Choreographic Portrait: Courtney “Balenciaga” Washington with MasterZ at Work Dance Family

Works & Process Underground Uptown Dance Festival at Guggenheim New York presents Choreographic Portrait: Courtney “Balenciaga” Washington with MasterZ at Work Dance Family and Parsons Dance Rotunda Dance Party: The MasterZ Ball on Friday, January 9, 2026 at 7pm. Ticket purchase to this performance includes admission to the Rotunda Dance Party with MasterZ at Work Dance Family at 8:30 pm. https://www.worksandprocess.org/calendar/works-and-process-underground-uptown-dance-festival-at-guggenheim-new-york-2026-masterz-parsons

See a portrait of Black trans femme choreographer Courtney “Balenciaga” Washington—founder of the Kiki House of Juicy Couture, a leader of the House of Balenciaga, and founder of MasterZ at Work Dance Family, and Legend in the Ballroom community. For nearly forty years, Parsons Dance has brought life-affirming performances and joy to audiences worldwide. Led by David Parsons, “one of the great movers of modern dance” (The New York Times), the company is praised for its dancers’ athleticism and technical skill. Parsons Dance premieres a new co-commission with Works & Process by Washington. The evening also features Washington’s new Works & Process commission The 24/7 Diner, which fuses street dance, street jazz, ballroom, vogue, and hip-hop and is inspired by chance encounters at New York City diners and stories told over shared meals. Works & Process executive director Duke Dang moderates the discussion. To conclude the evening, join MasterZ at Work Dance Family for a Rotunda Dance Party. All audience members are encouraged to take part in the MasterZ Ball, featuring four categories: Face, Runway, Performance, and Dance Off.

About Works & Process

Championing performing artists and their creative process at each step from studio to stage, Works & Process produces fully funded residencies and presents events that go behind the scenes, blending artist discussion and performance highlights. Works & Process events transcend the proscenium, encouraging audiences to spectate and participate beyond the stage, and culminate in receptions in the Guggenheim rotunda to continue the conversation. Works & Process produces over 25 creative residencies annually. Expanding from our bubble residency program created during the COVID-19 pandemic, Works & Process now has a network of over a dozen partners in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont. In over 100 Works & Process residencies, supporting over 1,000 artists, incubated works have been recognized with awards and grants, and have toured nationally—and internationally with the U.S. State Department. These out-of-town residencies provide 24/7 studio access, on-site housing, access to health insurance enrollment, industry-leading artist fees, and a transportation stipend to facilitate uninterrupted creative process. Beyond the Guggenheim, we also partner with organizations across New York, including 92NY and the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Jerome Robbins Dance Division. During the summer, we curate and present free outdoor dance programs with Manhattan West and City Parks Foundation’s SummerStage. Works and Process, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID: 13-3592291

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