Installation view Photograph

Choreographer, director, visual artist and performer Syniva Whitney is the lead artist behind Gender Tender a performance project that centers transgender, non-binary and multiracial points of view in a process that combines dance and acting techniques, cinematic devices and visual art practices. They’ve shown work at Velocity, Washington Ensemble Theater, On the Boards, the Seattle International Dance Festival, Yellow Fish Epic Durational Performance Festival and Gay City Arts and have shown work presented by 20% Theatre Co., 9×22 Dance Lab, Patrick’s Cabaret, Pleasure Rebel and Future Interstates in Minneapolis. They have worked as a performer and designer with Aniccha Arts (MPLS) and Vanessa DeWolf (SEA) and have had their short films screened nationally. Syniva holds an MFA in studio art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has exhibited their visual art nationally. Syniva has also studied dance and performance with Vanessa DeWolf, Bebe Miller, Kris Wheeler, Stephanie Skura and Nancy Stark Smith and has performed with Maureen Whiting Dance Co, kt shores and Paris Hurley (all SEA). Along with Gender Tender's lead performer Will Courtney, Syniva has also experimented with co-writing and the 2 of them most recently were invited by the Walker Art Center to respond to the 2016 Out There performance art festival . Syniva holds an MFA in studio art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has exhibited their visual art and short dance films nationally.