SLIPPAGE: Performance | Culture | Technology

Where Black Studies & Artistic Research Forge New Social Possiblities

SLIPPAGE, led by Professor Thomas F. DeFrantz at Northwestern University, is a global think-tank exploring connections between performance, history, and technology; fostering critical interactions and staying at the forefront of innovative thinking.

Recent Announcements

Stay in the Know

View All Announcements

Social justice + civic engagement

Mellon Foundation + SLIPPAGE + Higher Learning

SLIPPAGE is thrilled to announce funding support from the Mellon Foundation to support our work in Black Dance Studies.

Learn how Thomas F. DeFrantz plans to use the grant to expand a research project focused on local Black dance practices, national African American identity, and global Black freedom.

Read the announcement

choosing nondefinition

re-OrientationS

SLIPPAGE’s most recent performance research premiered at Links Hall in Chicago May 16-18, 2024

Learn more about this production

Who We Are

SLIPPAGE: Performance. Culture. Technology.

SLIPPAGE is a think-tank, an interdisciplinary performance research group that explores connections between performance, history, theater, and emergent technology.

Under the direction of professor Thomas F. DeFrantz, SLIPPAGE builds on the urgent need for intentional, critical, and timely interaction among artists, researchers, audiences, engineers, faculty, students, and general publics in the arts. Located in the Evanston campus of Northwestern University, SLIPPAGE, has a special imperative to organize cultural events that help us all imagine how creativity and expression operate at the core of artistry, humanity, technology, and social possibilities. SLIPPAGE produces conferences, symposia, workshops, and artist exchanges in events that mark social progress via research in performance.

Recognized globally, SLIPPAGE remains at the forefront of innovative thinking.

Learn More about SLIPPAGE

Multidisciplined

Celebrating Excellence: Spotlight on the Vibrant World of Black Artists

Explore the rich tapestry of narratives woven by black artists and dancers, as their performances transcend boundaries and challenge conventional norms, offering a unique perspective that inspires and resonates with audiences globally.

Collaborative Canvas

We Embrace the Rich Mosaic of Artists in Our Community

Discover a community where artistic boundaries are shattered, bringing together a kaleidoscope of talents and perspectives from diverse backgrounds. Our platform is a melting pot of creativity, fostering an inclusive environment that sparks collaborations that resonate with the richness of global artistry while bringing the experience of black life to the forefront.

Meet Our People