Join Cumbe RISE Community Dance Company

Cumbe RISE Community Dance Company

Dunham-Informed Jazz Technique & Performance Workshop

With Instruction & Choreography by Candice Michelle Franklin

Join Cumbe RISE Community Dance Company

A Community Dance Performance Group Open to Dancers of All Levels

How to join? Come join us for Dunham-Informed Jazz Technique & Performance Workshop, a special class and choreography series open to community dancers of all levels culminating into a live concert-staged performance presented by Cumbe with the option to perform at Cumbe socials and locally produced community events. There are no auditions. All classes are on Saturdays at Noon.

Next Workshop Series Begins June 7, 2025

Please note that this class series is part of Cumbe RISE Saturdays at Noon,

a curated class series to train Cumbe RISE Community Dance Company student dance members. This class is also open to all Cumbe dance students.

Class Description: Inspired by the work of Katherine Dunham, dancers will explore Dunham's movement vocabulary often used in Jazz dance, traditional modern Jazz motifs, as well as vernacular jazz movement and experiment with the three to ultimately train and strengthen the body for a concert Jazz dance movement aesthetic.  For each meeting, a classic Dunham warm-up will be given followed by lively, Dunham-inspired Jazz progressions.  The final 45 minutes of class will be reserved for choreography creation, ultimately building a concert dance piece.   Class is open and embraces all levels, yet challenging enough for students who haven't danced for many years in a fun, freeing, and supportive environment.  

Perform with Cumbe.  All Are Welcome.

Excited to join?  Check out our recap video!

Performance Workshop Recap

December 4, 2022
Performed at the Billie Holiday Theatre

Sample Dunham-Informed Jazz & Performance Technique Class Schedule

        Saturday Technique Classes         12:00 pm - 1:15 pm Dunham-Informed Jazz Technique Class         1:15 pm - 2:00 pm Creative Choreography Session and Rehearsal

        Show at the Billie Holiday Theatre         Show Week (Dates To BE Announced)         2 Night Rehearsals                  Tech Rehearsal & Performance (Same Day)

        ***Performance opportunities for other community events and Cumbe socials         are optional and may require additional rehearsal.

Dunham-Informed Jazz Technique & Performance Workshop

Come Dance With Us!

***

Miss Candice Advocates for the Reinstatement of Funding from National Endowment of the Arts

 

Reinstate Funding from the National Endowment of the Arts

On Wednesday, May 21, 2025 -on an otherwise miserably rainy day when most folks would rather stay at home- I traveled down to New York City Hall for the first time in my life to exercise my right as a citizen and a working New York City teaching artist.  Emerging from the subway, I walked around all lost, literally didn't even know where the front door was located, but, it didn't matter, I was determined to find the entrance, exercise my right, and testify. 

Why was I there?  I was testifying in front of the New York City Council to advocate for the replacement of funds cut by the federal government issued by the National Endowment of the Arts. 

Flanked by leaders from some of the most prestigious arts institutions and libraries in New York, I stood as the lone independent teaching artist speaking in favor of all arts organizations on the necessity of maintaining arts funding.  As I waited my turn, I saw representatives from the New York Public Library, the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, Lincoln Center, Flushing Town Hall, and Dance Parade, arts advocacy organizations like New Yorkers for Culture and Arts and Dance/NYC, as well as smaller arts organizations such as the Chocolate Factory Theater, CCCADI and Cumbe Center for African and Diaspora Dance. When my turn came up, I walked up to the council's dais, sat in front of the microphone, and gave a short two-minute summarized statement live to the New York City Council.  Below is the full testimony I submitted online.  

https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/Calendar.aspx

Sammy & Candy Goes Country

Sammy & Candy goes Country with the
 Amazing Queen Esther at Flushing Town Hall!

Thank you, Queen Esther, for inviting us again to share
a little dance and relate a little history.

Cumbe Dunham Jazz Performance Workshop Recap

Dunham Jazz Performance Workshop

Open Level

Taught by Miss Candice Michelle Franklin

10 Sessions
@Cumbe Center for African and Diaspora Dance

Brooklyn, NY

Performance Workshop Recap
December 4, 2022
Performed at the Billie Holiday Theatre

DANCE FOR JOY!

Dunham Jazz Performance Workshop

With Instruction & Choreography by Candice Michelle Franklin

Join Cumbe's Dunham Jazz Performance Workshop!

A Community Dance Group Open to Dancers of All Levels

Dunham Jazz Performance Workshop is a special class and choreography series open to community dancers of all levels culminating into a live concert-staged performance presented by Cumbe with the option to perform at Cumbe socials and locally produced community events.

Next Workshop SeriesTo Be Announced

Please note that this choreography workshop is an extension of the Dunham-Informed Jazz Technique class at Cumbe. 

Class Description: Inspired by the work of Katherine Dunham, dancers will explore Dunham's movement vocabulary often used in Jazz dance, traditional modern Jazz motifs, as well as vernacular jazz movement and experiment with the three to ultimately train and strengthen the body for a concert Jazz dance movement aesthetic.  For each meeting, a classic Dunham warm-up will be given followed by lively, Dunham-inspired Jazz progressions.  The final hour of each class will be reserved for choreography creation, ultimately building a concert dance piece.   Class is open and embraces all levels, yet challenging enough for students who haven't danced for many years in a fun, freeing, and supportive environment.  

Perform with Cumbe.  All Are Welcome.

Excited to join?  Check out our recap video!

Sample Dunham Jazz Performance Workshop Schedule

8 Sessions (Dates To Be Announced)

1:30 pm - 2:45 pm Dunham-Informed Jazz Technique Class

2:45 pm - 3:45 pm Creative Choreography Session and Rehearsal

Show Week (Dates To BE Announced)

2 Night Rehearsals

Tech Rehearsal & Performance (Same Day)

Performance Location:  Billie Holiday Theater

Performance opportunities for other community events and Cumbe socials are optional and may require additional rehearsal.

Dunham Jazz Performance Workshop

Come Dance With Us!

***

Having Fun at IABD

Had a great time this year at IABD 2020 in beautiful downtown Philadelphia.  I got to teach master classes and hang out with Joffrey Ballet School Director, Jo Matos and my beautiful Dunham sisters.  Shout out to the Dunham ladies Pinky, Patricia, Heather, Penny, Molly, Jan, and Nicole!  Ya'll look Marvelous!

My Latin Jazz Class at IABD

Hanging out with my Dunham Sisters at IABD!

Master Class and Audition Schedule Winter 2020 for Candice Michelle Franklin

Master Class and Audition Schedule Winter 2020
for Candice Michelle Franklin

DATE	VENUE	CITY
1/5/2020	Colorado Conservatory of Dance	Broomfield, CT
1/12/2020	Wilton Dance Studio	Wilton, CT
1/16-17/2020	IABD Philadelphia International Association of Blacks in Dance	Philadelphia, PA
1/19/2020	Ballet Repertory Theatre of New Mexico	Albuquerque, NM
1/26/2020	Young Dance Academy	Oak Creek, WI
2/1/2020	Art in Motion Dance Center	Melville, NY
2/2/2020	School of Classical Ballet and Dance	West Des Moines, IA
2/9/2020	Kansas City Ballet School	Kansas City, MO
2/29/2020	Legacy Center for the Arts	Summerville, South Carolina
3/1/2020	Pennsylvania School of the Performing Arts	Newtown, PA
3/8/2020	Jody Phillips Dance Company	Overland Park, KS
3/14/2020	Heart of America	Lee Summit, MO

***

Ballroom Dance Teaching Journey!

I’m on a New Journey Folks!

I’m learning Ballroom Dance majoring in the Latin Dance/Rhythm Dance Styles. Today I earned my Junior’s Associate Certificate in the DVIDA Syllabus in Rhythm at the Ballroom Dance Teacher’s College in Las Cruces, New Mexico!

I’m totally learning how to be a lead (traditional male’s role), something I never really knew how to do, and I can’t wait to add this new skill set to my Jazz repertoire.  Look out folks…  here comes Rumba, Mambo, Cha Cha, Bolero, and East Coast Swing to a rehearsal studio near you!

Location:  Ballroom Dance Teacher’s College at Sol Ballroom, Las Cruces, New Mexico
Hannah Cole, Director

Catch Me With Your Eagle Eye!

The things I do on my day off........

With an eagle eye, you can catch me in the upper left corner!!!! 
I'm trying to give you serious concern face...




Law & Order SVU "Mea Culpa"
Season 20 Episode 9
November 15, 2018

Candice on Stephen Colbert again!!!

Check out who is on Stephen Colbert again....  A tiny role, but check me out stage left and maroon blazer doing arm "ography" at the very end!!!  An eagle eye would see me in the very beginning too!!!!

Master Class at KU

Here’s a combo from the Bucket Dance/People in the City that I originally created and choreographed on the students of Joffrey Ballet School.  In this video, I got the students from the University of Kansas getting a kick out of it… LOL

A Great Day with CPAM

Hey, Everybody!

I got the  pleasure to be asked to guest choreograph “Be Our Guest” for Center of Performing Arts Methuen, Boston, production of Beauty of the Beast today.
The kids were amazing.  We were able to do all of this in one day’s rehearsal.  I LOVE THESE KIDS!  Enjoy…….

Thank you, Michelle Michitson, for having me today!

Mingus in My Cup Performance Video

“Mingus in My Cup”
Choreography by Candice Michelle Franklin
Music by Charles Mingus
Finally, here’s the video of now one of my favorite pieces ever!!!
Performed by the company students of Pro Arte Dance Centre, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

CatchingART Contemporary Ballet Theatre
Miss Astrid Sherman, Director

Master Class and Audition Schedule Winter 2017 for Candice Michelle Franklin

 

Master Class and Audition Schedule Winter 2017
for Candice Michelle Franklin

Date	Studio	Location
1/8/2017	Edge School for Athletics	Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1/14/2017	Elite Dance Studio	Portland, Oregon
1/15/2017	Pro Arte Centre/Pro Merita	North Vancouver, B.C. Canada
1/21/2017	Dance Prodigy Booking	Bellingham, Washington
1/22/2017	California Dance Theater	Agoura Hill, CA
1/25/2017- 1/27/2017	IABD 29th International Annual Conference  Hosted by Dallas Black Dance Theatre	Dallas, TX
1/28/2017	Hovi Strauss – Dance, Etc.!	Grand Forks, ND
2/12/2017	Kansas City Ballet	Kansas City, MO
2/25/2017	School of Alberta Ballet	Calgary, Alberta, Canada

 

 

***

Together We Dance December 2016

Had a Blast Teaching in St. Louis again!  These girls worked so hard in their 3-Hour Master Class Workshop.
Thanks so much, Chaz, and Together We Dance! 
See you again in the New Year…….

Bankole and Candice Together Again at The Players Club

 

At the first play reading at the beautiful The Players Club in Gramercy Park in New York City.  In these photos, I’m setting up the backstory for the dance scene in "Painted Virgin!" Shout out to my beautiful dancers, Starr Dee portraying Madonna and Johnny Chatman II portraying Jean Michel Basquiat through the art of movement!!!!  Thank you, Director Bon Bankole, for having me join you on a project again!

Afro Blue at Harlem Arts Festival

I love this piece!!!
I love my Joffrey Ballet School Students!!!
I love Rajdulari Barnes!!!!
I love Jazz Ain’t Dead®!!!!

Enjoy…

Overjoyed with Maria and Gierre at the Harlem Arts Festival Summer 2016

Proud Mama moment…. 

OVERJOYED

My piece I’ve performed many a time over the past few years, and now performing this past summer at the Harlem Arts Festival is my GORGEOUS former student from the Joffrey Ballet School Jazz and Contemporary, Maria Rodriguez, who is now Killing IT with one of my favorite partners and veteran dancer’s of all time of Jazz Ain’t Dead, Gierre Godley.

I love you guys so much.   And, I’m going to miss Rajdulari Barnes singing for me as she goes on to her new adventure in Denver, Colorado.

Samba version of Stevie Wonder’s Overjoyed performed by Jazz Ain’t Dead featuring Maria Rodriguez and Gierre Godley and vocals by Rajdulari Barnes and Billy Davis, Jr.

Enjoy!

Afro Blue and Dream Deferred Cast A Tech Rehearsal 2 Joffrey Ballet School

I LOVE my students at Joffrey Ballet School Jazz and Contemporary Department!
Interlude A Dream Deferred

Afro Blue
Music by Rajdulari Barnes
All Choreography by Candice Michelle Franklin
Courtesy of Jazz Ain't Dead (R)

 

Fun Day on a Television Series

Had a BLAST teaching on set today. Look who played a 1980's Aerobics Instructor for a TV series today! ha, ha, ha ........AND 5, 6, 7 and punch it out......... LOL

 

Harlem Arts Festival Recap Video

 

Yay!!!!  We made it into the Harlem Arts Festival Recap Video!

JAZZ AIN’T DEAD

Enjoy!