The Express Way with Dulé Hill Starts April 23

Episode Guide

Episode 1: California | April 23

In the Golden State, Dulé connects with people using art to rewrite their narrative and the narrative of their communities. As a dancer himself, Dulé never considered that it would be possible for someone to move to a beat that they could not hear until he meets deaf dancer Shaheem Sanchez, who is showing the world that the “deaf can dance.” In San Francisco, Dulé meets a different set of artistic pioneers: the Grant Avenue Follies, a cabaret troupe of sassy senior citizens. Led by Cynthia Yee, the Follies are also activists, keeping alive Chinatown’s rich history, and using their newfound rap skills to combat anti-Asian hate. Finally in Los Angeles, Dulé gets his groove on after meeting Carlos Samaniego, the founder of the world's first LGBTQ+ mariachi group, Mariachi Arcoiris.

Episode 2: Appalachia | April 30

The Appalachian region has some of the highest poverty and addiction rates in the nation, and in this episode, Dulé connects with artists who are improving life for themselves and their communities through music. First, he speaks to Doug Naselroad, the founder and director of Troublesome Creek Stringed Instrument Company and co-founder of The Culture of Recovery, a program that assists individuals on the road to recovery from opioid addiction by teaching them to make stringed instruments. In Johnson City, TN, Dulé learns about the black community’s contributions to traditional American music from Amythyst Kiah, a queer, black, bluegrass musician whose dedication and talents have earned her a Grammy nomination. Finally, in Durham, NC, Dulé meets Grammy-nominated artist Joe Troop, the creator of “Latingrass,” a fusion of Latin and American folk music played with traditional bluegrass instrumentation. 

Episode 3: Texas | May 7

In Texas, Dulé connects with three artists, each a leader in transforming their communities. In Houston, Dulé learns the “Mexica” handshake from Abuela M'api Rainflowa, the founder of Houston Aztec Dance & Drum. Rainflowa, who grew up as a devout Catholic, believing that she was of Mexican descent, learned in college that she was actually indigenous. Rainflowa teaches Dulé the Aztec Sun Dance, and he later joins her for a sweat lodge ceremony, exploring the spiritual roots of indigenous practices. In Dallas, Dulé meets David Lozano, executive director of Cara Mía Theatre. Cara Mía uses daring theatrical productions to amplify the Latino experience in the U.S. in Denton, Dulé connects with John Bramblitt, a blind painter who lost his vision in 2001 and, as a result, re-taught himself to paint by touch. He leads workshops at museums like the Guggenheim, helping others with blindness reclaim their artistic abilities. 

Episode 4: Chicago | May 14

Chicago is a city known for its rich history and culture, but, like other cities, it has been marred by crime and violence. Dulé meets several of the city’s talented artists to explore why art and activism are often synonymous in the Midwest. On the South Side of Chicago, he joins a casting session with the Andre Theatre Collective, a group trying to produce their first play written by incarcerated playwrights. The play examines the crime issue, especially for those living in Black communities. Dulé also meets with Vershawn Sanders Ward, founding artistic director and CEO of Red Clay Dance, who is creating a space for people of color to be seen and highlighting issues affecting her community, like food inequality. Dulé also takes the stage with Bassel Almadani, a first-generation Syrian American musician using his platform to bring awareness to the civil war ravaging his family’s beloved homeland.