early era collective
early era collective
A Collaborative Dance Company
in Austin, Texas
A Collaborative Dance Company
in Austin, Texas
First Show of 2026!
February 19-21 & 26-28, 2026, at 8:00pm
@ Dougherty Arts Center
Thank you for an incredible year!
Photo by Earl McGehee.
Creativity, growth, and purpose in 2025
As we wrap up 2025, we couldn't be more grateful for this busy, wild year. Thanks to all of our partners and supporters for being a part of the journey. Check out our 2025 wrap-up.
Shows
Glimpse some of our recent live works.
Gently, She Wakes
Early Era Collective's "Gently, She Wakes", shared a journey of reclamation and femininity told through movement. Part unfolding and part reclamation, this evening-length narrative dance piece unfolded through Contemporary and Heels dance, storytelling, and stage combat.
A love letter to femininity and survivors, "Gently, She Wakes" was created in collaboration with The SAFE Alliance, and performed at KMFA Studios.
SAY THAT AGAIN
Early Era Collective celebrated Black History Month in 2025 with “Say That Again,” a dynamic production blending street and contemporary dance, spoken word, and live hip-hop! Movement, rhythm, and words came together to tell bold, unapologetic stories of culture, identity, and community.
Co-produced by Stephanie Patrick and Daniel Broxton, this high-energy show builtoff of our 2024 hit “Say That!” by diving deeper into hip-hop music, culture, and unity.
Featuring a talented cast of 26 local artists, the production concluded with our beloved all-styles community freestyle—an unforgettable participatory experience. This unique, transformative production was as much a celebration as it was a conversation.
RISING FROM THE ROOTS
We are grateful for the 13 performances, eight dance companies, and five filmed/live interviews across two states!
Early Era Collective's "Rising from the Roots" celebrated U.S. immigrants through filmed interviews and live dance. This production featured 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.
Say that
"Say That!" from February 2024 brought Austin's contemporary and street style dance communities together in celebration of Black History Month.
Spoken word by the amazing S.C. Says. This production was co-produced by Stephanie Patrick and Daniel Broxton, and performed at the Dougherty Arts Center.
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!
Of Thee I Swing
It was a joy to honor Veterans Day and the legacy of our beautiful interview subjects Albert & Virginia Sanders, Alfred Dotson, and Bob & Jewell Goolsby in "Of Thee I Swing" in November 2023.
“Of Thee I Swing” was produced by Early Era and Stephanie Patrick. Choreographed by Stephanie Patrick, Daniel Broxton, Mia Moi and the dancers. Documentary segments were filmed, edited, and animated by Ben Lee, captioned by Maddy Leitner, and directed by Stephanie Patrick. Second camera by Andreina Byrne.
Technical direction for the live production by Natalie George Productions. Costumes by Lindsey Gerson.
Our fantastic cast: Lauren Parra Faudree, Mia Moi, Jack Dunlap, Matthew Sommers, Bradi Nelson, Taylor Conaler, Lilly Thurman, and Olivia Howell.
Whirligig
Sponsored by Bacardi, this April 2023 live production at Factory On 5th showcased the creativity, fun, and professionalism of Austin's dance community through six brand new works by Lisa del Rosario, Daniel Broxton, Mia Moi, Jairus Carr, and Stephanie Patrick.
16 dancers brought this production to life: Cara Cook, Lisa Schreck, Veronica DeWitt, Fay Leonard, Clay Moore, Angelina de Leon, Aubrey Turner, Amelia Bachofen, Matthew Sommers, Bradi Nelson, Sanchita Sharma, Rachel Culver, Mia Moi, Kanami Nakabayashi Timpe, Amanda Anstey, and Katie Lowen.
Lighting Design by Natalie George Productions. Footage by Earl McGehee. Edit by Clare Schweitzer. Music by UNCOMMEN, Gareth Donkin.
Smorg
Produced by Emily Rushing and Carissa Topham, "Smorg" showcased some of the variety that Austin's contemporary dance community has to offer. Early Era Collective premiered "Doubts & Dreams" for this April 2023 show at Cafe Dance.
Choreographed by Stephanie Patrick and the dancers. Danced by Matthew Sommers, Cara Cook, Rachel Culver, Sanchita Sharma, and Bradi Nelson. Picture by Earl McGehee.
Shift
"Shift" took place at ElectrikCITY Dance Movement in June 2022. Featuring multiple forms of dance styles, spoken word, and dance film, "Shift" was about the life transitions and change that come for all of us.
Performed by Mia Moi, Michelle Barfield, Lauren Parra Faudree, Jaylin Lane, Jairus Carr, Becky Nam, and Stephanie Patrick. Spoken word by Andre Bradford. Choreography by Stephanie Patrick, Daniel Broxton and the dancers.
"Proceed With Caution" was choreographed by Stephanie Patrick + the dancers. Footage by Earl McGehee and Stephanie Patrick. Edited by Stephanie Patrick.
Lookout fest
Early Era Collective performed at The Long Center's LookOUT Fest in September 2022.
Performed by Mia Moi, Michelle Barfield, Lauren Parra Faudree, Jaylin Lane, Jairus Carr and Taylor Conaler. Choreography by Stephanie Patrick, Daniel Broxton and the dancers. Pictures by Heather Arnos and Earl McGehee.
Blurred on All Sides
"Blurred on All Sides" was our first show back from the pandemic lockdown in December 2021, at The Gift. This show was our most mulitform yet, combining multiple styles of dance, spoken word, acting, singing, film, and photography.
Danced by Lauren Parra Faudree, Mia Moi, Jaylin Lane, and Michelle Barfield. Spoken word by S.C. Says (Andre Bradford). Acting by S.C. Says (Andre Bradford) and Stephanie Patrick. Singing & Direction by Stephanie Patrick. Choreogaphy by Stephanie Patrick and the dancers.
Choreographed by Stephanie Patrick and the dancers, "Back At It" celebrates the return to gathering, celebrating, and sharing art together. Footage by Tori Nunn.
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 explores how the arts and race intersect in Austin. Over 50 artists have been featured across four seasons of interviews.
Our 2026 Episode
Six artists talk the state of Austin and the arts
For the first time in three years, Thoughts That Move is back!
This rendition is our first live-recorded episode, recorded in June 2025 and released on Tuesday, November 25.
Featured Artists
Daniel Broxton (host)
Yola Jean Lu
Daniel Fears
Melissa Villareal
Chinwe Okorie
Zell Miller, III
Directed by Hannah Zamora
Audio recording by Casey Lee
Editing by Rahul Chakraborty
This project was supported, in part, by the City of Austin Economic Development Department and the Artist Access Program.
Listen to these six multi-disciplinary artists discuss topics such as funding in Austin, the importance of supporting other artists, and how to create access for artists of color in our city.
Our speakers are all Austin-based professionals from the dance, music, film, theatre, and comedy industries. Make sure to catch each panelist’s encouraging and inspiring call to action at the end.
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
equity in arts funding: what is 'reputable?'
Four guests discuss fair pay for artists, whether college degrees are necessities, what they wish they had learned while training, and the cycle of big companies receiving funding over emerging artists.
Host: Daniel Broxton
Featured Artists: Will Walker, Lucy Wilson, Alisa Guardiola, and Marina DeYoe-Pedraza
Edited By: Daniel Broxton
creating in a white world
Five artists discuss what it’s like to train and create in white-centered arts industries, and the change they'd like to see in Austin and the larger arts world.
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Host: Lauren Parra Faudree
Featured Artists: Alexa Capareda, Andreina Byrne, Becky Nam, Mia Moi, and Anna Reyes
Edited by: Daniel Broxton
Race & Ethnicity in arts education
Current and former teachers discuss the necessity of aligning racial and ethnic studies with arts education for students of all ages, both in the public and private sectors.
Host: Daniel Broxton
Featured Artists: Jordyn Marsh, Toni Neal, Krista Robinson, Rebeca Gamborino, and Kathleen Fletcher.
Edited By: Daniel Broxton
Triple Threat: Black, Female & Creative
An intimate conversation between Kaitlyn Jones and Leah Tubbs that covers topics like self-care, lineage, energizing artistic communities of color, and when to say “no.”
Host: Kaitlyn Jones
Featured Artist: Leah Tubbs
Edited by: Daniel Broxton
Captioned by: Lauren Parra Faudree
tap: a thriving black american art form
Four professional tap artists discuss the history of rhythm tap, the responsibility of white artists in a Black art form, and discovering your authentic artistic identity.
Host: Michael Love
Featured Artists: Karissa Royster, Ginnifer Joe, Alisa Guardiola
Edited by: Daniel Broxton
Caption by: Lauren Parra Faudree
All Styles Freestyle Sessions
Our first All Styles Freestyle Session of the year is on Thursday, January 29th! Join us from 6:30-9pm at East Side Performing Arts.
Led by David Cha, Stephanie Patrick, and Jairus Carr, our sessions are low ego and high energy. Hailey Summers will kick things off with a Fusion Freestyle Exploration class for all levels!
Fusion Freestyle Exploration Class - 6:30-7:30pm, $16
All Styles Freestyle Session - 7:30-9pm, donation-based (appreciated but not required)
at East Side Performing Arts
979 Springdale Rd, Austin, TX
Austin, TX 78702
Fusion Freestyle Exploration with Hailey Summers:
Fusion Freestyle Exploration is a class designed to integrate the core values, principles, and techniques of contemporary dance and the foundations of hip-hop, funk styles, and club styles. The music will revolve around slow soulful grooves and melodies offering space to process your movement fully.Classes and the session are open to all styles, training backgrounds, and levels. Ages 17+.
This project is supported, in part, by the City of Austin Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment.
Embolden Workshops 2025
Thank you, Austin, for the creativity, growth, and community throughout our first Embolden Workshop weekend! Through Embolden, we strive to help Central Texas performance artists gain the business skills we were never taught, prevent burnout, and build community.
Originally developed in 2021 by Early Era Collective, Salvage Vanguard Theater, and Ground Floor Theatre, our 2025 rendition was a weekend full of professional development, performance, and networking.
There are so many people who contributed their time, energy, and experience to this experience. Additionally, HUGE thank you’s to:
* Dougherty Arts Center, the Artist Access Program, and James Byers
* The City of Austin Economic Development Department
* Our sponsors Thai Fresh and Carpenter Hotel
* Behind-the-scenes team Lily Zapatero, Purna Bajekal, Maddy Leitner, Lisa del Rosario, Earl McGehee, Greg Burton, Cristina Jesurun, and Stephanie Patrick
* Our hosts Daniel Broxton, Soupmakesitbetter and Stephanie Patrick
* Our technical team Patrick Anthony, Casey Lee, and Kristie, Nomar and Freddy
* ALL panelists for Matching Talent with Business and Thoughts That Move, and artists who performed in our spectacular open mic showcase
* Our audience!!
Thank you for making Embolden happen and for sharing this community experience with us. We hope you walked away with new tools, relationships, and inspiration. Until next time!
This project was supported, in part, by the City of Austin Economic Development Department, the Artist Access Program, and Dougherty Arts Center.
Press
Our latest features in local news, reviews, radio, and more.
CBS Austin
On October 1st, 2025, we were featured on CBS Austin’s We Are Austin, sharing the details about "Gently, She Wakes" our evening-length work that blended Contemporary and Heels dance, storytelling, and stage combat to explore survivorship, resilience, and evolving definitions of femininity, created in collaboration with The SAFE Alliance.
Austin Chronicle article
Stephanie sat down with Austin Chronicle Journalist Flora Belle Farr to discuss our October 2025 show "Gently, She Wakes", and how it addressed sexual assault stigmas through storytelling and movement.
The article also highlights Early Era's collaboration with the SAFE Alliance – a local nonprofit service organization for survivors of abuse and assault.
we are austin
Stephanie Patrick and Laramie Gorbett from The SAFE Alliance sat down with Sierra Waggoner at CBS Austin to discuss "Gently, She Wakes" and the unique collaboration between Early Era Collective and SAFE (Stop Abuse for Everyone), which brought together the arts and advocacy.
Austin Chronicle article
Stephanie sat down with Austin Chronicle Journalist Caroline Drew to discuss all things art and business, the future of arts funding, and the motivation behind our Embolden Workshop. This article came out June 20, 2025.
“For [Stephanie] Patrick, much of Embolden’s programming reflects advice she wishes she had heard as a young dancer and choreographer, and as a budding entrepreneur.”
WE ARE AUSTIN: Say THAT AGAIN
On February 18, 2025, we were featured on CBS Austin’s We Are Austin. Early Era Founder Stephanie Patrick and hip-hop artist Soup Makes It Better shared the details about "Say That Again," our vibrant celebration of hip-hop, dance, and spoken word during Black History Month.
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.
KOOP Radio
Thanks to KOOP Radio For having us on "Hip Hop Hooray Sunday", on February 16, 2025!
Our Artistic Director Stephanie Patrick and musical artists Soup Makes It Better and Ifé Neuro discussed and played music from "Say That Again" on the air waves.
we are austin September Interview
On September 12, 2024, we were featured on CBS Austin’s We Are Austin. Early Era Founder Stephanie Patrick and collaborator Alexa Capareda shared the details about the "Rising from the Roots" Austin and Oklahoma City productions with Chelsey Hernandez.
Daily Texan Article
Released September 23, 2024, Daily Texan Journalist Riddhi Bora interviews Early Era Founder Stephanie Patrick, Co-Producer Rahul Chakraborty and Collaborator Alexa Capareda about the why and how that "Rising from the Roots" came to be.
Classical kuco radio
Early Era Director, Stephanie Patrick, and Chakra Media Director, Rahul Chakraborty, discuss "Rising From the Roots" on Classical KUCO's program, Spotlight on the Arts, hosted by Paul Nesper. This segment, which aired on September 26, 2024, promotes the show's Oklahoma City production as part of Cultural Week of Action 2024.
koop radio
"Let's Talk About It" hosts Michelle and Nora sit down with Early Era Founder Stephanie Patrick and "Rising from the Roots" collaborators Olivia Chacon, Anuradha Naimpally, and Alexa Capareda to discuss the production's Austin premiere. This episode aired on September 2, 2024.
Early Era is proud to be a KOOP Radio nonprofit partner. We are grateful for their continued support of the Austin community.
We are Austin February Interview
Artistic Director Stephanie Patrick and Spoken Word Collaborator Andre “S.C. Says” Bradford appeared live on We Are Austin on February 20, 2024. They discussed Early Era Collective's mission, “Say That!” and S.C. Says' national touring work as a spoken word artist.
Thank you, We Are Austin, for having us!
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).
They Go Wild
Warning: A natural disaster is coming. In "They Go Wild," Early Era Collective parallels wild landscape with the reckless treatment of womxn, and what might happen when they will no longer endure.
Directed By: Stephanie Patrick
Director of Photography: Ben Lee
Danced By: Lauren Parra Faudree and Laura Vazquez
Spoken Word (Written & Performed) By: Amber Wilson
Second Camera: Derek Butvin
Edited By: Ben Lee and Stephanie Patrick"They Go Wild" was featured in the 2019 Oaxaca Film Festival, Directed by Women: NYC Shorts of All Sorts, and the Tipperary Dance International Film Festival.
finding home
A commissioned work by Equality Texas that honors our Black and LGBTQIA loved ones lost to violence in 2020. A big thank you to Equality Texas for including Early Era in their virtual gala, All Eyes on Texas, on October 17th, 2020! We were proud to help fundraise for such an important cause, and to honor Black and LGBTQIA lives lost to violent crimes in 2020 through words and movement.
Words By: Addy Allred and Andre Bradford
Dancing By: Mia Moi, Kaitlyn Jones, Ciceley Fullylove, Lauren Parra, Stephanie Patrick, and Jairus Carr
Shot and Edited By: Ben Lee
Produced, Directed & Choreographed By:
Stephanie Patrick
Against Shadows
Ten performers in five scenes explore racial and gender discrimination against graffiti sites in Austin and San Francisco.
Filmed & Co-Edited By: Justin Kirchhoff
Produced, Directed, Co-Choreographed & Co-Edited By: Stephanie Patrick
Danced & Co-Choreographed By: Lauren Parra Faudree, Krista Robinson, Alex Miller, Mahalaya Tintiangco-Cubales, Kyle Limin, Leslie Panitchpakdi, Robin Nariyoshi, Michael Love, Alyssa Myers, Stephanie Patrick
Assistant Directed By: Maddie Alfaro
View full project at:
https://vimeo.com/showcase/7164800
I Begin
"I am literally smiling, now. I am really, truly filled with joy watching this. It exudes the joys of coming home. It's not quite like anything I've seen before. It feels like each of the places themselves are Stephanie’s dance partners, with Texas being her final, real partner. I did not see her dancing IN a place, as much as WITH a place." -Kathryn Taylor, viewer
This is a Stephanie Patrick Dance film, which was the pre-cursor company to Early Era Collective. Danced & Edited By Stephanie Patrick. Filmed By Rafael Alba and David Kallison. Music by Diana Gameros.
Donate to Early Era Collective
We are ready for more dance, collaboration, and connection in 2025, but we can't do it without your help!
We strive to maintain equitable hourly wages for artists, while providing pay-what-you-wish tickets for our audiences to keep performance art accessible to all Austinites. We also provide community programs that offer donation-based training for dancers and professional development for performance artists.
If you love what we do, please consider supporting us with a donation today!
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:
- "Rising from the Roots" selected as 1 of 14 anchor projects for the 2024 national event Cultural Week of Action, hosted by Americans for the Arts and Race Forward.
- Live piece “Gimme Your Hands” featured at Austin Dance Festival 2024.
- Recipient of the City of Austin Economic Development Department’s 2024 Thrive award and 2023 Elevate award.
- Recipient of the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreational Department’s 2024 and 2023 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 was a 2019 nominee 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
Lisa del Rosario, Board Member
Krista Robinson, Board Member
Earl McGehee, Board Member
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. The roots of racism must 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 factors hindering Black professionals from producing work. As part of this community, we advocate for change and 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.Thank You to Our Sponsors!
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.
© Early Era Collective 2026