Written Features

Sofrito of Cultures

(2019, 2023)

Lead by Master Teacher and Dance Artist Penny Godboldo and Living Arts’ Teaching Artist Miryam Johnson, the Living Arts Youth Dance Ensemble trained in the Katherine Dunham Technique of dance—which blends European ballet, modern, jazz, and classical African movement—in a two-week dance intensive.

In celebration of Afro-Latinx identity and culture, Living Arts and the Penny Godboldo Institute presented a community performance and sharing. This engaging performance included live music accompaniment by Chinelo "Chi" Amen-Ra and Ozvaldo "Ozzie" Rivera. Audience members were invited to participate in the performance.

This project was supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and graciously hosted by the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

Sofrito of Cultures was remounted in 2023 as apart of the Living Arts Detroit Back to School Series, led by Madame Penny Godboldo. Supported by The Kresge Foundation.

Model D Under 30 Feature (2017)

Johnson was featured in Model D's under-30 profile for her work with youth in Detroit. As a Teaching Artist through Living Arts and University Musical Society (UMS), Johnson is able to engage with children across southeast Michigan who have limited dance exposure. Through these classes Johnson invokes conversation with her students about their communities as well as their cultural and personal histories.