Introducing The DC Collective: A Journey Rooted in Community and Creativity

By Corcoran Holt, DCJF Artist-In-Residence

The concept of “The Collective” has always resonated deeply with me. There’s something extraordinary about what can be accomplished when the right people come together with a shared purpose. Growing up in Washington, DC, during the late ’80s and ’90s, I was surrounded by an explosion of creativity that left an indelible mark on me. It was this vibrant environment that inspired me to embark on a lifelong journey of creating music collaboratively with others.

When I was just five years old, my father took me to a West African dance class at Hot Feet Studios (now Dance Place) in the Brookland Northeast DC neighborhood. The class was led by Wose’, a company that offered West African dance and drumming for both children and adults. While the dancers captivated the room, my attention was drawn to the drums. There was something magical about the rhythms and how the dancers responded to them—something transformative about the way the drummers played together, their beats forming a collective energy that seemed to take on a life of its own. I was hooked. That very day, my father signed me up for drum classes.

For years, I played the djembe, sungba, and dundun drums as part of Wose’. Through this company, I gained not only skills but also an extended family within DC’s thriving Afrocentric community—a community that has continued to flourish across generations. My father built upon this foundation, creating camps and retreats inspired by the seeds Wose’ planted. These initiatives helped forge relationships that endure to this day. For me, it has always been about community: community as unity, and unity as the collective.

This sense of community has been a guiding force throughout my life. No matter where I’ve traveled or who I’ve worked with, I’ve always reflected on my upbringing in Washington, DC, and the strength of its artistic community. When I was a student at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, we came together daily to create art that was dynamic and transformative. It didn’t matter what genres we explored or where we came from; as young artists, we all had something unique to contribute.

In 2021, after years in New York City, my family and I decided to return to Washington, DC. The move sparked an idea that had been forming in my mind for some time: to create a group called The DC Collective. My vision was to unite jazz instrumentalists, vocalists, poets, and West African drummers—all connected to DC—to craft a sound that represents the city we love. As I began to consider who might be part of the group, I realized how interconnected we all were. Whether through Wose’, the Watoto/NationHouse School, Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Farafina Kan, or the DC jazz scene, these schools, programs, and communities have produced remarkable artistic talent that has made a global impact.

DC has long been a fertile ground for artistic innovation and a hub for strong Afrocentric communities that have thrived for generations. It feels like the perfect time to bring these influences together in a collective that celebrates our city’s rich legacy while creating something fresh and authentic.

I am thrilled to introduce The DC Collective. This group will bring together our diverse experiences and talents to represent Washington, DC, in a way that is as creative and genuine as the city itself. The journey to this point has been deeply personal, and I can’t wait to share what’s next.

Stay tuned for what’s to come as we present The DC Collective—a tribute to the power of unity and the magic of community.