OFA Open Dance Studios!

You're invited to witness two open rehearsals (October 2nd and October 30th) of a new evening-length work by dance company Soca Fusion, led by Ella Wechler-Matthaei. The work is rooted in Soca, Caribbean, and Carnival traditions, celebrating joy, resilience, and embodied expression within the Black diaspora. Created by a collective of dancers, choreographers, and live musicians, it traces a journey from everyday life to the liberation of Carnival, blending Soca, Caribbean folklore, West African, hip hop, dancehall, and Afrobeats movement vocabularies. Through performance and community workshops, Soca Fusion centers Black embodied knowledge, invites multi‑generational engagement, and expands the national dance landscape by elevating dance forms historically under‑represented in U.S. concert contexts. 

Ella is also a regular Teaching Artist, teaching Soca Fusion as part of the OFA Dance Program's Community Courses. 

All open studios are free and open to the public! You're encourage to attend more than one to get deeper into the work.

Please RSVP by registering through the OFA's registration portal.

(For non-Harvard affiliates, follow the instructions to create a Harvard Guest account)

Accessibility

The Harvard Dance Center is wheelchair and mobility device accessible. If you require elevator access to Studio 2 (lower level), please let the host at the front know and they will provide instructions. If you have questions about the accessibility provided or anticipate needing any accommodation to participate, please email dance@fas.harvard.edu or 617-496-0314. We welcome a conversation with you!