Starr Foster Dance — Where Movement Becomes Meaning

For over two decades, Starr Foster Dance has been a driving force in Richmond’s contemporary dance scene, captivating audiences with work that is both emotionally resonant and visually striking. Led by founder and artistic director Starrene Foster, the company is known for its raw, human-centered choreography that pushes boundaries while remaining deeply accessible.

Whether performing in traditional theatres or unexpected spaces, Starr Foster Dance creates performances that invite reflection, connection, and conversation, always grounded in a commitment to artistic excellence and community engagement.

In this spotlight, we explore the company’s mission, its impact on Richmond’s arts landscape, and the visionary behind the movement.

CultureWorks: What inspired you to start Starr Foster Dance, and how has the vision evolved since its founding? 

Starrene Foster: My inspiration to start Starr Foster Dance was deeply rooted in the idea of having a vehicle to create dance works, being able to share the work with the community, and provide opportunities to dancers and other artists who reside in Richmond. Over the years (and this question has truly made me contemplate how we’ve evolved), the work itself has certainly expanded. I think it's true with any artist, the more work you create, you begin to fine-tune your voice and become wiser with what you present, but we also have grown immensely with our vision and have made incredible connections with our fellow community members. 

CultureWorks: Your mission emphasizes collaborating “with all types of artists”—from writers to photographers. How do these interdisciplinary approaches enhance the dance experience?  

SF: I feel that anytime multiple artists' voices are included in a project, it only enhances the work. This approach also strengthens relationships, which in turn elevate the community. During every production of both our PAGE TO STAGE series (collaboration with writers) and our SPITTING IMAGE series (collaboration with photographers), I meet audience members who have never attended a dance concert but have found their way to our event because of a connection with one of the collaborating artists.  By connecting dance with something the audience member loves, whether it be photography or fiction, we create a pathway to something they may never have experienced before. I feel that presenting these multi-disciplinary events enhances the experience for everyone. 

CultureWorks: How do you choose the themes or ideas you explore in your choreography? 

SF: I enjoy making work that captures the human spirit, so I often pull from ideas of personal experience, conversations, and family history (my grandmother was a holocaust survivor). I am a bookworm (hence the PAGE TO STAGE series) and am often inspired by things I read. As an artist, it's essential to me that I create work that provokes thought and inspires dialogue. I like for the audience to create their own narrative when they come to see the performances and hope that what they saw on stage lingers in their thoughts. 

CultureWorks: From drop-in classes to internships and guest performer opportunities, how does SFD open doors for emerging artists in Richmond?  

SF: I believe that establishing our mentorship program for young dancers, the internship program, and the ongoing events that include guest dancers provide opportunities for artists to learn not only about how we present performances and the rehearsal process, but also how all the pieces fit together, from marketing to the technical aspects and how to juggle scheduling. There are many moving parts that can be overwhelming, but providing one example of how to be successful is the goal. I believe that the world is better with more art. If I can inspire and encourage other artists and provide them with the extra tools they need to create, then hopefully they will develop new work and share their process with others.  

CultureWorks: How would you describe your choreographic style to someone who has never seen your work?  

SF: Powerful. Intimate. Unusual. 

Richmond’s dance critic, Julinda Lewis, I feel, nailed the work with this quote: "Foster’s work is about power. Comfort is not a factor".  

Though with that description, I must add that it is the dancers I work with who bring the choreography to life in such a magical way. When you have extraordinary artists who are willing to try anything, who plunge everything they have into my ideas, and also value dancing with one another, then your results are pretty incredible.  

CultureWorks: If someone new to dance wanted to attend a Starr Foster Dance show, what do you hope they walk away feeling or questioning? 

SF: The intention is that the audience walks away feeling something. Truly anything. I hope that they feel moved to discuss what they saw or connect the work to their own experiences.  

CultureWorks: How do you think Starr Foster Dance contributes to Richmond’s creative ecosystem? 

SF: Starr Foster Dance is dedicated to delivering exceptional and engaging productions each year. There is also a wealth of incredible artists in our city, and we are devoted to (what I refer to) cross-pollinating in every event by collaborating with other talent in our immediate community, and are so grateful that they wish to join us for our projects. We have also produced the Mid-Atlantic Choreographers Showcase for 20 years now, which brings emerging and established choreographers to our city (and they all fall in love with RVA).

CultureWorks: Are there any new projects, collaborations, or ideas you’re eager to explore in the coming year?

SF: YES! 

In December, at the Firehouse Theatre, we will present two premieres, one of which includes Richmond composer Daniel Deckelman and six guest dancers from the community. In this program, we will also show the restaging of “[YOUR NAME] HERE”, which was first performed in 2021. Then, in April 2026 (also at Firehouse), we are so excited to be premiering the evening-length work SHOUTING DISTANCE (it's about your next door neighbor) that will include actors from the RVA community as well as guest dancers.  

We are presenting our Season Preview on Oct. 4th at Richmond Movement Center, which will include a sneak preview of works from both events mentioned above. This is such a fun event that includes food, and audience members get to hear about the process, ask questions, meet the company, and there are a few surprises too.  

Closer down the pipeline, we are performing with Rattlemouth at Dogwood Dell (Sept. 5th) and the Fuse Ensemble at Gallery 5 (Sept. 7th).