Art becomes a powerful voice in Struggle and Resilience, an inspiring evening dedicated to honoring the courage, creativity, and triumph of Black and Latina women in the arts. Through the medium of dance, spoken word, and music, this performance highlights their stories of strength and perseverance while celebrating their incredible contributions to art and culture.

Featured Performances

  • The Caged Bird Sings: A multidisciplinary masterpiece inspired by Maya Angelou’s iconic poem, choreographed by Julianna Rubio Slager with original script by Kady Debelak. This work, created entirely by Black and Latina women, radiates resilience and freedom.

  • Transcendence: Tobin James’s reflective ballet on rising above adversity, embodying the unbreakable human spirit.

  • What’s a Woman Worth: A spoken word and movement collaboration inspired by Quina Aragon’s powerful poetry, exploring identity, strength, and purpose.

  • New Work by Rachel Hutsell: A bold and innovative piece by former New York City Ballet dancer Rachel Hutsell, honoring the complexity of modern womanhood.

Join us for an unforgettable evening that uplifts the voices of Black and Latina women, celebrating their artistry and resilience in the face of struggle. Together, we honor their legacies and look toward a future shaped by hope and creativity.

Rachel Hutsell, a Houston, TX native, is an accomplished professional ballet dancer known for her grace, versatility, and commanding stage presence. She began her career with New York City Ballet in 2015, where she honed her artistry under the guidance of one of the world’s premier ballet companies. In 2023, Rachel transitioned to performing with State Street Ballet and is now a celebrated Principal Guest Artist based in Southern California.

Rachel’s career spans both stage and screen. In 2018, she was featured in Ballet Now, a critically acclaimed documentary directed by Steven Cantor. The following year, she served as the dance double for the character "Anita" in Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-nominated West Side Story, further showcasing her dynamic talent and adaptability.

Her contributions to the arts have garnered significant media attention, including features in Women’s Wear Daily and Dance Spirit. Rachel also graced the cover of Pointe Magazine's June/July 2018 issue, which highlighted her emerging prominence in the world of ballet.

As a Principal Guest Artist, Rachel continues to bring her artistry to new audiences, captivating them with her dedication to the craft and her ability to infuse classical ballet with contemporary storytelling.

Quina Aragon is an author, editor, and spoken word artist residing in Orlando, FL.

Over the past 10 years, Quina has worked as a digital content writer, copy editor, and book author, covering topics in art, culture, life issues, faith, advocacy, and more. As a creative writer with a dedication to precision and authenticity, she has leveraged her skills across industries and platforms to produce dynamic content that tells meaningful stories. 

Quina has been featured on numerous podcasts and has had the privilege of speaking at various conferences, as well as providing voice-overs to multiple clients. Her work spans industries, such as music, art, fashion, non-profit, film, and literary publishing. She has helped create projects through her writing, editing, offering creative vision, and/or performing for clients like Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Vū Virtual Production Studios, The Good Book Company, Harvest House, Bethany House Publishers, Risen Motherhood, The And (&) Campaign, She Reads Truth, Training Leaders International, and many more.

Tobin James is an accomplished dancer, choreographer, and educator with a distinguished career in modern dance. Currently an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), she holds a BFA in modern dance, an MA in higher education administration, and a certification from the Martha Graham Center for Contemporary Dance. A former member of PHILADANCO and the Martha Graham Ensemble, Tobin has performed works by renowned choreographers including Martha Graham, Pearl Lang, and Mona Störling-Enna.

Her extensive career includes serving as associate artistic director of Störling Dance Theater, choreographing for esteemed organizations like Ballet Magnificat and Philadanco, and touring nationally as a featured dance artist with The Young Messiah and Emmanuel Tours. Tobin is also the co-choreographer and associate producer of Underground, a celebrated production by Störling Dance Theater.

A dedicated educator and advocate, she launched The Pendleton Dance Project in 2020, addressing social issues through dance, and is a contributing author to the Journal of Dance Education’s Special Issue on Race and Dance Education.

Kady Debelak