sarAika movement collective is a contemporary dance collective,
founded by immigrants and queer women Aika Takeshima and Sara Pizzi in
New York. sarAika advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion in
the dance ecosystem. By creating multidisciplinary collaborative
performances, we spread awareness on topical aspects or personal
insight. Through community programming, we provide accessible
opportunities, local empowerment, and performing arts to the general
public. We pursue these values of authenticity to bond our community
to be inclusive and welcoming to all, trusting in the
multidisciplinary aspects of collaborations to expand the potential of
art delivery, creativity, and application. sarAika makes dance for and
about people. sarAika movement collective’s vision is to offer dance
experiences that authentically showcase diversity so that we can bring
diverse underrepresented voices to be listened to. This, by breaking
down the typical performances by making performances experiences that
speak about and for us, our insights, and our rights. Founded in 2021,
sarAika joined the NYC Dance Parade, which was being streamed live on
TV Channel 25, and they were part of the opening reception of the SJAC
Annual Open Gallery. In 2022 sarAika performed live/live stream or
video projected more than 50 times, including their first
evening-length show as Off Off Broadway, maturing their first
commission for ETALIA Theater and The Museum of NYC. Every year,
sarAika is part of Queensboro Dance Festival, Japan Parade, NYC Pride
March, and a guest dance company for Dance Parade. In 2023, they were
awarded by Spoke The Hub to have their first solo production, received
RedTail residency at JCAL, and toured in Japan, offering choreographic
workshops and performances. In 2024, they were also commissioned by
IATI and awarded as resident artists at the Performance Project at
University Settlement for an evening-length show. Recently, sarAika is
committed to an international collaboration with OICDF in Japan and
LPP in Italy, and commissioned by Naoko Tosa to choreograph for their
show for NWFW in collaboration with Japan Society.
