Classes and Choreography Raissa is an African American- Filipina choreographer whose work has been from a cross-cultural approach. In San Francisco she hopes to gain a deeper understanding of challenges of mixed heritage by use of dynamics and non-traditional dances.

Her artistic discovery continues to expose her to new paradigms that allow her to push forth new ideas by incorporating visual design/media art. Her research has led her to find collaborating artists with compelling hybrid multi-disciplines; study racial ambiguity, digital divides, and collective re-visioning.

At the heart of her study, she seeks to engage Multiracial peoples to gain deeper understanding of human transcendence from rigid color-lines. Her travels have led her to visit Seattle and Puerto Rico. She specifically gathers materials from intercultural patterns of isolation or adaptation.

Through generous support of the San Francisco Arts Commission: Arts & Community Innovative Partnerships, Zellerbach Family Foundation in association with the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation & the Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation; she engaged San Francisco’s Multiracial Community with community partner 3rd St Youth Center & Clinic in Bayview Hunters Point to form dance media works and discourse on multiculturalism.

Learn more about the work at Active Rep

"I am inspired by art that blurs the boundaries of genres. Because I come from a very multiracial/ multicultural background, blending one thing from the other for me- comes quite easily. Collaborating comes natural to me so, I like to give my Collaborators a lot of room to explore what is interesting to them. In return, we all work in parallel towards the same goal."

-Raissa Simpson during Joyce Theater Blog Interview