early era collective

Collaborative Dance Company

in Austin, Texas

  • Keep Art Alive in 2025 

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    It’s been an incredible year! Thank you for being along for the ride of our most ambitious year yet. In 2024 we:

    • Produced 3 live shows, including our first out-of-state production.
    • Contracted 100 artists.
    • Collaborated with 8 dance companies.
    • Performed for nearly 1,500 people.
    • Created 4 short documentary films featuring U.S. Immigrants in collaboration with Chakra Media Company.
    • Hosted 3 community freestyle sessions for Austin’s dancers of all styles.
    • Hosted our first-ever Summer Happy Hour in collaboration with Paggi House at Hotel Loren and our amazing Board of Directors.
    • Featured at Austin Dance Festival and Future Front Texas’s Front Festival.
    • Maintained equitable hourly wages for contracting artists.

    And more! We couldn’t do it without the support of our community. We are constantly learning and growing, and we’re gearing up for an incredible 2025!

     
    Please consider supporting Early Era with an end-of-year donation today!

  • Rising from the roots

    Thank you for two incredible productions this September!

    Austin Cast

    Austin Cast

    Oklahoma City Cast

    Oklahoma City Cast

  • We are grateful for the 13 performances, eight dance companies, and five filmed/live interviews across two states! Thank you to everyone who shared this journey with us, on both sides of the curtain. We hope to bring "Rising" to more cities in 2025!

     

    Early Era Collective's "Rising from the Roots" celebrates U.S. immigrants through filmed interviews and live dance. This production features interviewees and artists who have immigrated from Lebanon, Palestine, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and more. Co-Produced by Chakra Media Company, interviews feature activists, educators, spiritual leaders, and artists working for change in their communities. Live performances from local dance companies celebrate the traditions and cultures that exist in each hosting city.

    Austin

    "Rising from the Roots" premiered in Austin, Texas this September 13-15, 2024 at the George Washington Carver Museum. Featured companies celebrated Austin's local dance community through Flamenco, Bharata Natyam, Afro-Latin fusion, Contemporary, and Filipino Folk Dance:

     

    A'lante Flamenco

    Austin Dance India

    Oro Dance Company

    Alexa Capareda + Lisa del Rosario

     

    This production was co-produced by Chakra Media Company and supported, in part, by the City of Austin Economic Development Department and the Artist Access Program. Lighting design by Patrick Anthony. Sound Engineering by Casey Lee. Photography/Videography by Earl McGehee.

    Oklahoma City

    Happening September 28-29, 2024 at the First Americans Museum's Five Moons Theater, "Rising from the Roots" in Oklahoma City was part of the Cultural Week of Action 2024, hosted by Americans for the Arts and Race Forward. We were honored to be included in this national event exploring themes of race and democracy. Head to Race Forward to check out the other amazing projects featured at this event! Featured companies celebrated Oklahoma City's local dance community through Mexican Folkloric Dance, Contemporary, Lebanese Folk Dance, Flamenco, and Modern:

     

    Yúmare Mexican Folkloric Dancers

    Natasha Abu-Fadel

    Classen School of Advanced Studies at Northeast

    Capitol Hill High School

    RACE Dance Collective

     

    This production was supported, in part, by Americans for the Arts and Race Forward. Lighting design by Patrick Anthony. Sound Engineering by Court Myers. Stage Management by Kristie Cheng. Photography/Videography by Jake Kelley.

  • Celebrating U.S. Immigrants

     

    Interested in partnering with Early Era Collective to bring "Rising from the Roots" to your city? Reach out to us through the contact form below!

     

    Trailer by Chakra Media Company.

  • "Rising" Gallery

    Photos by Earl McGehee, Easton Oliver, Qazi Islam, and Jake Kelley.

    Interviewee Alexa Capareda. Photo by Easton Oliver.
    Oro Dance Company. Picture by Earl McGehee.
    Choreography by Natasha Abu-Fadel. Picture by Jake Kelley.
    Interviewee Dr. Imad Enchassi. Picture by Qazi Islam.
    Austin Dance India. Picture by Earl McGehee.
    Yumare Mexican Folkloric Dancers. Picture by Jake Kelley.

  • lately

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    Front Fest Freestyle

    We had an amazing sunset freestyle session at Front Fest! Thank you Jane and Future Front Texas for having us. DJ Wyldflower, thank you for hitting us with tunes from all genres for our multiform dancers!

     

    Early Era All Styles Freestyles are organized by David Cha, Jairus Carr, and Stephanie Patrick. We plan to bring sessions back in the fall!

     

    Picture by Jinni J. Featured dancer Angeli Ymbong.

    "Say That!" Mash-Up Video

    Produced by Stephanie Patrick and Daniel Broxton, "Say That!" united Austin's contemporary and street style communities in celebration of Black History Month. Spoken word by S.C. Says. We love this community, and we look forward to creating more collabs like this in the future.

     

    Mash-up edited by Clare Schweitzer. Footage by Earl McGehee.

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    Summer Happy Hour

    Thank you to everyone who came out to our Summer Happy Hour! We loved gathering with you, and finally sharing about our fall production. Your support and community mean so much as we tackle these big, meaningful projects.

    Thank you to our amazing Board of Directors Ketan Patel, Lisa del Rosario, Krista Robinson and Earl McGehee for organizing this sweet event, taking amazing pics, and donating raffle prizes. Paggi House at The Loren Hotel, thank you for being an incredible host—we felt so taken care of! Angie and Audrey, thank you for the electric performance. The Good Hippie, thank you for your support!

  • Media

    Our latest features in local news, reviews, radio, and more.

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    Austin Chronicle review

    Journalist, Cy White, from The Austin Chronicle reviews our multimedia production, "Rising From the Roots." This show premiered in Austin on Sept. 13, 2024 at the George Washington Carver Museum. White discusses the nuances and similarities of the American journey between the four interviewees and four live performing companies featured in the show.

  • Early era collective

    A Bit About Us...

     

    Early Era Collective’s mission is to present multiform art featuring diverse perspectives for diverse audiences. We believe that professional creative work is strongest when collaboratively made by individuals with a variety of training, artistic processes, expertise, lived experience, and world views. Early Era is a nonprofit dance company, comprised of dancers from contemporary, hip-hop, tap, and ballet backgrounds. We also collaborate with filmmakers, spoken word artists, actors, and singers. Many of our productions carry a social justice message folded into their artistry, emphasizing personal stories over politics.

     

    Our company creates:

    • Live shows for Austin audiences.
    • Dance films featured at festivals worldwide.
    • Thoughts That Move - community artist interviews discussing the intersection of race and arts industries in Austin.
    • Embolden Workshop Series - donation-based artist development workshops, created in partnership with Salvage Vanguard Theater and Ground Floor Theatre.

    Awards and honors include:

    • Live piece “Gimme Your Hands” featured at Austin Dance Festival 2024.
    • The City of Austin’s Cultural of Arts Division of the Economic Development Department’s 2023-24 Elevate award.
    • The City of Austin’s Parks and Recreational Department’s 2023-24 Artist Access Program.
    • Dance film "Milez" featured in eleven 2022-2023 film festivals nationwide, including Dance on Camera Festival (New York City) and Dance Camera West (Los Angeles). Received the Virtuosic Editing Award at Capitol D.C. Fest (Washington D.C.) and Local Favorite Award at Austin Dance Festival in 2022.
    • Artistic Director Stephanie Patrick received the 2019 nomination for the Austin Chronicle's Best Choreographer/Dancer.
    • Dance film "They Go Wild" was featured in three national/international film festivals in 2019.

    Early Era was founded in fall 2018, and became a 501(c)3 organization in March 2019. Concepts and Artistic Direction are by Stephanie Patrick, the Founder of Early Era. Previously, the company was called Stephanie Patrick Dance (founded in 2012) of San Francisco, Asheville, and Austin. Stephanie brings a lifelong career in performance, a passion for social justice, and her love for Austin (her hometown) to the company. Early Era is organized as a nonprofit organization to best support its collaborating artists.

     

  • leadership

    Early Era is a small but mighty organization founded by Artistic Director Stephanie Patrick. Our Board Members fundraise, contribute specialized services, and provide valuable expertise for our company. Thanks to the City of Austin, we added a Marketing Coordinator to our team in 2023. Click each picture to learn more about the people who make Early Era happen.

    Stephanie Patrick, Director

    Stephanie Patrick, Director

    Mia Moi, Marketing Coordinator

    Mia Moi, Marketing Coordinator

    Lisa del Rosario, Board Member

    Lisa del Rosario, Board Member

    Ketan Patel, Board Member

    Ketan Patel, Board Member

    Krista Robinson, Board Member

    Krista Robinson, Board Member

    Earl McGehee, Board Member

    Earl McGehee, Board Member

  • Thank You to Our Sponsors!

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  • Films

    Peep some of our film creations.

  • Milez

    Featuring Austin-based hip-hop duo Magna Carda, eight Early Era dancers inspect the systems by which we abide, and the sameness required of average people to operate within those systems. Our artists must decide whether to stay within the boxes that confine them or break free.
     
    Produced by: Early Era Collective and Stephanie Patrick. Co-Directed by: Stephanie Patrick and Ben Lee. Co-Choreographed by: Daniel Broxton and Stephanie Patrick. Director of Photography and Editor: Ben Lee. Poster design by: Ketan Patel. Featuring Magna Carda and their original song "Milez."


    Danced by: Daniel Broxton, Lauren Parra Faudree, Mia Moi, Michelle Barfield, Jairus Carr, Jaylin Lane, Ciceley Fullylove, and Stephanie Patrick.

     

    "Milez" was featured at the following 2022-23 film festivals: Dance on Camera Festival (New York City, NY), Dance Camera West (Los Angeles, CA), San Francisco Dance Film Festival, Capitol Dance & Cinema Festival (Washington D.C.), Austin Dance Festival, deadCenter Film Festival (Oklahoma City, OK), Hyperreal Film Club (Austin, TX), The Martha's Vineyard Film Festival, Film Fest Petaluma, AV Fest (Healdsburg, CA), The Front Fest (Austin, TX).

  • Shows

    Glimpse some of our recent live works.

  • Gimme your hands

    This original Early Era live piece explores the significance of community support in grieving and processing the current social and political climate. Our contemporary trio premiered at Early Era's April 2023 production “Whirligig,” and was performed at Austin Dance Festival 2024.

     

    Choreographed by Stephanie Patrick

    Danced by Mia Moi, Kanami Nakabayashi Timpe, Amanda Anstey, and Lilly Thurman for ADF 2024 performance (not filmed)

    Music arranged by Matthew Jackson

     

    We hope you enjoy!

  • Thoughts That Move

    Created by Daniel Broxton, Lauren Parra Faudree, and Stephanie Patrick during the pandemic, Thoughts That Move is an artist discussion series that reveals how the arts and race intersect in Austin. Over 50 artists have been featured across three seasons of interviews. View our Season Three episodes below.

     

    Episode flyers designed by Ketan Patel. Theme music by Magna Carda.

  • Creativity & Social Justice

    Featured guests engage in a poignant talk about artists’ roles in social justice-themed art, and challenge the expectation for Black and African American artists to explore racism in their work.

     

    Host: Stephanie Patrick

    Featured Guests: Alyssa Dillard, Amber Wilson, Andre Bradford and Chinwe Okorie

    Edited by: Daniel Broxton and Chinwe Okorie

  • Embolden Workshop Series

    Created in partnership with Salvage Vanguard Theater and Ground Floor Theatre, Embolden Workshops are donation-based professional development for artists. Featured speakers are local nonprofit/arts business owners, artists from multiple mediums, and professional fundraisers. Through Embolden, we strive to help Austin artists empower themselves to gain the business skills that we were never taught, prevent burnout, and build community. We hope to reimagine and resume this program in the near future.

     

    Flyer design by Embolden Co-Creator Marina DeYoe-Pedraza.

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  • Black lives matter

    Black Lives Matter

     

    In light of the murders of George Floyd, Mike Ramos, and so many other Black and African Americans lost to police brutality, our company acknowledges and joins the fight for justice for our Black brothers and sisters.

    In a country that claims to be one nation and touts justice for all, this tradition of violence is simply unacceptable. It is clear that the roots of racism need to be examined and swiftly removed. Our art form, local community, and company would not be what they are without the innovations and talents of Black dancers, musicians, and spoken word artists.

    In one of the most segregated cities, we recognize the disparities young Black dancers face in accessing training, and the factors that hinder Black professionals from producing work. As part of this community we are advocating for change, and we welcome feedback from Austin’s artists and citizens of color.

    Black lives matter. We see you, we stand with you, and we are in this ongoing and important fight for justice.

     

  • Photos

    Films + Shows

  • Contact

    We'd love to hear from you! Please reach out for booking inquiries, questions about Early Era Collective, or if you'd like to receive updates about our events.

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