Philadelphia Neighborhoods

For South Philadelphia dance artist dance is a practice of cultural survival and activism.
She says that she founded her own company, to honor her ancestors and carry traditions from her home country of Indonesia forward.

At a time of mounting fear for immigrant communities, Storms sees artistic expression as inseparable from freedom of speech. “We use our art almost every day,” she said, “as a form of survival, but also as a tool to raise awareness about what’s happening in our own communities.”

Philadelphia Neighborhoods reporter Brian Nelson spoke to storms about her work, and the new piece she is creating for America’s 250th anniversary title, “This Is America: a piece rooted in the lived experiences of immigrants.”