Created and directed by Michael Galen
Breakin Portland is a groundbreaking new dance theater work that amplifies the untold stories of Portland’s breakdancers—artists who have dedicated their lives to this urban folk art with little financial reward but profound social impact. Through a live performance, voiceovers drawn from personal interviews, and powerful solo vignettes, the show illuminates how breaking has shaped the lives of mostly low-income BIPOC men in our city, offering safety, community, and purpose in the face of disenfranchisement. Set against live music and a backdrop of street-inspired art and murals, Breakin Portland invites theater audiences to experience breaking as more than entertainment: it is a public good that keeps youth safe, fosters belonging, and enriches our cultural landscape. By investing in this project, you support not only a dynamic performance, but also workshops, community engagement, and opportunities for local dancers to be compensated, seen, and celebrated for their artistry.
GRIOT takes audiences on a powerful journey from the roots of Senegal to the shores of Brazil and into the heart of the American South. Through movement, music, and memory, this dance theater work honors the griot—keeper of oral tradition, lineage, and community spirit. Choreographed by Oluyinka Akinjiola and Michael Galen with an original score featuring Tama master Massamba Diop, GRIOT blends virtuosic performance with immersive storytelling, inviting audiences to step into the griot’s role themselves.
Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater seeks to diversify the contemporary dance landscape with untold stories and under-told perspectives of communities of color. Grounded in values from the African Diaspora we use our art as activism. Rejoice! celebrates and cultivates community through artistic engagement, performances, and dialogue, weaving stories of hardship and triumph.
READ MORENo amount is too small. Give $25, $50, $100 or whatever calls to you. Rejoice! is a Non Profit Organization committed to bringing high artistic quality to the Portland Community and beyond. Every donation makes a difference.
Rejoice! is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, making your donation tax deductible. Tax ID #84-2709421
