Sarah Crowell

Who I am

I am a Black/biracial, queer, dancer/choreographer who has taught dance, theater, mindfulness, and arts integration for over 35 years. I’m my mother’s daughter – someone who knows the power of art, community-building and self-inquiry on the path to liberation. I’m my father’s daughter – someone deeply dedicated to social justice and family. 

For 30 years I was a leader at Destiny Arts Center, whose mission is to inspire and ignite social change through the arts, where she served as both Artistic Director and Executive Director. I founded and co-directed the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company which was the subject of two documentary films, and won the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award.

I have facilitated arts integration, violence prevention, antiracism and team building sessions with artists, educators, nonprofit and corporate leaders, both locally and nationally. I’m the recipient of the KPFA Peace award, the KQED Women’s History Local Hero award, the Bay Area Dance Week award, the Alameda County Arts Leadership award, and the National Guild for Community Arts Education Milestone award. She was a four-time finalist for a Tony Award for Excellence in Theater Education. 

I performed with dance companies for 15 years, including Impulse Jazz Dance Company in Boston and the Dance Brigade in San Francisco.  I founded and co-directed the dance/theater company i am Productions!

Since leaving Destiny Arts Center, I’ve worked with Circo Zero, the Hewlett Foundation, St. Mary’s College, Dance Mission Theater (Liberation Academy), the Othering and Belonging Institute, Movement Liberation and The World As It Could Be, doing artistic collaborations, curriculum writing, facilitation, arts festival and conference curation, and public speaking.

I believe passionately that the arts are an essential component of the journey to social justice, especially art forms that involve moving the body. I believe deeply that movement must be part of all movements for social change.