The Journey of BBDC: Our Founding Story and Future Aspirations

In a city rich with rhythm, resilience, and revolutionary spirit, the Baltimore Black Dance Collective (BBDC) was born out of a need to see us, celebrate us, and sustain us in movement.

Too often, Black dance artists are asked to shrink their visions, fit into boxes that weren’t built for us, or operate without the structural support that nourishes creative longevity. In 2020, amidst a global pandemic and renewed calls for racial justice, we realized Baltimore needed something more—a dedicated space for Black dance to thrive unapologetically.

BBDC was formed by artists, educators, and visionaries who understood that the Black dance community in Baltimore is vibrant but underserved. Our dancers are storytellers, truth-tellers, and community healers. We knew it was time to build something that uplifts that truth.

What’s Next

We exist to:

• Amplify Black choreographers and dancers in Baltimore and beyond

• Create access to high-quality performance and training opportunities

• Cultivate community through dance, wellness, education, and cultural preservation

• Support the next generation of dance artists with mentorship and resources

From master classes and workshops to community festivals and artist residencies, every offering is a declaration: Black dance is essential, Black artists are worthy, and our stories deserve the stage.

Join Us

BBDC is more than an organization—it’s a movement. One that honors our ancestors, invests in our present, and builds toward a liberated, joy-filled future. Whether you are a dancer, donor, educator, or advocate, we invite you to move with us.

This is our story. And we’re dancing it forward.

—The Executive Team at Baltimore Black Dance Collective