Seda Negra/Black Silk Dance Company (SNBSDC) utilizes a fusion of dance genres and expressions to tell stories and explore political, social and cultural narratives, as well as lived experiences of people in the African Diaspora.
Founded and Directed by Iris Rosa Santiago, SNBSDC is housed within the Iris Rosa Dance Studio in Indianapolis, Indiana. Since 2022 the company has performed in Schrott Center for the Arts, The Booth Tarkington Center for the Performing Arts, The Tobias at Newfields, Madam Walker Legacy Center, Basile Opera Center, The Anthenaeum, The District Theatre, and the Buskirk/Chumley Theatre (Bloomington, Indiana)
Season 3: Of Iron
“Of Iron”, directed by Iris Rosa Santiago and performed by Seda Negra/Black Silk Dance Company, is a powerful, soul-stirring dance performance that reflects the enduring strength and spirit of people in the African diaspora.
Inspired by Ogun, the god of war, iron, and justice in the Ifa spiritual system of Nigeria, the performance examines perseverance in the face of resistance and uncertainty. Through electrifying choreography, storytelling, and the combination of emotive spoken word, “Of Iron” channels Ogun’s fierce energy as the roots of the narrative to explore the beauty of resistance and the fire of transformation.
African diasporic dance motifs and expressive movement converge to create a visceral journey of self-discovery and empowerment.
Upcoming events
-
Indy Dance Festival 2025
7.19 7:00PM
The Tobias Theatre at Newfields
Seda Negra/Black Silk Dance Company will perform an excerpt from Season Three’s production: “Of Iron”
Move and be moved at this cherished annual community event featuring an incredible array of local and visiting talent. Each evening's performance is different and celebrates the diversity in movement and experiences present in our vibrant Indy dance scene.
-
Of Iron at Indy Fringe 2025
8.19 8:00PM
The District Theatre - Main Stage
As Seda Negra/Black Silk Dance Company’s third consecutive year in the IndyFringe Festival, Of Iron is more than a performance—it’s a ritual, a celebration, and a call to action. Join us for an unforgettable evening where movement becomes message, and the stage becomes sacred ground.
-
Of Iron at Indy Fringe 2025
8.23 5:00PM
The District Theatre - Main Stage
As Seda Negra/Black Silk Dance Company’s third consecutive year in the IndyFringe Festival, Of Iron is more than a performance—it’s a ritual, a celebration, and a call to action. Join us for an unforgettable evening where movement becomes message, and the stage becomes sacred ground.
-
Of Iron at Indy Fringe 2025
8.24 8:00PM
The District Theatre - Main Stage
As Seda Negra/Black Silk Dance Company’s third consecutive year in the IndyFringe Festival, Of Iron is more than a performance—it’s a ritual, a celebration, and a call to action. Join us for an unforgettable evening where movement becomes message, and the stage becomes sacred ground.
The Company
-
Camille Beck
-
Bernadette Bradley
-
Kelvin Burzon
-
Hannah Crane
-
Amber Daniel
-
Brittany Davis
-
Cherese Dillman
-
Kandyce Donald
-
Ronald King
-
Kiara Rodriquez Nuñez
-
Bianca Salgado
-
Vae Savage
-
Amelia Smith
-
Briony Towler
-
Yolanda Valdivia
-
Jiang Xu 江凝旭
Iris Rosa Santiago, Artistic Director
Iris Rosa Santiago was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico, and raised in East Chicago, Indiana. She is a Professor Emerita in the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies and the former and founding Director of the African American Dance Company (1974–2017) at Indiana University Bloomington.
Her specializations include teaching dance technique, history and choreography from the perspective of the African American and African Diaspora and bridging the contemporary modern dance genre with African diaspora dance forms. Rosa has studied, researched, presented and taught dance in Ghana, Dominican Republic, Ivory Coast, Havana, Matanzas and Guantanamo, and Santiago, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica and Beijing, China. She has worked as a choreographer, dancer and actor on many community projects in Indianapolis at the Phoenix Theatre, Civic Theatre, Madame Walker Theatre Center and the Jazz Kitchen.
Rosa is the artistic director of Sancocho: Music and Dance Collage and Seda Negra/Black Silk, ensembles dedicated to researching and performing African influenced dance and music from the Caribbean and Latin America.
Rosa opened Iris Rosa Dance Studio in May 2022 in Indianapolis to expose the community to the rich diversity of dance and music from the African and African American diaspora.
Season 2 - Pathways/Caminos: A New Works Commission
Seda Nega/Black Silk Dance Company performed “Pathways/Caminos” for the New Works Premiere on June 1, 2024, at The Tarkington in Carmel, Indiana. Iris Rosa Santiago was awarded this distinguished artist commission through the New Works Project presented by the Center For Performing Arts.
Support Seda Negra/Black Silk Dance Company
A portion of your shirt and tote bag purchases help to fund our performance activities, and you’ll be supporting us in style!
Buy Merch
Performances and activities are entirely funded by the company. Expenses include venue rental, costume materials and construction, technical staffing and equipment, marketing, and various other expenses to make this show possible. Please make a donation of any amount to help us continue sharing dance with the community.
Make A Gift
Donations are accepted via PayPal. If you do not have a PayPal account or prefer to use a different payment method, please email info@irisrosadance.com.
Please note donations are not tax-deductible.
Photos by Kelvin Burzon and Gary Watson