My Mission
As an artist I aim to create work that is used as a catalyst for social change; creating work in hopes to bring awareness and enlightenment to societal issues that are constantly unacknowledged. It is my desire that my work sparks conversation, that an audience can walk away pondering a thought, one they can resonate with, alter their perspective, and aid change for the greater good. Most importantly I aim to keep the African Diasporic culture alive, to gain knowledge and a sense of self, so that we all might thrive and seek liberation. To me, liberation is our goal; to have obtained a liberated sense of self through knowledge, style, art, and a way of life. Living life boldly, as we seek to state change and evolution. We all deserve that freedom
Bio
Affectionately known as Dani Criss The Artist; a dancer, actress, activist, creator, and writer,
Dani Criss seeks to explore the individuality in humanity, the concept of self liberation, and the
use of ourselves and our work as catalyst for social change. She is heavily influenced by the
African diaspora, her heritage, and the history we stand on as she implements thorough research
elements and processes through her artistry. Trained extensively in the dances of the African
Diaspora, predominantly in West African and Congolese techniques, various stylings of modern,
jazz, musical theatre, hip hop, and liturgical dances. Dani is a graduate of High Point University
with a B.A. in Theatre Performance and Dance. As an actress, she studies authentic storytelling
and uses techniques such as Misner to connect to true places of empathy. From comedic relief,
to the undeniable underdog, and the powerhouse, Dani grasps the essence of character work as
if it’s her story; having worked in her collegiate theatre company, performing in outdoor theatre
projects, collaborative theatre, and writing works of her own. She has trained with Collage
Dance Company (Durham, NC), the American Dance Festival and their faculty (Durham, NC),
Otesha Cultural Arts Ensemble (Winston Salem, NC), Urban Bush Women and the Summer
Leadership Institute (New Orleans, LA & Brooklyn, NY), The Honorable Chuck Davis and the
African American Dance Ensemble (Durham, NC), as well as numerous other professional artist
around the country. Her work has been seen at High Point University (High Point, NC), the
American College Dance Association (Tennessee and Mississippi), Mark Morris Dance Center
(Brooklyn, NY), Headlong Theatre (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), The Durham Arts Council
(Durham, NC), and other various festivals, schools, and venues in NC and NYC. Dani strives to
create and display authentic work that will ultimately touch, inspire, and change lives. She is a
native of Durham, NC and currently works, trains, teaches and performs as a freelance artist in
Brooklyn, NY.