human shakes

About us:
Formed in 2010, Human Shakes (formerly Tim Rubel Human Shakes) is a 501(c)3 non-profit dance organization based both in San Francisco, CA and New York, NY. We support under-funded choreographers and/or dance companies and collectives by commissioning their work for an annual festival of contemporary dance which will begin in 2027. We also advocate for greater equity in the field of dance making by hosting conversations between choreographers and other stakeholders along with other evolving initiatives. Finally, we support the choreographic work of our founder, Tim Rubel. Until 2025, we functioned as a professional performance company built around Rubel's work. During that time we performed at venues such as Fort Mason Presents, Cal State East Bay’s Queer Performance Festival, Dance Mission Theater, the Pfefferberg Theater in Berlin, Germany, and at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas. We received support from organizations such as the California Arts Council, The Zellerbach Family Foundation, and the Goethe Institute. Rubel pairs contemporary dance with theatrical spectacle to create dance works that pose tangible questions about human relationships with wit, athleticism, and choreographic collaboration. The lived experiences of members of the LGBTQ+ community are centered often in them.