March 6, 2026 8:00 pm
Children of immigrants occupy a unique space in this country. Carrying both direct inheritance and new beginnings, we hold a responsibility for the narratives that brought us here, even as we learn to carve our own. If we are to be somebody’s ancestors, what kind of future can we build from what we have to say today?
Led by children of immigrants – Lauren DeVera, Ishanathan Guteng, Tim Huynh, Tulani Janae, and Anushka Raje – “We Are Somebody’s Ancestors” is a dance showcase exploring inheritance and the ways we harness our stories. In this immersive experience, we invite the audience to journey alongside us as we explore themes that, while not exclusive to children of immigrants, often become pronounced by navigating across locations, generations, and cultures.
Over the course of an hour, we hope to provide a deeper understanding of what it means to come from somewhere else, to live life split between, and to explore what binds us all in the shared experience of being wholly human.
Runtime: 1 hour
Ages: All Ages
Content Advisory: Mild swearing and references of grief. Mild use of flashing or strobing lights.
Artist Bios
Lauren DeVera is a mixed Filipina-American choreographer, educator, performer, and founder of The Lion’s Den DMV—a dance and wellness hub centering expression and friendship. Her creative work explores identity, healing, and collective care through movement, somatics, and storytelling. Recent projects include the work NANAY, focusing on the mother wound and intergenerational trauma, and the short film RECLAIMING US, presented at The Kennedy Center’s 10,000 Dreams Film Festival. Lauren and The Lion’s Den have partnered and presented with Amazon, The Kennedy Center, National Geographic, Yoga Alliance, the DC Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, the City of Alexandria, Dance Place, and NPR.
Ishanathan Guteng is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher from Columbia, Maryland. He has trained with Laura Edwards Dance Company (LED), Ascendant Dance Company (ADC) under Gina Michael, and is an alumnus of Major Definition dance team. His style draws inspiration from afro dance, street jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, and modern movement. His goal as an artist is to inspire others and cultivate spaces of knowledge, awareness, and expression to create positive impact.
Tim Huynh is a Vietnamese-American dance artist based out of Baltimore County, Maryland. His work emphasizes feeling, intention, and meaning through visual storytelling and street styles. He credits his first dance team, Major Definition, as the catalyst for his artistic journey and looks forward to creating new experiences while strengthening his ties throughout the DMV.
Tulani Janae is a hip-hop and commercial dance choreographer, educator, and creative director from Gaithersburg, Maryland who discovered her passion for dance at age 8 through Culture Shock DC. Over the past eight years, she has taught throughout the DMV and curated creative projects with organizations across the United States. She holds a degree in Communication from the University of Maryland, College Park, and currently serves as the Founder and Executive Director of Vessel, Inc., a nonprofit organization in Montgomery County, Maryland dedicated to fostering community connection through dance training, performance opportunities, and wellness practices.
Anushka Raje, the oldest daughter of Indian immigrants, grew up in Oklahoma where her passion for storytelling began early. Nearly four years ago, she moved to Washington, DC and immersed herself in the city’s vibrant dance community, crediting much of her artistic growth to Capital Funk, where she developed her style and served as one of four Directors for the 2024–2025 season. Alongside her dance practice, Anushka’s work in the nonprofit and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion sectors deepens her commitment to community-led expression and exploring how we relate to ourselves, each other, and the systems around us. We Are Somebody’s Ancestors marks her official debut.