2024 Kweli Color of Children’s Literature Pre-Conference Event
OLUGBEMISOLA RHUDAY-PERKOVICH
in conversation with
RENÉE WATSON
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
at Ballet Hispanico, NYC
Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and Renée Watson
ARTISTS
OLUGBEMISOLA RHUDAY-PERKOVICH
Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich is the author of 8th Grade Superzero, It Doesn’t Take a Genius, the nonfiction books Above and Beyond: NASA’s Journey to Tomorrow and Someday Is Now: Clara Luper and the 1958 Oklahoma City Sit-Ins, and the upcoming Mae Makes a Way and Saving Earth: The Climate Crisis and the Fight for Our Future. She is the coauthor of the middle-grade novel Two Naomis, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award, and its sequel, Naomis Too. Inspired by some of her favorite family stories and the city she loves, Operation Sisterhood is a celebration of the sweetness and spice of sisterhood. Olugbemisola is a member of the Brown Bookshelf and a former board member of We Need Diverse Books. She lives with her family in New York City, where she writes, makes things, and needs to get more sleep. Discover more about Olugbemisola online at olugbemisolabooks.com.
RENÉE WATSON
Renée Watson is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. Her novel, Piecing Me Together, received a Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Award. Her books include the Ryan Hart series, Some Places More Than Others, This Side of Home, What Momma Left Me, Betty Before X, cowritten with Ilyasah Shabazz, Watch Us Rise, cowritten with Ellen Hagan, and Love Is a Revolution, as well as acclaimed picture books: Summer Is Here, Maya's Song, The 1619 Project: Born on the Water, written with Nikole Hannah-Jones, A Place Where Hurricanes Happen, and Harlem’s Little Blackbird, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Renée splits her time between Portland, Oregon and New York City. www.reneewatson.net @reneewauthor
RODNEY HAMILTON
Rodney Hamilton began his training in his native St. Louis at several schools including Carr Lane V.P.A., the Center of Contemporary Arts, and Alexandra School of Ballet. He also studied with Ms. Katherine Dunham and joined the chorus at the MUNY where he performed for seven years. After arriving in New York City, he graduated with a BFA in Dance from the Juilliard School and joined Ballet Hispánico where he was a principal dancer and assistant rehearsal director for 10 years. Mr. Hamilton holds an MFA in Dance from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He has taught ballet, modern, and Dunham technique all over the world. Mr. Hamilton is happy to be returning home to Ballet Hispánico as a faculty member at the School of Dance and to take on the role of BHdos Rehearsal Director.
MIA BERMUDEZ
Mia Bermudez is a aspiring artist born and raised in Montclair, New Jersey. Her training began at nine years old at Ballet Hispánico’s School of Dance studying under the La Academia Pre-Professional Program with merit scholarship. Studying at the highest level of the school, Mia has trained in Spanish dance, Ballet, and various styles of modern under teachers such as Nicole Duffy, Yvonne Gutierrez, and Rodney Hamilton. At Ballet Hispánico, she has performed at the 2021 Macys Thanksgiving Parade, the Apollo Theatre for Performances for Young People, and at the Ballet Hispánico Gala. Mia has also studied at numerous intensives such as the Debbie Allen Dance Academy and La Escuela Nacional de Ballet de Cuba. She is a recent graduate from Montclair High School and is passionate and eager to grow in her artistry as a dancer and striving professional.
