Anja Tempel | Photo by Cathryn Farnsworth

Anja Tempel’s unique upbringing in a German-Trinnidadian household has positioned her reality to be in contrast with social hierarchies involving race, gender, and culture. Being the child of immigrants, her international citizenship transformed cultural immersion into a way of life, profoundly shaping Anja’s artistic work as a cultural leader and ambassador. 

Growing up in the ethnically rich New York City, Anja danced at The Ailey School and MOVE(NYC) Young Professionals Program, where she learned about different dance practices such as ballet, jazz, hip-hop, West African, and Horton while connecting with her Black American experience in these spaces.

At USC Kaufman, Anja has gained a better understanding of herself as a scholar who moves to mediate between cultures while transcending time, language, and race. She has engaged in extensive academic pursuits within the fields of anthropology, psychology, and film, both at USC and during her studies in countries such as Israel-Palestine, South Korea, and France. Through her creative direction and choreography experience, she has served as a cultural leader by exploring themes of Black femininity and interracial relationships in films such as “Caribeauty” and “The World Has A Problem.” She is also the co-founder/co-director of “Peng Produktions,” whose aim is to curate live events in honor of Black women.

Alongside her BFA, Anja is pursuing her M.A. in the Communication Management program at USC Annenberg, where she is supplementing her knowledge in intercultural communications to further equip herself as a global artist, educator, and mediator.

Anja Tempel | Photo by Rose Eichenbaum

Anja Tempel | Photo by Hannah Doerr

Anja Tempel | Photo by Cathryn Farnsworth