Epiic Thesis is a living philosophy that transforms over twenty years of street style diasporic discovery in motion, Black imagination, and stubborn endurance into a multidisciplinary performance practice. Birthed from Krump and inspired by cinema, ritual, and metaphysics, the work refuses the street and stage divide, building spaces where chaos, creation, and stillness coexist.

The Black Sheep: 

Dustin “Dpayne” Payne 

Ancestor(s): 

Moriah Miller 

Piano: 

dré elijah 

The Inspirations: 

Naomi Diana

Dina Amin

Arielle El-Amin

Jill Gregory

Alexandra Alemany 

Reshea Mackey

Nyla Jai Harris-Petter

Ensemble 1: 

Malik “Gvmby” Bannister  

Tai "EnterTai-Ment" White  

Mitchell "Mitch Groovy" Davis  

Jayden Coulson  

Cassandra "Harmony" Tsolis 

Eve Chen

KK Parman 

Ensemble 2: 

Daelyn Phelan 

Ella Williams 

Victoria Ayad 

Zyla Nia Harris-Peter  

Jazmyn Thomas 

Lauren Humes (G 1 &2) 

Dominique Pompa 

Judges: 

James “Animated J” Jimenez 

Xavier Luciano 

Sherry Lin

Choreographer, Director, Composer:

Darrel ‘Friidom’ Dunn 

Thesis Committee:

Dimitri Chamblas, Brigette Dunn-Korpela, Sabela Grimes, Ari  Osterweiss. Ext. Julie Bour 

Aesthetic— 

Wardrobe: Briana Newsom, Christina “Butterfly” Davis 

Textile Design: Faith-Ann Kiwa Young

Scenic Design: N. Aje Soberekon, Jay Connlly (Assistant Designer)

Lighting Design: Clay Pisto 

Logistics— 

Stage Manager: Isabella Ravelo  

Producer (On-Campus): Yun Lee 

Producer (Off-Campus): Jill Gregory 

Production Assistant(s): Reshea Mackey, Alexandra Alemany 

Documentation: Friidom 

Movement— 

Assistant Choreography: Malik “Gvmby” Bannister, Moriah Miller

Dramaturgy: Stephen “Swizz” Banks, Pat White 

Music— 

Friidom (Sampling/Composer) 

Naomi Diana (Voice) 

Arielle El-Amin (Voice) 

Dina Amin (Voice) 

dré elijah (Piano) 

Madison (TBD) 

SPECIAL THANKS: 

Dave Thrasher at Time + space 

Parisa Nkoy