The Belonging Resident Company (BRC) is a groundbreaking performance ensemble that centers BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ artists, facilitators, and musicians on the mission to make the revolution of belonging irresistible. Through radical imagination, contemporary and hip-hop dance, movement theater, and playback theater, we aim to foster embodied experiences of belonging and dismantle systems of oppression.
Our Mission
BRC exists to create spaces for healing and solidarity, uplift a vision of belonging without othering, and activate embodied strategies for collective liberation. By transforming how people experience belonging, we challenge exclusionary structures and advocate for justice and equity across all social contexts.
Our Approach
BRC employs a unique blend of artistic forms to engage participants in exploring the intersections of race, gender, and identity. We integrate modern, hip-hop, and jazz dance styles alongside movement-theater techniques, combining text and movement to tell powerful stories. Additionally, we use playback theater and Theater of the Oppressed practices to spark empathy, helping participants cultivate a deeper understanding of belonging.
Key Frameworks We Bring to Life
In collaboration with Be the Change Consulting, Moving Joy, and World Trust, BRC activates the Othering and Belonging Institute’s frameworks, including:
- Belonging without Othering: Exploring the essence of belonging without marginalizing others.
- Bridging vs. Breaking: Strategies to bridge divides and foster understanding rather than deepen social fractures.
- Targeted Universalism: Creating solutions that work for marginalized groups while benefiting everyone.
Our Work
- Performances: BRC’s performances are participatory, bringing audiences into the experience of belonging through creative arts. Our debut performance at the April 2024 Othering & Belonging Conference in front of 1,800 attendees demonstrated the power of embodied empathy and collective co-creation.
- Workshops: We offer workshops that merge dance, somatics, and theater with facilitation techniques, offering participants a chance to explore personal and collective experiences of belonging.
- Research: We also research how our performances impact our understanding of inclusion, helping position BRC as a cultural strategy for fostering equity through art.
Our Vision
Our vision is to create a ripple effect of belonging through the transformative power of the arts. By amplifying underrepresented voices and fostering a sense of solidarity, we aim to make meaningful changes in personal experiences and institutional practices, ultimately contributing to a world where everyone belongs.
Background and History
BRC was formed in 2024 under the co-leadership of Sarah Crowell, former Executive Director and Artistic Director of Destiny Arts Center and current President of Moving Joy LLC, and Sangita Kumar, Founder and CEO of Be the Change Consulting, alongside founding collaborator Julia McKeown of the Othering & Belonging Institute. BRC was created to embody the frameworks of the Othering & Belonging Institute in performance, debuting with a transformative show at the Othering & Belonging Conference in April 2024.
Key Members and Founders
- Sarah Crowell: Co-founder, current director, President of Moving Joy LLC, and renowned Oakland artist.
- Sangita Kumar: Co-founder and director, Founder and CEO of Be the Change Consulting.
- Julia McKeown: Founding collaborator and Othering & Belonging Institute’s Campus Bridging Project Specialist.
Why BRC is Unique
BRC stands out because of our focus on embodied storytelling and our use of artistic practices to create spaces for empathy and healing. We blend diverse artistic forms—dance, theater, and facilitation—while grounding our work in the frameworks of the Othering & Belonging Institute, making us a bridge between art and social justice. Our unique combination of playback theater and the Institute's core frameworks allows us to turn theory into lived experience, making the revolution of belonging a palpable reality for our audiences and participants.
Join Us in the Revolution of Belonging
BRC is more than a performance ensemble—we are a movement. As we navigate the challenges of our times, we remain committed to using the arts to dismantle oppression and build a world where everyone can belong. Together, we can make the revolution of belonging irresistible.
Click here to audition for BRC on January 29, 2025!
