Who we are.

Beyond the Black Box (BBB) is a an arts and cultural organization dedicated to amplifying Black voices, fostering connections, and educating through immersive experiences. Our mission is to celebrate, honor, and uplift the Black dance community by creating supportive spaces for artists to thrive. Motivated by a desire to address the lack of representation and support we encountered in our own journeys, we are committed to promoting inclusiveness, fairness, and visibility in the dance world.

BBB achieves its mission by producing dynamic multidisciplinary works, including live dance productions, community engagement initiatives, mentorship programs, and educational opportunities. Our approach seamlessly weaves together elements of popular culture with boundless enthusiasm, showcasing the remarkable accomplishments of our community.

With your support, BBB will continue to empower Black dancers and artists who champion social and political principles of inclusivity, fairness, and visibility, ultimately enriching the cultural tapestry of our community. Together, we will create a brighter future where Black voices are celebrated and heard through the transformative power of the arts.

Our Team

  • Chanel Stone

    FOUNDER

    Chanel Stone is a performer, choreographer, creator, and skater based in Brooklyn, New York. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, she moved to NYC in 2015, where she experienced the Black community in dance for the first time. She earned her BFA in Dance from LIU Brooklyn in 2019.

    In April 2021, she became a Resident Artist with Triskelion Arts, where she began the process of undoing and unlearning physical and mental trauma caused by body colonization. Her first solo show, (inner)bloom, premiered in September 2021, combining live performance, art, and film. As a Resident Artist, Chanel partnered with Triskelion Arts to present Beyond the Black Box, an event and organization she founded in Spring 2022. Beyond the Black Box (BBB) is dedicated to celebrating, honoring, and healing the Black dance community by building connections and educating people through experiences. BBB has produced six events since its founding, including a Juneteenth party at House of Yes and a four-night event series at Triskelion Arts. The collective has choreographed four original works presented at Triskelion Arts.

  • Cemiyon Barber

    CO-FOUNDER, CURATOR

    Cemiyon Barber, a native of Mississippi and a 2018 alumnus of SUNY Purchase with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, is a dancer, choreographer, model, and director based in New York City. He has performed in works by some of the most illustrious figures in dance, including Bill T. Jones, Kyle Abraham, Merce Cunningham, and George Balanchine. In spring of 2024, Cemiyon joined The Metropolitan Opera House as a dancer in the premiere of El Nino, composed by John Adams. Additionally, Cemiyon has showcased his original choreography at notable NYC venues, including the Manhattan Movement & Arts Center, Triskelion Arts, and Arts on Site.

    In addition to his dance career, Cemiyon has been featured in fashion publications such as VOGUE Russia and Numero Berlin. His television appearances span networks including PBS Social, HBO, Telfar TV, and MTV. His achievements have garnered recognition in prestigious outlets like The New York Times, The New Yorker, Time Out Magazine, and more.

    In 2022, Cemiyon co-founded Beyond The Black Box, an arts and cultural organization dedicated to supporting and uplifting the Black dance community. Within its first year, Cemiyon orchestrated and directed five major performances and events for artists, including a memorable Juneteenth celebration at the House of Yes.

  • Cleo Reed

    DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

    Ella Josephine Julia Moore is a multi-disciplinary artist whose practices uses participatory art, music composition, instrument-making, bandleading, installation and fabric arts. Under the alias Cleo Reed, they complete musical projects that are focused on memories and Black queer histories.  Cleo is also a recipient of the 2024-2026 Abrons Arts Center’s Performance AIRspace Residency, the 2024 Map Fund, and the 2024-2025 Recess Arts Session x Assembly Award.  Cleo is an alumni of Harlem School of The Arts and a graduate of Berklee College of Music. At 19, Cleo Reed named themselves after Cleophus, their great-grandmother and a fellow Aquarius. Whether underground or academic, experimental or popular, they express musicianship guided by their radiance, femininity, and cyclical traumas.