WAA Showcase
Highlighting artistry across the field adjudicated directly by your colleagues.
Our juried showcase features artists chosen by your peers and representing the pinnacle of WAA. Since 2003, we’ve presented impactful acts integral to both onstage and offstage dialogues. Spotlighting proven artists, we aim to help you activate audiences as we collectively rediscover the power of the performing arts in uniting our communities.
123 Andres, photo credit: Jo Cosme
Anthony Aiu, photo credit: Jo Cosme
Ballet Kelowna, photo credit: Jo Cosme
Beyond Babel,photo credit: Jo Cosme
Eunbi Kim, photo credit: Jo Cosme
James Pakootas, photo credit: Jo Cosme
Javier Stell-Fesquez & Weaving Spirits, photo credit: Jo Cosme
Moonfruits, photo credit: Jo Cosme
Letters Aloud, photo credit: Jo Cosme
LED, photo credit: Jo Cosme
Mamadou Diabate, photo credit: Jo Cosme
Tau Dance Theatre, photo credit: Jo Cosme
NEWS & UPDATES
2023 Official Showcase Artists
The lineup of twelve, selected by a peer jury of arts practitioners, performed at Seattle’s Broadway Performance Hall over two nights — September 6 and 7 — as part of the 2023 WAA Annual Conference. Learn more about the artists below.
View the full list of past performances.
123 Andrés
123 Andrés is the GRAMMY nominated, Latin Grammy-winning duo with catchy songs and high-energy shows that get kids and families singing and dancing, in Spanish and English.
Image credit: Marcelo Quiñones
Anthony Aiu
From O’ahu, Hawai’i, Anthony Aiu (MFA, Conservatory of Dance, SUNY Purchase) is an artist, dancer, and choreographer who creates from his vibrant and rich Polynesian ancestry. He founded `Avei`a in 2009 to showcase his culturally rooted movement style.
Image credit: Jo Cosme
Ballet Kelowna
Founded in 2002, award-winning Ballet Kelowna delivers compelling and inspiring performances to regional, national, and international audiences. The company presents numerous styles of dance from Canada’s finest emerging and established choreographers and embraces the precision and athleticism of ballet technique to create original new works that captivate and engage today’s diverse audiences.
Image credit: Abigail Wiens
BEYOND BABEL created by Keone & Mari Madrid and Hideaway Circus
BEYOND BABEL is a critically acclaimed dance theater show created by award-winning team Keone & Mari Madrid (choreographers & artistic directors); and Josh & Lyndsay Aviner (creative directors) of Hideaway Circus, a Brooklyn-based circus, dance, and multi-media producing company.
Image credit: Aiden Gibney
Eunbi Kim
2023 Astral Artists National Competition winner, pianist Eunbi Kim, creates intimate experiences that transcend the conventions of the piano recital. Her credits include solo programs at the Kennedy Center, a concert-meditation performance at Lincoln Center, and a TEDx Talk.
Image credit: Maria Baranova
James Pakootas
James Pakootas, otherwise known as “Just Jamez”, is a modern-day story weaver. He is an influential, multi-award winning artist, producer, and filmmaker who cultivates change in the world through the power of words.
Image credit: Bazhnibah Photograhy
Javier Stell-Frésquez & Weaving Spirits
Javier Stell-Frésquez (mixed Piro & Tigua Pueblo Native, Advancing Indigenous Performance Native Launchpad awardee) is teaming up and sharing the stage with legendary drag artist Landa Lakes (Chickasaw, Mother of the all-Native Brush Arbor Gurlz). As curators of Weaving Spirits Festival of Two-Spirit of Performance, they tour this fest, featuring local and national queer-and-Native American artists whose offerings range from traditional music to experimental performance and drag.
Image credit: Robbie Sweeny
LED
Award-winning arts organization LED weaves signature contemporary choreography, original music compositions, and elements of film into thought-provoking narratives that redefine boundaries of performance. With a namesake that sparks groundbreaking innovation, LED serves as a playground for artistic expression: a cultural center, a dance company, a music project, a film studio.
Image credit: Otto Kitsinger Photography
Letters Aloud
Letters Aloud is a performing arts company that brings to life intimate, thought-provoking, and often humorous stories hidden within private letters of the past, delighting audiences through a unique combination of literature, theatre, and live music that celebrate the beauty of the written word and the human experience.
Image credit: Dawson Doupé
Mamadou Diabate
Mamadou Diabate is an award-winning balafon master and composer from Burkina Faso, West Africa. Born into a traditional musician family (Sambla people) with a long tradition of storytelling and music making, Mamadou started his professional training at age five with his father Penegue Diabate, who in his days was considered the best balafon player far beyond the borders of the Sambla culture.
Image credit: Johannes Hernegger
Moonfruits
Led by Ottawa-based partners Alex Millaire and Kaitlin Milroy, Moonfruits crafts contemporary folk music, organically alternating between French and English. Their music addresses our collective humanity with heart, wit, and wonder.
Image credit: Curtis Perr
Tau Dance Theater
Tau Dance Theater (TDT) is the only professional dance company founded by a native Hawaiian based in Honolulu. Established in 1996 by Artistic Director Peter Rockford Espiritu, TDT has produced original epic works to critical acclaim. The work maintains cultural identity in the face of globalization and urbanization, producing a movement-based viewpoint of Pacific Island and Oceanic culture, highlighting native pluralism.
Image credit: Greg Noir
PAST SHOWCASES
2022
Ablaye Cissoko & Cyrille Brotto | Music
Leslie McCurdy | Theatre
Twin Flames | Music
Kiran Ahluwalia | Music
Huu Bac Quintet | Music
Versa-Style Dance Company | Dance
Telegraph Quartet | Music
Koresh Dance Company | Dance
The McDades | Music
Charly Lawry | Music
Elexa Dawson | Music
Elexa Dawson | Music
Julia Keefe | Music
Madeline Sayet | Theatre
Invoke | Music
Olivia Tailfeathers | Music
2019
CONTRA-TIEMPO | Dance - Contemporary
Time for Three | Music - Classical
Gina Chavez | Music - World
Royal Jelly Jive | Music - Jazz/Blues
Pamyua | Music - Roots/Traditional
Paula Fuga | Music - World
Collision of Rhythm | Variety - Theatre (New Vaudeville)
Tumblehouse Down | Music - Jazz/Blues
Seffarine | Music (World)
Nava Dance | Dance - Contemporary
Invertigo | Dance - Contemporary
Maura Garcia | Dance -Theater-Other
Thea Hopkins | Music
DDAT | Music
Timothy White Eagle | Variety
Albino Mbie | Music
ADAAWE | Music
DANCE IQUAIL! | Dance
August Wilson Red Door Project | Theatre
2018
Smith Center in Las Vegas, NV
Contemporary West Dance Theatre | Dance (Contemporary)
Aotearoa's Finest, with Maisey Rika & Horomona Horo | Music (World)
Derina Harvey Band | Music (Roots/Traditional)
Ensemble Mik Nawooj | Music (Experimental/New)
PUBLIQuartet | Music (Classical)
The Actors' Gang | Theatre (Drama)
Vitaly | Theatre (Spectacle)
Tambuco | Music (Experimental/New)
2017
Broadway Perfromance Hall in Seattle, WA
Blue13 Dance Company | Dance (Contemporary)
M-Pact | Music (A Cappella)
Akropolis Reed Quintet | Music (Classical)
The Westerlies | Music (Classical)
Collectif9 | Music (Classical)
EmiSunshine & The Rain | Music (Folk/Bluegrass)
Sarah Jane Scouten | Music (Folk/Bluegrass)
Nicole Henry | Music (Jazz/Blues)
Danny Green Trio Plus Strings | Music (Jazz/Blues)
Battle of Santiago | Music (World)
Okaidja Afroso | Music (World)
A Moving Sound | Music (World)
Letters Aloud | Theatre (Drama)
2016
Lightwire Theater | Dance (Contemporary)
Kiran Ahluwalia | Music (World)
Cambalache | Music (Roots/Traditional)
Miwa Matreyek | Theatre (One Person Shows)
Ate9 dANCEcOMPANY | Dance (Contemporary)
Telegraph Quartet | Music (Classical)
Michael Kaeshammer | Music (Jazz/Blues)
2015
ODC/Dance | Dance (Contemporary)
Niyaz Featuring Azam Ali | Music (World)
Bria Skonberg | Music (Jazz/Blues)
605 Collective | Dance (Contemporary)
Betty Bonifassi | Music (Jazz/Blues)
Afiara Quartet | Music (Classical)
evalyn parry | Theatre/Music (Experimental/New)
2014
Northwest Dance Project | Dance (Contemporary)
Jamie Adkins | Variety (Circus)
Run Boy Run | Music (Bluegrass)
Frank Ferrante in An Evening with Groucho | Theatre (Comedy)
Laetitia Zonzambé | Music (World/Pop)
Borealis String Quartet | Music (Classical)
2013
Las Cafeteras | Music (Chicano Fusion)
Backhausdance | Dance (Contemporary)
BODYTRAFFIC | Dance (Contemporary)
Fry Street Quartet | Music (Classical)
Matt Andersen | Music (Blues)
Red Chamber | Music (Traditional Chinese)
Sheetal Gandhi | Dance (Contemporary)
Tomas Kubinek | Theatre (One-Man Shows)
2012
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet | Dance (Contemporary)
ETHEL & Robert Mirabal | Music (Chamber/Classical)
Linden Quartet | Music (Chamber/Classical)
Lynn Trefzger | Theatre (Puppet/Marionette)
Story Pirates | Theatre (Young Aud/Family)
The Blue Canyon Boys | Music (Acoustic/Folk)
Vishten | Music (World)
2011
DALA | Music (Acoustic/Folk)
H’Sao | Music (World)
Koresh Dance Company | Dance (Contemporary)
Mike Garson | Music (Jazz/Blues)
ScrapArtsMusic | Interdisciplinary
Sybarite5 | Music (Chamber/Classical)
Whim W’Him | Dance (Ballet)
2010
Janis Ian | Music (Folk/Traditional)
Linda Tillery & the Cultural Heritage Choir | Music (Jazz/Blues)
March 4th Marching Band | Interdisciplinary
No. 2 | Theatre (One Person Shows)
Portland Taiko | Music (World)
Robert Robinson | Music (Folk/Traditional)
The Second City on Tour | Theatre (Contemporary)
Yuval Ron Ensemble | Music (World)
Brasil Guitar Duo | Music (Chamber)
Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys | Music (World)
Josh Kornbluth | Theatre (One Person Shows)
Richter Uzur Duo | Music (Chamber)
2009
Alpin Hong | Music (Recital)
Andy Gross | Theatre (One Person Shows)
CALO FLAMENCO | Dance (Flamenco)
Cara | Music (World)
Cedric Watson | Music (Folk)
Corbian Visual Arts & Dance | Dance (Contemporary)
Don McGlashan | Music (Contemporary/Popular)
Indian Ink Theatre Company | Theatre (Contemporary)
Little Cow | Music (World)
On Ensemble | Music (World)
The Lost Fingers | Music (Contemporary/Popular)
Anthony Venisse | Theatre (One Person Shows)
April Verch | Music (Folk)
2008
AXIS Dance Company | Dance (Contemporary/Modern)
Cherryholmes | Music (Band/Bluegrass)
Faustworks Mask Theatre | Theatre (One Person Shows)
Kellylee Evans | Music (Jazz/Blues)
La Catrina Quartet | Music (Chamber)
Los Cenzontles (The Mockingbirds) | Music/Dance
Montréal Guitare Trio | Music (Contemporary/New)
Nai-Ni Chen Dance Co. | Dance (Contemporary)
Quadre - The Voice of 4 Horns | Music (Contemporary/New)
Step Afrika! | Dance (Culturally Specific)
Van Django | Music (Jazz/Blues)
2007
[ZØGMA] Collectif de folklore urbain | Dance (Folk)
Battleworks Dance Company | Dance (Modern)
Bearfoot | Music (Folk)
Calle Sur | Music (World)
Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company | Dance (Modern)
Janice Garrett & Dancers | Dance (Modern)
Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre | Dance/Theatre
Les Yeux Noirs | Music (World)
Polaris Dance Theatre | Dance (Contemporary)
Quartet San Francisco | Music (Chamber)
Quetzal | Music (Culturally Specific)
Salaam Ensemble | Music (World)
Scrap Arts Music | Interdisciplinary
Smuin Ballet | Dance (Ballet)
Susan Werner | Music (Jazz/Blues)
Tien Hsieh | Music (Recital)
Tlen-Huicani | Music (Culturally Specific)
Tom Rush | Music (Folk)
Yungchen Lhamo | Music (World)
Chirgilchin | Music (Culturally Specific)
2006
ADAAWE | Music (World)
Alpha Yaya Diallo | Music World
Beethoven's Wig | Music (Young Audiences)
Brasil Brasil Show | Music (World)
Diane Ferlatte | Story Telling
Helios Dance Theater | Dance (Contemporary/New)
Los Pinguos | Music (World)
Mary Jane Lamond | Music (World)
Montana Skies | Music (Chamber)
Peter Lang | Music (Contemporary/New)
Po' Girl | Music (Folk)
Rachael Price | Music (Jazz/Blues)
Rennie Harris Puremovement | Dance
Samite | Music (World)
Simon Shaheen & Quantara | Music (World)
St Petersburg String Quartet | Music (Chamber)
TAIKOPROJECT | Music (Taiko)
Viver Brasil Dance Co. | Dance
Ballet Folklorico Mexico | Dance (Ballet)
William Chapman Nyaho | Music
2005
3 Leg Torso | Music
Axis Dance Company | Dance
Cascada De Flores | Music
Danza Floricanto/USA | Dance
Del Fos Danza Contemporanea | Dance (Contemporary)
Del Sol String Quartet | Music (Chamber)
Genticorum | Music (Folk)
Kanata Native Dance Theatre | Dance
Los Llaneros | Music (World)
Marcolivia Duo | Music (Chamber)
Mythili Prakash | Dance
Otis Taylor | Music (Jazz/Blues)
Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem | Music (Folk)
Robert Moses' Kin Dance | Modern Dance
Samarabalouf | Music (World)
Tap Kids | Young Audience (Tap Dance)
The Cashore Marionettes | Young Audience (Puppet/Marionette)
The John Jorgenson Quintet | Music (Jazz/Blues)
The Lonesome Sisters/ Sarah Hawker & Debra Clifford | Music (Country)
The Wailin' Jennys | Music (Folk)
Wise Fool New Mexico | Interdisciplinary
Keith Knight | Music (Folk)
Minneapolis Guitar Quartet | Music (Chamber)
The Second City Touring Company | Theatre (Experimental)
2004
Alonzo King's LINES Ballet | Dance (Ballet)
Carla Kihlstedt's Two Foot Yard | Music (Contemporary/New Music)
Caroline Drury | Music (Jazz/Blues)
Christine Andreas | Music (Pop)
Company C Ballet | Dance (Ballet)
Daredevil Opera Company "Cirkus Inferno" | Variety (Circus)
Darol Anger Fiddle Ensemble | Music (Contemporary/New)
Hank and his Honky Tonk Heroes | Music (Country)
Homowo African Arts & Cultures | Dance (Culturally Specific)
Jake Shimabukuro | Music (Contemporary/Fusion)
Jesse Cook | Music (World Guitar)
Jim Gamble Puppet Productions | Variety (Puppet/Marionette)
K.T.Sullivan | Music (Pop)
Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum | Music (Folk)
LEVYdance| Dance (Contemporary/Modern Dance)
The Merling Trio | Music (Chamber)
Moscow Nights | Music (Folk)
Rainbow Dance Theatre | Dance (Modern)
Somei Yoshino Taiko Ensemble | Music (Taiko)
SWARM Musical | Theatre
Tomas Kubinek | Theatre (One Person Shows)
Karin Plato Quintet | Music (Jazz/Blues)
2003
Alison Brown Quartet | Music (Folk)
Asha's Baba | Story Telling
Ashley MacIsaac | Music (Chamber/New/Jazz/Blues)
Cherish the Ladies | Music (Folk)
Curtis Stigers | Music (Jazz/Blues)
Diane Ferlatte | Music (Symphonic)
Eugene Albulescu | Music (Recital)
Guy Davis | Dance (Modern)
Helios Dance Theater | Dance (Modern)
Hot Club of San Francisco | Music (Jazz/Blues)
Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre | Dance (Contemporary)
Janice Martin | Dance
Jason Graae | Theatre (Young Audiences/Musical)
Khmer Arts Academy | Music (Culturally Specific)
Kitka | Young Audiences
Lee-Suits Duo | Story Telling
Lily Cai Chinese Dance Company | Dance
Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir | Music (Jazz/Blues)
Lula Washington Dance Theatre | Dance (Modern)
Paul Rajeckas | Music (Recital)
Paul Zaloom | Music (Recital)
Perla Batalla | Music (World)
Philip Hamilton | Music (World)
Repertory Dance Theatre | Theatre (One Person Show/Musical
Ronald K. Brown | Dance (Culturally Specific)
Samite of Uganda | Theatre (Experimental)
Sun Ergos | Music (Jazz/Blues)
Tall Stories | Theatre (One Person Show)
Bradetich/Grove Duo | Dance (Contemporary)
Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem | Music (Folk/Choral)