Join dancer, choreographer, educator, and Punking Matriarch Alyssa Chloé for an intimate artist talk reflecting on her life, journey, and evolution within dance culture.

Recognized as a trailblazer, pioneer, and major force within her generation of Punking practitioners, Alyssa has spent over two decades helping shape, expand, and carry the form internationally through performance, teaching, choreography, and community building.

From growing up in Chicago to navigating the underground club scenes of New York, Europe, and beyond, Alyssa will speak about her experiences within dance, nightlife, performance culture, and the evolution of Punking as both an art form and a living cultural practice.

The conversation will explore themes of lineage, visibility, artistic survival, reinvention, and what it means to build authentic spaces for expression while navigating constant shifts within the dance world.

This talk will also reflect on the creation of Exposé Dance Festival itself — why these spaces matter, the importance of preserving cultural memory, and the challenges and rewards of building platforms rooted in community, history, and artistic vision.

Topics may include: – The history and evolution of Punking

– Dance, nightlife, and underground club culture

– Black queer influence within dance culture

– Artistic identity, authorship, and visibility

– Building community through dance and performance

– The changing landscape of street and club dance culture

Part lecture, part storytelling, part conversation — this artist talk offers audiences a deeper look into the experiences, perspectives, and creative vision that continue to shape Alyssa Chloé’s work and legacy.

Photo: Iza Boethius