IMOD elevates the work already happening in communities by supporting dance artists and helping them discover new ways to present, show, and invite in others to be witness to their work.
The inaugural IMOD Innovation Lab will be home to the Artist in Residence program and provide multi-functional spaces for creating new works, rehearsing, hosting performances and events, and viewing films.
Instead of funding exhibitions others think will appeal to audiences, we listen to our artists and partners to learn from the stories they think are most important in their communities and cultures. We amplify their voice by building curations to make their stories visible and ensure they are told authentically. IMOD experiences are designed to be immersive and enlightening.
IMOD Experience Team
ANGEL GUANAJUATO
Angel Guanajuato is a New Mexico-based artist who focuses on exploring his identity and human emotion from the perspective of a queer existentialist through music, poetry, and dance.
CAROLINA CZEKOWSKA
Carolina Czechowska (she/her/hers) is the Director of Community Engagement at IMOD. She was born in Stockholm and received her education at the Royal Swedish Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, The Boston Ballet, and Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet Training Program.
PATRIZIA HERMINJARD
Patrizia Herminjard (she/her/hers) serves as IMOD’s Director of Cinematic Engagement. Native to Switzerland, she is a choreographer, filmmaker, dancer and Lecturer in the Theater & Dance Department at Colorado College (‘96).
GABRIEL CARRION GONZALES
Gabriel Carrion-Gonzales (they/them) serves as the IMOD Co-Director Community Engagement in New Mexico. In his role at IMOD, Gabriel is dedicated to designing programming that responsibly responds to the communities IMOD collaborates with.
JASON NIOUS
Co-founder and director of the performance ensemble Molodi, Jason brings his incredible vision and experience to the design of his debut exhibition in 2025, and the IMOD Artist in Residence program in the long term.
ANTWAN DAVIS
Dedicated to breaking down musical and genre barriers through creative, interdisciplinary projects, Antwan shares his talents as a seasoned dance educator and body percussionist with IMOD AIR, Molodi.
Artists in Residence Program
IMOD is committed to the production of culturally significant dance exhibitions. The Artist in Residence program is a series of interactive performances centered on dance as a connective thread through history, culture, and art. The program propels the artist’s work forward by offering them strategic support including grant writing, budget development, administrative training, and marketing development. Through the program, artists are able to develop and launch performances that share their stories of self-discovery with the world as part of the Roots series.
In 2025, IMOD Artist in Residence Jason Nious and the award-winning body percussion ensemble MOLODI deliver Roots: Let Us Play, an interactive story tracing the history of Black percussive dance in America. Roots: Let Us Play is a heart-pumping, foot-stomping, hand-clapping interactive story told through body percussion, poetry, and dance. This high-energy, feel-good show follows the healing journey of a woman who looks deep within herself and finds her voice, strength, and identity.
The audience becomes a part of the storytelling experience by engaging performers and expressing themselves, coming away with a deeper connection with their ancestry regardless of their ethnic background. Roots: Let Us Play premieres in 2025 in San Francisco during Black History Month in February, and additional tour dates and locations are yet to be announced.
For more information or to book a performance of ROOTS: Let Us Play, contact Sanseria Murray.
Showcasing movement around the world
Since its inception in 2018, IMOD has been the leader in creating dance exhibitions demonstrating the cultural impact, storytelling ability, and connective thread of dance. By cultivating partnerships in communities worldwide, IMOD sponsors lecture series, residencies, films and dance festivals.
Our focus on empowering artists and students from underserved and under-resourced communities by offering partial or full tuition remission for classes. In 2022 IMOD sponsored the three-week dance festival Moving Southwest in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It attracted over 3,000 visitors, and it included diverse dance classes, exhibitions, workshops, live performances, and dance film screenings.
IMOD PAST EVENTS
EDUCATION+EXPERIENCE
Minerva University “Homecoming” Launch, San Francisco: During Minerva University’s Fall homecoming event, IMOD organized ice-breaking dance activities for the University’s 250 international students and their parents, fostering a sense of community and celebration.
August 2019
EXPERIENCE+RESEARCH
Lecture at ODC Theater, San Francisco: “The Choreography of Emerging Technology” with Sydney Skybetter: In collaboration with Sydney Skybetter, an esteemed choreographer, TEDx speaker, Brown University lecturer, and researcher, IMOD organized a captivating lecture at the ODC dance commons in San Francisco, CA. The event delved into a choreographic critique of gesture, robotic technology, surveillance, and policing, showcasing the intersection of dance and technology.
November 2019
EXPERIENCE+ARCHIVES
Lecture series at ADOBE Studios, San Francisco: IMOD continued its lecture series in January 2020 at ADOBE Studios, focusing on the convergence of dance and technology. This lecture addressed important questions related to the use of technology in capturing and preserving dance for wider audiences.
January 2020
EXPERIENCE
Three week Dance Festival, Santa Fe, NM: IMOD expanded programs to New Mexico and gained 501c3 recognition in the state in addition to California. The festival highlighted local artists, attracting over 3,000 visitors and gaining notable press coverage. It included diverse dance classes, exhibitions, workshops, live performances, and dance screenings.
July 2022
EDUCATION
Launch of the Cyclical Mentorship Program was launched by IMOD in Santa Fe with support from the City of Santa Fe, providing aspiring artists and arts administrators with hands-on training and mentorship. Participants gain skills in project management, artistic development and community engagement while collaborating on real-world arts initiatives. The program emphasizes career development, cultural exchange, and fostering the next generation of creative leaders. It has since expanded to Las Vegas, NV.
2023-2024
EXPERIENCE
Illuminate at CCA, presented in collaboration with IMOD and 4Kinship, was a powerful celebration of Indigenous artistry, raising awareness and funds for the 4Kinship Indigenous Futures Fund. Featuring Indigenous artists from across North America, the event showcased a vibrant tapestry of dance, storytelling, spoken word, fashion, and live music. Held at the Center for Contemporary Arts in Santa Fe, the experience was elevated by stunning lighting design from Meow Wolf artists, creating an unforgettable atmosphere of cultural pride and creative expression.
February 2024
EXPERIENCE
Pow Wow Fit with James Jones, sponsored by IMOD in Santa Fe in May 2024, is an electrifying fusion of traditional Indigenous dance and modern fitness. Led by James Jones, a world-renowned hoop dancer and motivational speaker, the experience immerses participants in dynamic movements inspired by Pow Wow culture. This unique workshop celebrates wellness, cultural pride, and the joy of dance, offering an unforgettable journey of rhythm, energy, and connection.
May 2024
