Ariana Speight is a contemporary dance artist, creator, and performer invested in researching the curiosities of life through various mediums. Originally from Los Angeles and currently based in Brooklyn, she has worked with a number of artists including Kayla Farrish, Joanna Kotze, Jordan Demetrius Lloyd, Kyle Marshall, Anna Sperber, and Jessie Young. Her freelance journey has led her to perform at Brooklyn Arts Exchange, Chelsea Factory, Coffey Street, CPR – Center for Performance Research, Dancewave, Lincoln Center Hearst Plaza, New York Live Arts, Pageant, Roulette Intermedium, The Shed, The Space at Irondale, The Tank, Webster Hall, among other venues in New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania. As a maker, she has shared solo work virtually and in-person including: ‘morph’ (2023), ‘an introduction’ (2022), ‘endearing indifference’ (2021), and ‘loading… all systems functioning’ (2021). Speight was a 2024 CPR Artist in Residence and presented an OPEN LAB: DIGITAL ARCHIVE and OPEN AiR: ‘cocoon’. Venturing into standup comedy, she has been featured in several shows throughout the city – most notably involved in the Black Women in Comedy Laff Festival.
Vent & Drain This embodied monologue explores cyclical patterns addressing what shapes us as human beings. Led by joy and guided by emergent strategy, these autobiographical fragments prioritize spontaneous compositions driven by the power of the voice.
“My creative history with New Dance Alliance goes a way long. Since my friend, Chivas Sandage brought me to New Dance Alliance to rehearse in early 90’s, the place has become a part of my creative life. The long time existence of the studio and Performance Mix Festival are vital to the artists who seek and explore deep into their process. Whenever I step into the studio, it’s a new space with a lot of memories. I lie down on the floor, listen to my body, and I dance. It is valuable. The time in the space nurtures my practice and artistic vision. Karen’s vision of Lift-Off residency, feedback sessions, providing peer to peer connections are more significant than ever. It has been helping us to get through 2020 and we are going into 2021.”
– Nami Yamamoto
New Dance Alliance
182 Duane Street
New York, NY 10013