We’ve been out and about! In January, we hit three cities. MBDance had our first residency of the year at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA via an invitation from Cynthia Thompson and it was amazing! It was a joy to set new work on the their students, and Maria created a piece dedicated to Erica Garner. The dancers were receptive and the production collaborators were a dream. She also got to share ACRE’s (Artists Co-creating Real Equity) with faculty members. May their race equity journey be swift and rich.
Then we went to Irvine, California at the invitation of Dr. Sheron Wray and in collaboration with The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond. Maria co-facilitated the Understanding & Undoing Racism workshop, and then shared work-in-progress (re)Source to end the Africana Institute for Creativity, Recognition, and Elevation Festival. The art braided in well with our previous conversations and the dance received a standing ovation!
Next, we’ll be in Rochester, NY to share dying and dying and dying. We thank Missy Pfohl Smith for inviting us. Rehearsals for dying… have been thoughtful, sweaty, and Spirit-filled.