Ragnhild “Ragz” Bruland & Michael Aryee are the visionary duo behind the
@flexdanceprogram — a community-rooted initiative that brings the powerful art of flexn into youth detention centers across NYC 💥
Flexn is a dance style born in Brooklyn’s streets, known for its sharp, contorted movements, bone-breaking, gliding, and dynamic storytelling. With no strict rules, it’s a raw form of self-expression rooted in survival and resilience.
What started as a spark —
@ragzbruland , a Norwegian-born psychologist and lifelong dancer, witnessing flexn and feeling its emotional force — grew into a transformative program centered around mentorship, empowerment, and radical care. Now pursuing her PhD, she’s researching how dance can be more than just expression — it can be a lifeline.
Michael Aryee, an educator, former UN consultant, and chess tutor, brings a wealth of global knowledge to local impact. With roots stretching from Texas to Paris to Brooklyn, his passion lies in using education as liberation, creating spaces where young people can lead, heal, and rise.
💬 “I want to learn from people who are in the same predicament as I am. And that’s to say you have an idea... you have something you believe is going to change the world, and you’re just looking for the right resources to make that happen. I do believe the fellowship is one of those resources.” — Michael Aryee
Together, they are shifting narratives and transforming lives, one movement at a time, proving that creativity, mentorship, and dance can unlock new paths of joy and resistance 🔊
📸 Redens Desrosiers/Réx Services.
@pharaohrex
#socialinnovationfellowship #socialinnovationfellows #brooklynartscouncil #bac2024grantee #creativeequations #culturalentrepreneur #creativeentrepreneurs #changemaker #communitydriven #abundanceinart #community #brooklyncreative #brooklyn
