Center Field Detroit Brings HBCU Dance Legacy and Creative Opportunity to the City’s Youth

July 18, 2025

Center Field Detroit, a two-day dance intensive created by the nonprofit Autumn Sun, will take place July 31-August 1 at the Joseph Walker Williams Center for Metro Detroit student dancers ages 12-18. The program offers up to 200 youth the opportunity to train with elite instructors from three prominent HBCUs: Jackson State University, Southern University, and Texas Southern University. This initiative provides culturally grounded education through dance while equipping participants with skills for auditions, higher education, and creative careers, regardless of their experience level.

Who is affected

Metro Detroit student dancers ages 12-18
Youth across all skill levels, from beginners to experienced dancers
Black students seeking culturally grounded spaces and education
Detroit's young people looking for pathways to higher education and creative careers
Families and communities connected to these youth

What action is being taken

Autumn Sun is hosting a two-day dance intensive at the Joseph Walker Williams Center
Instructors from three HBCUs (Jackson State, Southern University, and Texas Southern) are providing training in HBCU-style dance techniques
A simulated audition process is being offered to prepare students for collegiate and professional tryouts
A Campus Culture symposium featuring City Council President Mary Sheffield is being organized to address college preparedness
First Independence Bank is serving as the presenting sponsor for the initiative

Why it matters

The program arrives when many institutions are scaling back diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts
It provides culturally grounded spaces for Black students at a time when such spaces are being dismantled elsewhere
The initiative offers access to elite instruction without requiring auditions or previous experience
It connects Detroit youth with the cultural legacy of HBCUs through direct interaction with university instructors
The program teaches not only dance but also discipline, endurance, collaboration, and professional skills
It represents an investment in Detroit's young people, providing skills and exposure often unavailable through traditional channels

What's next

Registration for Center Field Detroit is currently open for students between ages 12-18 from across Metro Detroit
The two-day intensive will take place July 31 through August 1, 2023

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle