What Makes That Black?

ABOUT

Bio of Author:

Luana is the author of What Makes That Black? The African-American Aesthetic in American Expressive Culture, Luana has specific expertise in cultural intelligence, explicit / implicit bias, intellectual diversity and art criticism / composition.

Working as a professor and performing artist for over 30 years, Luana honed skills in active listening, complex problem solving, critical/creative thinking, public speaking, diverse learning, systems analysis, writing and leadership. She holds an M.A. from Mills College.

For 25 years she was a tenured professor at City College of San Francisco teaching Dance Production, Dance History, African-American Aesthetics, Choreography, Modern and Jazz technique, and ran the Repertory Dance Company. She has taught at Mills College, Laney Community College, JFK University, and lecturer at Dominican University in the LINES BFA program. Before teaching at the collegiate level she taught academics through dance for 15 years at the K-12 level. She has been acknowledged for her teaching and mentoring. In addition to her teaching career, Luana successfully performed in the U.S. and in Europe. 

LUANA is currently an Executive Think Partner at Bleeker Inc, (bleeker.co) a company that surrounds underrepresented talent with essential resources to unlock their extraordinary life’s work. She is researching the role of Black Cultural Intelligence as an asset in executive leadership.

Her next book, Deep Roots is the reclamation and integration of Black narrative. Luana is an avid gardener, neophyte bocce player, dedicated food enthusiast and a long-standing student of theoretical quantum physics

SPEAKING

Black Arts in America, 2021
Global Education Center
Nashville, TN

African American Aesthetic Dance Educators Association, 2018
St Paul, MN

GET IN TOUCH

Luana is always available for side collaborations and talks worldwide. If you want to chat about design, books, wine, or anything else, don’t hesitate in reaching out.

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WRITING:

What Makes That Black: The African American Aesthetic
April 2016

What Makes That Black: The African American Aesthetic in American Expressive Culture
January 2018

“Thank you Jason Parham For Sounding Truth”
August 2020

“Mentors helped me bring my Blackness into non-Black Spaces simply by being” February 2021