“...when I was truly lost I did the one thing I could rely on: I made a dance. Was that enough? That is for the viewer to decide. But tapping into the immense power of performance to provoke, to prod, to move, to have heartfelt conversations in a seemingly heartless time - that felt like the most important thing I could do.”

- David Rousseve

WACsmash 2022:

To Whom It May Concern

WACsmash is a showcase and gallery of dance, film, music, spoken word, photography and other artistic work created and produced by undergraduate students in the World Arts and Cultures/Dance Department at UCLA. WACsmash 2022: To Whom It May Concern presents social justice works relevant to the WACD student body. We, ARTivists, hope to spark conversation and change in the broader UCLA community.

Both performing and visual artists within our department showcase their pieces at our very own Kaufman Hall! Performing arts are performed in the Dance Theater (RM 200), while visual arts pieces are displayed in our gallery in the Rainbow Lounge. The three dance films this year are screened in RM 208 before, during (intermission), and after the live shows at the theater.

In light of many social justice movements within the past year, we want to provide a space for artists to express concepts and themes that resonate with them personally, including but not limited to women’s rights, mental health, Asian lives, and LGTBQ+ stories.

Though this year we are fortunate to perform in person at Kaufman, we are also livestreaming the performance to increase accessibility, strengthen our reach, and provide a virtual option in these hybrid times.

We are beyond excited to share these stories! Please browse to explore, educate, and enjoy!

Producers: 

Dewa Ayu Larassanti, Lindsay Backer, Bernice Wang, Miel Lei Apostol, Leonardo Flores