OUR FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Subashini Ganesan-Forbes (She/Her)
Subashini is a curator, arts administrator, choreographer, Chair of the Oregon Arts Commission, and former Creative Laureate of Portland (2018 – June 2021). Her contemporary works include deep collaborations with acclaimed artists and arts organizations including Mike Barber (Founder, Ten Tiny Dances), Michelle Fujii (UNIT SOUZOU), Sabina Haque, Amna Mawaz Khan (Pakistan/Germany), Anita Menon, DJ Anjali, Middlebury College, University of Oregon, Portland Opera, Third Angle New Music, PICA, APANO, and Portland Center Stage.
Subashini founded New Expressive Works (N.E.W.) in 2012. Through residencies, artist conversations, and performance seasons, this vibrant performing arts venue celebrates bold new works created by multicultural independent performing artists.
In 2021, Ganesan-Forbes stewarded “Community Healing Through Art,” an arts-focused, community-informed project designed to leverage the power of arts and culture to support grieving and healing throughout Portland’s diverse communities. Currently she is an integral member of the Our Creative Future Steering Committee that is co-creating goals and strategies for a regional arts and culture plan and as Community Advisory Committee member of the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center. Subashini Ganesan is a board member of the Portland Parks Foundation and the James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation.
Some links:-
https://anthology.allclassical.org/artists/subashini-ganesan-forbes/
https://www.orartswatch.org/subashini-ganesan-forbes-joins-oregon-arts-commission/
https://www.portland.gov/omf/news/2022/2/23/community-healing-through-art-final-report
https://www.orartswatch.org/subashini-ganesan-last-official-project/
https://www.opb.org/news/article/emergency-funding-covid-19-arts-equity-oregon/
https://www.orartswatch.org/dance-preview-everything-and-nothing/
https://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-creative-laureate-subashini-ganesan-interview/
http://www.asianreporter.com/stories/local/2018/09-suba.htm
http://www.orartswatch.org/new-expressive-works-boundary-pushing/
Subashini Ganesan-Forbes
OUR STUDIO MANAGER
Rikkia Pereira (She/Her)
As a lifelong lover of dance, Rikkia has made her way to Portland, Oregon from New York City, where most of her dance training took place. Rikkia’s formative years were filled with rigorous training in Ballet, Horton Modern, Jazz, and West African Dance. She was also given multiple opportunities to assist in the teaching of these classes as well as choreograph pieces for the end of year showcases. At Hampshire College Rikkia went on to study both dance and education. Here, she was introduced to the world of Improvisation and studied Contemporary dance, while implementing projects focused on empowering young people through mentoring, leadership training, dance, and dance making. Post grad, Rikkia taught dance in public after school programs while developing her leadership in programs like Urban Bush Women's Summer Leadership Institute. She also continued to expand her dance training studying Hip Hop through Ailey Extension.
Presently, Rikkia is developing herself as a dance teacher, returning to a personal choreographic practice, and excitedly dancing with Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater here in Portland. Rikkia strongly believes in the power of dance, as it has served as a site for her self actualization and gifted her with the tools to be an empowered, embodied person in everything she does. Rikkia looks forward to sharing her passion for dance as the Studio Manager at New Expressive Works.
Rikkia’s Lineage of Dance Teachers:
Alicia White, Julie Klein, Michelle Smith, Deborah Goffe, Robin Dunn, Oluyinka Akinjiola.
Rikkia Pereira