Vershawn Sanders-Ward

Vershawn Sanders-Ward is a dancer, director, choreographer and educator. As the Founding Artistic Director & CEO of Red Clay Dance Company, Vershawn blends elements of African diasporic dance forms with modern techniques. Sanders-Ward holds a BFA in Dance from Columbia College Chicago and an MFA in Dance from New York University. Her numerous awards include the inaugural Walder Foundation Platform Award, 2025 Chicagoan of the Year in Dance, 2025 Chicago Defender Women of Excellence, Chicago Dancemakers Forum Award, and a 3Arts Award. She has received commissions from institutions including University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Northwestern University, Columbia College Chicago, Northern Illinois University, and Loyola University, showcasing her choreography on national and international stages. As an educator, she has facilitated masterclasses and residencies at institutions including Uganda National Cultural Center, L’Ecole Des Sables, New York University, Columbia College Chicago, The University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin, University of Chicago, University of Texas-Austin, The Ohio State University, and Knox College. Sanders-Ward has been selected four times for the Players 50: People Who Really Perform for Chicago, being inducted into the Players 50 Hall of Fame in 2023.