drew you to the WITNESS project, and what do you hope audiences take away from your performance?
What drew me with WITNESS was the return to a Black Dance company speaking on Black life in its history during such a pivotal time in American history. With the pandemic and the racial reckoning that came from all the back to back deaths of Black people from police violence, I wanted a safe space to work in especially to process such grief as well as to be apart of the creative process that’s cultivating what the true freedom of tomorrow could look like. To be part of it is to tell the truth that you can’t shy away from. It’s real and visceral in experience.
In what ways do you feel the intersection of contemporary circus and ballet in WITNESS challenges traditional narratives in dance?
It definitely challenges the physicality and level of skill set blending the 2 forms together. It stretches me as an artist and the circus work/props brings to life the abstract into real sensorial concepts of what life can present in one’s journey.
Can you share a memorable moment from your dance career?
A memorable moment in my dance career was creating work for the Ailey extension’s performance workshop along side Linda Celeste Sims and I told her she’s the one who sent me on my personal journey with her gorgeous artistry. It really felt like a full circle moment.
Can you share a moment during rehearsals for WITNESS that was particularly impactful for you?
I feel there has been many mini moments that are impactful because of the choreographic choices Christopher makes. It’s really the personal story building inside the work that makes me feel on a cellular level the memory of our ancestors. In that I feel connected to them and honor what they have endured for me to be here.
What does performing at this iconic venue mean to you as an artist?
It honestly means the world to me to be a part of the legacy of Black Excellence of the Venue. To have admired and studied these legendary artists and entertainers to now performing here myself is an incredible honor. Really a milestone in my career.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
I’m looking forward to climbing the mountain that is performing this work and feeling the greatest achievement of dancing the most difficult work of my career. I’m so excited for the growth to come from these performances as well. Most importantly the liberation experienced in Part III: Tomorrow is a personal meditation & group manifestation of what we want for our futures. To be present in that is to deepen my faith in its eventual reality for us all.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I adore playing and napping with my chubby kitty. I also love sitting in nature and making jewelry!
Thank you for joining this artist spotlight; we are so happy to have Amina on our team! We invite you to explore her Instagram page, website bio to learn more about her inspiring work. If you feel compelled, please consider supporting Sierra through our Adopt an Artist Program, which helps provide resources and opportunities for talented artists like her. Your support makes a significant difference in fostering creativity and supporting the arts community.
If you can, please, donate to RudduR Dance and help us better the world through dance!