Anne Bluethenthal

In 1984, Anne Bluethenthal created ABD Productions, a multicultural, multi-ethnic, performing arts company committed to inspiring social change through the arts. Her choreographic language troubles the paradigm of western dance while crafting content driven choreographies that face difficult issues of the day with eloquence and passion. Bluethenthal’s work grows from the belief that relationship is the first site of social change. After 3 decades of building a repertoire of original works, in 2011 Bluethenthal initiated the Skywatchers program. Rooted in SF’s Tenderloin District, Skywatchers is a mixed-ability, community-based performing arts ensemble of Bay Area artists and Tenderloin neighbors committed to leveraging arts for justice and equity. our work emerges from the issues and urgent concerns that animate ensemble members’ lives, most of whom are subject to conditions of housing insecurity and disenfranchisement. These underrepresented stories are placed strategically within artistic and civic discourses. Her community engaged practice also produced ANDARES, an ongoing collaboration with survivors of the Salvadoran civil war to propel the historical memory movement of that country. Among the honors Bluethenthal has received are the Artist Legacy Award from the San Francisco Arts Commission, Award of Recognition from El Teatro Nacional de San Salvador, YBCA 100, SF Chronicle’s Best of 2001, SF Weekly’s Black Box, the SF Bay Guardian’s Goldie Award for Achievement in Dance, and the Rhinette Award for Choreography from Theatre Rhinoceros.