DIVERSE DISCOURSE LECTURE: CHRISTOPHER K. MORGAN
Join DiverseWorks and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts for the Spring 2022 Diverse Discourse Lecture with Christopher K. Morgan, choreographer, educator, and Vice President of Programming, Maui Arts & Cultural Center.
Wednesday, April 6, 2022, 6:30 pm
Dudley Recital Hall
Fine Arts Building, Room 132
University of Houston
Campus Map
Integrating Identity in Artistic Practice: Decentralizing Eurocentrism in My Dancing Body
a Diverse Discourse Lecture by Christopher K. Morgan
As a multi-racial, multi-hyphenate artist I have spent a substantial portion of my career in primarily western influenced art forms that often overshadowed the Native Hawaiian and Polynesian dance forms I learned as a child. For more than 10 years, I have been on a journey to holistically integrate the multitude of identities I hold into my creative practice. As choreographer, artist, and writer Liz Lerman says “Artists can hold many truths at once.” I draw inspiration from this notion as I re-indigenize my practice, embracing the totality of who I am as human in my artistic practice, and share this ongoing journey in this Diverse Discourse Lecture.
ADMISSION: The lecture is free to attend; seating is first-come, first-served.
PARKING: Enter the University of Houston Campus from Elgin Street and turn into Entrance 18 to park in the Elgin Street Parking Garage. UH Visitor Parking Map
ACCESSIBILITY: ASL interpretation will be provided.
STUDIO VISITS: Houston-area artists may apply for a studio visit with Christopher. Application deadline is Friday, March 18. Click here for guidelines and the online application portal.
ABOUT CHRISTOPHER K. MORGAN
Christopher K. Morgan (he/him) is a choreographer, educator, facilitator, curator, and arts administrator. Known as a thoughtful advocate for cultural integrity, inclusivity and diverse representation in the studio and on stage, his Native Hawaiian ancestry and wide-ranging international performance career influence all aspects of his work. Morgan founded his contemporary dance company Christopher K. Morgan & Artists in 2011 to create performances that explore identity, social, and cultural issues. Grants and awards include a 2013 Native Arts & Cultures Foundation Fellowship, 2014 and 2019 NPN Creation Funds, 2014 and 2019 NEFA National Dance Project Production Grant, 2018 Native Launchpad Award from the Western Arts Alliance, and a 2019 Dance USA Fellowship for Artists.
Morgan is currently Vice President of Programming at Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Previously, Morgan was Director of the Center for Native Arts and Culture (CNAC), Portland, OR. Prior to that, Morgan was Executive Artistic Director of Dance Place in Washington, D.C., where he stewarded the organization through the triple pandemics of 2020 maintaining the entire staff with no layoffs or furloughs while continuing to pay artists and teachers. At Dance Place, he oversaw the curation of over 30 weekends of performances and artist-centered projects annually, a school for youth and adults, and continued Dance Place’s role as a neighborhood community arts center and nationally prominent performing arts presenter.
The 2021-22 Diverse Discourse Lecture Series is supported in part by HOK and Lovett Commercial.
