Every year, BlakTinx presents work from Black and Latinx dance artists in SoCal, offering a kaleidoscope of choreography that operates as a pulse check on the community. For the 2026 iteration on April 26 at Crenshaw Yoga & Dance, the artists brought high-caliber dance spanning from Cumbia to Krump.
The theme of this year’s iteration was “Unmuted: Power to the People in Motion,” reflecting on today’s state of the U.S., which is defined by mass deportation and racial discrimination. The goal of these dances isn’t to directly speak to American politics but to find pride in Black and Brown existence.
BlakTinx Dance Festival 2026 – “Rosa Latina” by Kai Martinez – Photo by von.vintage.images.
Kai Martinez presented “Rosa Latina,” a Cumbia piece full of energy and ground-shaking rhythm. One by one, the dancers stepped on stage, stamping their feet flat to the ground and swaying their hips. Cumbia, an Afro-Colombian dance style, incorporates syncopated beats. Without a live band, Martinez’s choreography turns the body into an instrument. The work allows the dancers to find moments of authenticity by inviting their own styles through solos. One person brought a hip-hop phrase while another brought a contemporary spin. As they find a breath of unison, the dancers shake the ground with the stomps of their feet, shaking the chairs in the audience and inviting viewers to match the energy.
BlakTinx Dance Festival 2026 – Bad Newz & JBAD – “Gangsta’s Paradise” – Photo by von.vintage.images.
Bad Newz & JBAD, proponents of 818 lock-in Krump sessions, shared “Gangsta’s Paradise.” The piece was presented through Krump, allowing the style’s storytelling abilities to take center stage. The dancers shared a personal story that documented a journey from struggle to community, beginning with gunfire and ending with a group embrace. The dance is split into chapters, and as the characters mimic a push or pull, tugging at an invisible rope tied to other dancers, the story progresses. The Kump choreography is full of emotion and passion. The performers have a strong understanding of the style’s dynamics, finding the right moments to shift from a fast-moving step to a slow-motion moment of contemplation.
BlakTinx Dance Festival 2026 – The Heath Experience by Chantel Heath – Photo by von.vintage.images.
Chantel Heath, the recipient of the Community Achievement Award for the night, offered a taste of The Heath Experience, her dance education group. The medley of pieces represented the extent of her expansive offerings. Beginning with a sharp kids’ tap routine, the work quickly merged into a tap routine with her older students, hip hop, contemporary and jazz. As they jump from one routine to the next, Heath shares how each dance genre informs the others. The Heath Experience is a magical sight. Her students are dedicated and professional. Throughout the piece, props flew and shoes fell, but the dance kept going. The dancers were on the same frequency, picking up the wardrobe malfunctions with ease. This is the sign of true professionalism in dance.
BlakTinx Dance Festival 2026 – “The Party We Carry” by Tatiana Rawsstein – Photo by von.vintage.images.
Tatiana Rawsstein’s “The Party We Carry” was the most succinct and strongest of the night. The performers turned the stage into a house party, walking on with red solo cups in pairs and trios. They set up the piece, immersing the audience in the living room with music bumping out of the speakers. The hip hop dance piece was reminiscent of the early 2000s, incorporating popular steps and wardrobe. The choreography was dynamic in composition, creating small moments and connections across the stage. Rawsstein knows how to make the most of the space, having performers go right up to the audience, activating every corner of the stage. It is a true live concert experience.
BlakTinx Dance Festival 2026 – Creative NetworkICEF Performing Arts – Photo by von.vintage.images.
Following the intermission, Creative Netwerk/ICEF Performing Arts presented a short piece by Dorian Alexxia. The piece highlighted the community partner BlakTinx and shared the work happening in local schools. The dance was fun and joyous.
BlakTinx Dance Festival 2026 – “Tlapohua (to get up and rise again)” by Zanina Mendoza – Photo by von.vintage.images.
Zarina Mendoza’s “Tlapohua (to get up and rise again)” was an emotional look into the social impacts of immigration on Latinx families. The piece centers on two dancers, Juan Carlos Garcia and Angela Bass, who represent a partnership challenged by the demands of immigration paperwork. Once fluid and calm, the contemporary choreography grows more tense and erratic. The duo has a few missed connections as their hopes of immigrating are challenged by paperwork. In one section, they rush from chair to chair on stage, shuffling through stacks of paper. The piece offers a glimpse into how these challenges impact the loved ones around you. They grow out of sync, and their loving embrace alters into flailing limbs. Audio of Trump and protests interrupts the work. They nearly pause in the wake of the new audio. This piece is a powerful meditation on the legal and emotional risks of crossing borders.
BlakTinx Dance Festival 2026 – Culture in “Mas Casa” – Photo by von.vintage.images.
Cultura’s “Mas Cara” is a fierce hip hop routine that highlights Cuban culture. This work stands out for its specificity and tight ensemble, showing just why Cultura received the second award, Trailblazer Recognition. The choreography mixes sensual grooves of the hips with piercing, quick sections of whacking. “Mas Cara” is slim, lasting only a few minutes, but packs a punch.
BlakTinx Dance Festival 2026 – “Your Value is Internal” by Old School Skinny – Photo by von.vintage.images.
Lastly, Old School Skinny presented “Your Value is Internal.” This piece highlights the communal effort it takes to raise a child, centering on a young dancer who is adopted by a community of dancers. The dancers themselves come from all walks of life and find joy in the steps they embody. The piece is a bit free form, but intentionally. The work highlights the joys people find through connection, similar to the purpose of BlakTinx, making it the perfect closer of the night.
For more information about BlakTinx Dance Festival, please visit their website.
Written by Steven Vargas for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: BlakTinx Dance Festival 2026 – Bad Newz & JBAD – “Gangsta’s Paradise” – Photo by von.vintage.images.
