Special Presentation Tracks

Every year, a small number of artists are selected to present bold, groundbreaking new work in our Special Presentation Tracks at the festival. These are curated pathways that celebrate vision, voice, and virtuosity across identity, form, and experience. The 2025 tracks are shaped by a powerhouse panel of artists, producers, and field-shifting cultural leaders. Their selections are in. The artists have been chosen. Explore their shows below, as well as the panelists who selected them!

BIPOC New Work Award

  • Cierra Woods

    sis.tem | gateways to safehouses exposes the weight of societal objectification on the spiritual body of black femmes. Lifting and enlivening movement and melodic rituals that call into question, how can we ignite century-long spells cast upon us as protection in eras of refinement and reformation?

  • Ishmael Walker

    The Boo Hag- The Boo Hag is a cautionary tale of home-making and home-breaking. Haints, or evil spirits, show up when you least expect it. A widowed woman and her house cleaner must survive the haunting nightmare at the hands of the breathtaking Boo Hag.

  • pauli reese

    Starfish and the Weighted Blanket: a comedy thing about grief- what does grief look like? smell like? taste like? sound like? starfish the clown explores these questions in a improvised one-person show where some brave audience members will be invited into the experience. 

  • Lucia Bedoya

    El idioma de lo silenciado- An experimental tragedy unfolding through bodies, voices, and silences. This piece reimagines the ancient tragic chorus in a contemporary setting to embody the collective voice of a generation silenced, displaced, and disillusioned.

  • ANKOLE

    NFRW/T- a BIPOC Queer Circus Arts production honoring our Ancestors' Spirituality where the duality of feminine + masculine energies presents itself in elements of nature, originating in Egypt since 3150 BC before European colonization sought to eradicate & discredit our culture.

New Work by Circus Artists of Color (CSAW Award)

  • Joi Cox

    The Death Circus, is an artistic exploration of universal end-of-life themes and rituals that connect us. Aerialists, movement artists, and musicians invite the audience to reflect on some of the complexities surrounding loss, decay, grief, fear, and peace.

Every year, a small number of artists are selected to present bold, groundbreaking new work in our Special Presentation Tracks at the festival. These are curated pathways that celebrate vision, voice, and virtuosity across identity, form, and experience. The 2025 tracks are shaped by a powerhouse panel of artists, producers, and field-shifting cultural leaders. Their selections are in. The artists have been chosen. Explore their shows below!!

  • Lisa Volta
    Myriam Ali

  • Wi-Moto Nyoka
    Joyce Chung
    Nia Benjamin

  • Nathan Alford Tate
    Orianna Lee
    Queen Ravenden

  • Taibi Magar
    Tyler Dobrosky

  • Sam Tower
    Ganiah Bracy
    Ben Grinberg

  • Angel Edwards
    Taj Rauch
    Yannick Trapman-O’Brien