Chynia Ariana Harris, a multifaceted artist from Richmond, Virginia, is a recent graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, earning her BFA in Dance and Choreography with a Media Studies minor. At VCU, she performed in works by Christian von Howard, Autumn Proctor Waddell, Stephanie Martinez, as well as many local Richmond artists. She was selected to present her solo “Light the match, Release the weight” at the American College Dance Festival, Virginia Black Dance Festival, and VCU's Pathfinders Concert. Her dedication to the field extends past the studio, driving her to engage with the administrative side of the arts. This past summer, she completed an Arts Administration Internship at the American Dance Festival, supporting one of the nation’s top modern dance institutions. A 2025 mentee in the Camille A. Brown Mentorship Program and part of the Black Dance Changemakers "HOMIES" Michaela DePrince Cohort, Chynia is committed to equity and innovation in dance. Her leadership also extends into community-focused artistic and advocacy work. She led initiatives as Programming Chair for Black Art Student Empowerment and furthered her advocacy as a member of VCU’s NAACP. Passionate about integrating media and movement, she created Tabula Rasa, a live art installation supported by the 2023 VCU Arts Collaborative Research Grant and Thine Heart Was Tender with the 2024 VCU Arts Undergraduate Research Grant. Her artistry reaches beyond the stage into print, commercial ads, and billboards, and she has represented VCU as the solo dancer and cover face of the university’s overview book for the last three consecutive years. She is honored to continue growing alongside IABD and is inspired by the organization’s commitment to sustaining and celebrating Black dance.
