Walker Art Center Announces Artists for Body Prayers: Choreographers' Evening Special Edition Curated by DejaJoelle
DejaJoelle. Photo: Awa Mally, for Walker Art Center.
For more than four decades Choreographers’ Evening has celebrated up-and-coming and established experimental movement-makers in the Twin Cities, brought together by a guest curator. Body Prayers, a unique and timely virtual edition of the program, is organized by the African-Centered Healing Artist, Choreographer, Director, and Cultural Healing Curator DejaJoelle. Her vision with this presentation is to celebrate, acknowledge, and centralize BIPOC choreographers who help fortify the Twin Cities dance ecosystem by refusing to wither in the face of oppression and injustice.
“I looked for and selected works, people, and aesthetics that feel like constant nourishment to the MN Dance and Community palette. With that gem in the root of my mind, the selected choreographers revealed themselves. They were chosen before I chose them,” DejaJoelle said. “Body Prayers serves as a prayer as we continue to dismantle systems of hatred and corruption and acknowledge the urgency of rest, peace, liberation, and overall joy.”
The evening-length performance film premiering on June 4, showcases six powerful new works by Al Taw’am/Iman Siferllah-Griffin and Khadijah Siferllah-Griffin; Brother(hood) Dance!/Orlando Zane Hunter Jr. and Ricarrdo Valentine; Colin Edwards and Canaan Mattson; Ginga Da Bahia (Irenio Dos Santos); Julian Hines and Aneka McMullen; and Voice of Culture; filmed by Adja Gildersleve.
A hybrid experience that draws attention to the Joy and Magic of the Minnesota BIPOC dance community, the program also features a live online artist conversation and community gathering, one hour prior to the premiere.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Al Taw’am (Khadijah Siferllah-Griffin and Iman Siferllah-Griffin), Photo: Awa Mally, for Walker Art Center.
Al Taw’am
National YoungArts Award recipient and the youngest two-time Minnesota Sage Cowles Award for dance recipient, Al Taw’am (Arabic for “The Twins”), from Minneapolis, MN, is Muslim identical twin sisters, Iman and Khadijah Siferllah-Griffin. Performing since the age of eight, Iman and Khadijah danced in their first show production in 2011 The Joint Project at Intermedia Arts. During a performance of the piece at The Day of Dignity in North Minneapolis, it caught the eye of Rhymesayers recording artist Brother Ali. A few months later, the twins, along with their dance partner, were invited to L.A. to dance in a music video for his album titled Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color. For their performance in Mourning in America, the group won the Minnesota Sage Award for Outstanding Ensemble.
Out of their desire to increase the presence of women and girls in the Minnesota Urban and Hip Hop dance community, Iman and Khadijah created an all-women’s dance collective named S.H.E, which stands for She Who Holds Everything. In 2016, S.H.E won the Minnesota Sage Award for Outstanding Ensemble for their performance of Ninth Inning in Rooted “A Hip Hop Choreographers’ Evening” at Intermedia Arts.
As dancers and choreographers for Brother Ali’s video Never Learn and Mona Haydar’s Hijabi, Iman and Khadijah have performed with world renowned artist Black Violin and at a range of events such as The Nobel Peace Prize Forum, Facing Race, WE Day Minnesota, Sound Set, and The Minnesota Secretary of State’s 50th Voters’ Rights Act Anniversary Celebration. They’ve led dance workshops and discussions for prestigious institutions such as the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Spelman College, and Yale University. In 2017, they were contestants on season one of World of Dance, NBC.
Al Taw’am believe that their God given ability to dance is their superpower, and they want to use that superpower to connect and inspire others. Dance relates to every aspect of their being, and their movement is their expression. Their intentions in dancing, performing, teaching, and learning is to honor who they are, where they come from, and how they can give to the world.
Brother(hood) Dance! (Ricarrdo Valentine and Orlando Orlando Zane Hunter Jr.), Photo: Awa Mally, for Walker Art Center.
Brother(hood) Dance!/Orlando Zane Hunter Jr. and Ricarrdo Valentine
Brother(hood) Dance! is an interdisciplinary duo that seeks to inform its audiences on the socio- political and environmental injustices from a global perspective, bringing clarity to the same- gender-loving African-American experience in the 21st century. Brother(hood) Dance! was formed in April 2014 as a duo that researches, creates and performs dances of freedom by Orlando Zane Hunter, Jr. and Ricarrdo Valentine. We have performed our works at FiveMyles, Center for Performance Research, B.A.A.D! (Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance), VCU-The Grace Street Theater, DraftWork at St. Mark’s Church, JACK, Movement Research at Judson Church, Colby College, Denmark Arts Center, Universidad de las Américas Puebla/Performática(MX), Escuela Profesional de Danza de Mazatlán/Viso Festival (MX), Jean-Rene Delsolins Institute (HT) and other venues. Brother(hood) Dance! is a Bessies Honoree of the NY Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies for Afro/Solo/Man.
As a collective, our work demonstrates how life extends beyond its own subjective limits and often tells a story about the effects of global cultural interaction over the latter half of the twentieth century. It challenges the binaries we continually reconstruct between Self and Other, between our own ‘cannibal’ and ‘civilized’ selves. By rejecting an objective truth and global cultural narratives, we find that movement reveals an inherent awkwardness, a humor that echoes our own vulnerabilities. Brother(hood) Dance! considers movement as a metaphor for the ever-seeking man who experiences a continuous loss. Brother(hood) Dance!’s work urge us to renegotiate performance as being part of a reactive or – at times – autistic medium, commenting on oppressing themes in our contemporary society.
Canaan Mattson and Colin Edwards, Photo: Awa Mally, for Walker Art Center.
Colin Edwards and Canaan Mattson
Colin Edwards and Canaan Mattson choreographed their work for their group, Meridian Plus. Meridians are pathways in which energy flows through the body. Music is energy from emotions made into sound. We are the pathway in which that energy is guided. Meridians Plus is a mixture of various street style movements, African and open modern, collaborating to make a unique visual experience while exploring vulnerable abilities.
Our work is based on black masculinity balanced in vulnerability; going through challenges and hardships can be a lot for one to handle alone. Allowing oneself to feel through emotions, sharing your world’s weight, and exchanging energy with others while in return enabling others to reflect and do the same. This exchange helps heal both parties and carry oneself through trials. Eventually finding, then moving with others into a unified mindset and what we can achieve with that.
Ginga da Bahia (Irenio Dos Santos), Photo: Awa Mally, for Walker Art Center.
Ginga da Bahia (Irenio Dos Santos)
Ginga da Bahia is a choreographer, musician, and dance and capoeira instructor from Bahia, Brazil. He has 25 years of experience dancing professionally with groups such as: Balé Folclórico da Bahia and Federal University of Bahia Dance Group. He toured Europe twice as a featured soloist with Brazilian dance troupes Frutos Tropicais and Viva Bahia. He won first place in the National Jazz Dancing Festival on Brazilian Television System (SBT), with Silvio Santos. In New York City, among many events, he performed in “Ologundê” at Peter Norton Symphony Space and was the heart of the Saturday Brazil Night at S.O.B.’s, performing samba, orixás dance, and axé, bringing people together on the dance floor for more than 10 years. Now in Minneapolis, he teaches dance classes at MCTC college and leads the Brazil Arts Twin Cities Cultural Center.
Aneka McMullen and Julian Hines, Photo: Awa Mally, for Walker Art Center.
Aneka McMullen
Minnesota native Aneka McMullen is a Dancer, Choreographer, and Dance Educator. She holds a BFA in Dance Performance from The Ohio State University as well as a vast dance skill set which includes Ballet, Modern, Afro-Modern, West African, Jazz and Hip Hop. Aneka’s work has been featured in the award-winning production of ROOTED as well as, the ground- breaking Minneapolis Hip Hop festival B Girl Be, and most recently in 16 Feet: Splashes of Dance Choreographer’s Evening. As a recipient of the Cultural Community Partnership grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, Aneka choreographed & appeared in a production of the late Amiri Baraka’s Wise Why’s Y’s, in collaboration with Amiri Baraka and E. G. Bailey. Previously, Aneka has performed with BLAQ an Afro Modern Observance based company, Threads Dance Project, C Dance Company in India, Women in Motion (Ananya Dance Theatre), Black Pearl, Nubia, and In New Company (Brkfst Dance Company).
Currently, she is a Dance Specialist at her alma mater North Community High School and performs Old Skool Hip Hop with Epitome-No Question, of which she is artistic director & co-founded in 2007. Epitome-No Question celebrates the community conscious roots of Hip Hop culture. ENQ represents Old Skool Hip Hop because it best reflects the West African roots of the genre. Hip Hop with the “Hop” in it! Aneka is honored to have begun intentionally offering her Body Prayers in the MN dance community as a 2020 Momentum New Dance Works commissioned Artist as well as, a returning featured Artists in Choreographer’s Evening. Asè
Julian Hines
Julian Hines – the Jahneral is a Jamaican American multidisciplinary artist, stage production manager and curator. He has performed on various stages locally, nationally and abroad in Asia and Africa. His eclectic training in dance goes from Bharatanatyam, Odissi, West African, Hip Hop and Percussive Step. With over two decades of teaching experience, Julian keeps an unwavering dedication to teaching the art to the youth. Regardless if he is on the Cowles Center Teaching Artist Roster or teaching abroad in Japan. Very fortunate to share space, be mentored and under the direction of the following giants in his eyes such as Saymouka Vongsay, Kenna Camara-Cottman, Ananya Chatterjea, Renne Harris, Michael Sakamoto, Sha Cage, and E.G. Bailey.
It was not until this past half decade where he received the best experience working his way from stagehand to manager then earning the role as Production Manager. His behind the scenes back-of-the-house work has been done for Maia Maiden Productions, FAWK Kollective and Intermedia Arts Catalyst Series. To date his most highlighted work(s) were working alongside Maia Maiden (Rah Fyah) as formerly ½ co- presenter of Hip Hop Dance in Minnesota by curating and producing bi annual award winning ROOTED: Hip Hop Choreographers Evening & Sistah Solo + Being Brothas. Alongside being awarded The McKnight International Residency Partner. This partnership allotted him to co present South Africa’s very own Impilo Man Pantsula to Minnesota for the very first time. Body Prayers will be his first performance after a long hiatus from the arts. He extends his gratitude to Dejajoelle for calling him back to the cypher circle.
Voice of Culture (Ebrima Baye Sarge), Photo: Awa Mally, for Walker Art Center.
Voice of Culture
Voice of Culture is a Black Family sharing and creating West African rhythms and movements with a Black American twist. Since 2008, V. O. C. has provided culturally based engagement to the community. We, the people in VOICE of Culture, are cultural artists practicing skills that promote mental health and physical wellbeing as we honor the art and traditions of our ancestors. Cultural arts stemming from the Black American oral tradition are not performances, but expressions of deep values and rituals that have carried us through our journey. The cultural arts we practice are drumming, dancing, singing, storytelling, visual arts and more.
When Black people are healthy, physically and mentally, we are much better equipped to deal with the realities of being Black in America in 2020. We Black Americans need to have a good understanding of our cultural legacy and our history outside and inside of American enslavement and oppression.
Voice of Culture is a nonbinary Black space that respects and explores spectrums of all kinds. Queer Black people are welcome and cherished here. Black Trans Women are welcome and honored at Voice of Culture. VoC has a focus on youth and also seeks to connect with families and individuals of all ages. VoC is not a dance company or a drum class, Voice of Culture is a Black family.
Preshow Online Event: Breaking Bread Celebration
Friday, June 4, 6 pm (CDT)
One hour before the film premiere, all are welcome to join the Body Prayers choreographers and curator DejaJoelle live on Zoom for a virtual community gathering and conversation.
Online Film Premiere: Body Prayers
Friday, June 4, 7 pm (CDT)
The evening-length performance film premieres with a showcase of six new works.
Tickets
Tickets are pay what you wish and go on sale April 22. For more information, call the box office at 612.375.7600 or visit online at walkerart.org/tickets.
Accessibility
The live preshow Breaking Bread Celebration includes ASL interpretation and live captioning. The Body Prayers film includes closed captioning.
For more information about accessibility, call 612-375-7564 or email access@walkerart.org. Additional details are also available on the Walker’s Access page.
Walker Performing Arts
For more on Performing Arts, visit https://walkerart.org/visit/stage/.