PUTTING DOWN ROOTS & RAISING VOICES by ANDRÉA SPEARMAN Black Women Leaders at the Dance/USA Conference
The second in a trilogy of dances addressing the devastating effects of mass incarceration. Choreographer & Director: Jo Kreiter Lead Writer: Rahsaan Thomas Dancers: Bianca Cabrera, Clarissa Dyas, Laura Elaine Ellis, Maddy Lawder, Megan Lowe, Sandiya Sexton, Helen Wicks Composers: Jewlia Eisenberg, Shahzad Ismaily Set: Sean Riley Lighting: Jack Beuttler Costumes : Jamielyn Duggan
October 14 – 17, 2021 Thurs, Oct 14 at 7 pm & 8:30 pm Fri, Oct 15 at 7 pm & 8:30 pm Sat, Oct 16 at 5 pm, 7 pm & 8:30 pm Sun, Oct 17 at 7 pm Flyaway Productions presents with MoAD and Empowerment Avenue IF I GIVE YOU MY SORROWS
Black people have this unspoken greeting out in public : the nod. It’s an all-ages greeting that can convey many things, from, “Hey, I see you,” to, “Let’s head out. The environment seems unsafe.”
CounterPulse 80 Turk Street, SF
WHEN
October 6 – 15, 2023
FREE for reservations, visit counterpulse.org/event/mercy in collaboration with the dancers Performers Laura Elaine Ellis, Sonsherée Giles, MaryStarr Hope, Jhia Jackson, and Megan Lowe Composers Pamela Z and Carla Kihlstedt Set Design Sean Riley Rigging Design Dave Freitag Lighting Jack Beuttler Costumes Jamielyn Duggan Artistic Direction Jo Kreiter Choreography Jo Kreiter
For Black women the nod can lift into a smile and a spoken compli- ment: “Okay hair!”, “Yes yellow dress!” “You betta walk sis!” Black women are even more affirming to each other as we move through the professional circles of our lives. That is what I experienced at this year’s Dance/USA conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
THIS YEAR’S CONFERENCE was very, very Black. From Dance/USA’s fear- less leader Kellee Edusei to 4 out of 5 of the extraordinary honorees (Virginia Johnson, Judy Tyrus, Nena Gilreath, Waverly T. Lucas, II) to the performances throughout the week. There were innately Black moments. At the opening reception loud rumblings of African drums
WHERE Space 124 at Project Artaud
401 Alabama Street San Francisco
TKTS
www.FlyawayProductions.com
EDITOR’S NOTE: Andréa Spearman is the Dancers’ Group Artist Resource Manager and represented Dancers’ Group at the Dance/USA conference in June.
photo RJ Muna of Megan Lowe
6
6
FALL 2023 in dance 7
in dance FALL 2023
In Dance | May 2014 | dancersgroup.org
unify strengthen amplify unify strengthen amplify
44 Gough Street, Suite 201 San Francisco, CA 94103 www.dancersgroup.org
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker