Ryan Johnson (@rkj.dance) is an award-winning artist, scholar and living archive who translates and synthesizes global rhythms to the human body creating sonic and kinetic immersive performance experiences. In 2015, he created SOLE Defined Percussive Dance company, the Washington Metro area's leading arts organization specializing in percussive dance, in service to BIPOC artists, technicians, and communities across the mid-Atlantic region. Johnson's credits include Gregory Hines, Marvin Hamlisch, Ayodele Casel's Diary of a Tap Dancer, BB&T Zelle Commercial as composer, choreographer, and on screen talent, Step Afrika!, STOMP, Cirque Du Soleil, Broadway's After Midnight Tour, Rose Rabbit Lie, and The Washington Ballet. Internationally he has premiered works at Tap in Rio Festival, The International Festival de Cajon, The International Body Music Festival, DancEncore, TDC Festival, HIFA, and Festival Gnaoua. In 2021, he curated a series of live conversations discussing the climate of our nation and dance community, featuring panelists representing a wide range of socio-economic demographics covering topics including nonprofit operating procedures, business practices, philanthropy, touring expectations, presenting limitations, and pedagogy.