About | Riddim World Dance T

About Us

Our Mission

The audition-based RIDDIM World Dance Troupe strives to be an affirming space that embraces the exploration of an inclusive artistic process of dance. We seek to center diverse dance forms with the desire to dismantle the tool of whiteness and how it operates in RWDT and the broader world of dance.

Our History

RIDDIM was founded in 1998 by a group of Jamaican dancers, and in its origins, the current group lived out its mission to provide the Middlebury College community with an outlet of expression through diverse styles of dance, such as hip-hop, jazz, reggae, merengue and various other forms of African styles.

Over time, RIDDIM became more exclusive and favored dancers with classical, Western dance training and technique.

Around 2020, Riddim realized the divergence we had made from their original values and goals. Since then, we have been actively working to foster diversity, inclusivity, and artistic individuality within the troupe.

RIDDIM's role on campus is to represent various movement styles from around the world and to highlight different bodies and experiences.

In its current form, RIDDIM has evolved into a world dance troupe that upholds and represents various global styles of dance, while honoring different bodies, dance backgrounds and experiences. And in recognition of the founders’ legacy, RIDDIM prioritizes and embraces an inclusive artistic process of dance, and celebrates a diverse practice of dance forms.