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Cora Yuqing Cliburn (she/her) is a dance artist working in San Francisco and Chicago. Originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico, Cora trained at Moving People Dance, the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and the Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program. In 2016, she was recognized as one of DANCE Magazine's "25 to Watch.” In 2019, she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University, earning a BA with honors in Environmental Anthropology and minors in East Asian Studies and Theater and Performance Studies.

As a dance artist, Cora has worked with ODC/Dance, Robert Moses’ Kin, PARA.MAR Dance Theatre, Post:ballet, Lil Buck and Jon Boogz (Blindspotting/Starz Network), GERALDCASELDANCE, Sharp & Fine, EIGHT/MOVESLiv Schaffer, and ARCOS Dance. Cora’s repertoire includes works by Robert Moses, Alex Ketley, Kate Weare, KT Nelson, Hélène Simoneau, Stephanie Martinez, and Amy Seiwert. Cora is currently the Acting Rehearsal Director for RMK and has also been a frequent performer/collaborator for multimedia artist and social sculptor Ana Teresa Fernández.

As a dance educator, Cora has taught master classes and workshops (on behalf of ODC/Dance Company, RMK, and Post:ballet) for Stanford's Department of Theater & Performance Studies, the Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program, Boston Conservatory, UNCSA, Pomona College, among other schools, and regularly teaches contemporary and ballet at Berkeley Ballet Theatre.

Alongside performing, Cora is an independent consultant on food recovery/sustainability. At Stanford, Cora worked as a Fellow for Stanford’s Sustainable Food Program, coordinating zero-waste education, a food donation program, and other initiatives to fight food insecurity. Recently, she worked as a freelance researcher and writer for think tank Joint Venture Silicon Valley, the California Resource Recovery Association, and the Santa Clara County Food Recovery Program—on projects related to edible food recovery/redistribution and food waste prevention.

Cora is always seeking ways to bridge the arts and environmental justice. She is currently the Outreach Director for Artists' Climate Collective, a dancer-led initiative dedicated to building community, producing creative works, and celebrating climate action in the arts.

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Awards & Recognitions

2022 | Dancers' Group CA$H Grant Awardee

2022 | San Francisco Magazine "Best of the Bay" Award - Representing ODC/Dance

2019 | Stanford University Dept. of Theater and Performance Studies “Award of Excellence”

2018 | Stanford University Dept. of Anthropology “Award of Merit” and “Boas Fellowship”

2018 | Stanford University Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society

2017 | Stanford University Chappell Lougee Award - Humanities and Arts Research Fellowship

2016 | Stanford University “President’s Award for Academic Excellence”

2016 | DANCE Magazine’s “25 to Watch"

2016 | Isadora Duncan “Outstanding Achievement in Performance—Ensemble” Award [Nominated with Post:ballet]

2013 | Santa Fe Mayor’s Melissa Engstrom Youth Artist Award for Excellence in the Arts

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