Online Forum of Black Dancers and Scholars on Dance and Social Justice on July 11 [UPDATED]
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“MOVE Together ~ Dancing Towards An Inclusive Community & Global Social Justice” is the name of an upcoming online forum of Black artists and academics happening on Saturday July 11. It’s a pretty amazing lineup of Black leaders in the community, including Ryan Francois, Kim Nalley, Marie N’diaye, and Odysseus Bailer, among many others. The goals of the event are to educate attendees about racism, highlight the voices and experiences of Black people in the community, and chart a more inclusive way forward for the scene.
Looks like essential viewing for dance organizers, scene leaders, instructors, and really everyone.
On a related note: Black vernacular dance scholar Moncell Durden is facilitating an online course over July on “Intangible Roots: Exploring the heritage Of Black Dance, Culture and People”. We love Moncell’s Instagram Live talks that he is archiving on Vimeo. Check out this one with Latasha Barnes!
Here’s the full description of “Move Together” from the Facebook event notice:
Join the global lindy hop, swing dance & blues dance community for an online forum featuring Black artists and academics Saturday, July 11th, 2020 from 10 a.m. to noon Pacific Time to discuss the pressing issues facing us as a society and as a global dance scene. Let’s talk about how to be anti-racist; making the dance world more inclusive; and how we can all do a better job making the scene safe and welcoming for everyone.
We believe we have the power to shape the future starting with our global dance community first, as part of a broader global social justice movement for equality.
Hollywood Television Editor, LA-based dancer & DJ Shaheed Qaasim is leading the discussion, and the panelists are:
Ryan Francois: Broadway, TV & Movie Dancer & Choreographer
Kim Nalley: Iconic Jazz & Blues Vocalist Featured at Lincoln Center, Ethnomusicologist, Dancer
Damon Stone: International Blues & Lindy Hop Instructor
Brittney Caraway: Dancer, Jazz vocalist, Event MC, past Miss Camp Hollywood
Odysseus Bailer: Dancer, Actor & Workshop Leader on African-American Cultural History of Lindy Hop
Marie N'diaye: Teacher at Herräng Dance Camp and Managing Director/Choreographer at HotCha Chorus Line
Aisha Qaasim : CA-based Lindy Hopper, Attorney & Academic
Kenneth Shipp : St. Louis-Based Blues Dance Instructor, DJ, Dancer
Dr. Andaiye Qaasim: PhD in Ethnomusicology, Diversity & Anti-Racism Trainer
The purpose of the event is three-fold:
EDUCATION: To further educate people about the nature of racism in a “Racism 101” educational segment, presented by diversity and anti-racism trainer Dr. Andaiye Qaasim, who will deconstruct some of the prevailing myths and misconceptions about racism; give a brief overview of the historical context of racism in the U.S.; and help define terms like systemic, institutionalized racism, and white supremacy.
STORIES: To have a “real-talk” conversation, amplifying the voices of Black dancers, musicians, artists, and academics, who will share their experiences in dealing with personal experiences of racism, and their ideas about ways to make the global dance scene anti-racist, and more welcoming and inclusive.
ACTION: To establish a baseline Code of Conduct to help make the dance scene truly anti-racist by delineating what is appropriate and inappropriate, and to provide tools to empower us all to have more open conversations. We plan to leave everyone with clear action steps designed to create positive change in the global dance community, to help us move forward together as a community, and make this a sustainable movement.
Some of the tools we will provide as suggested actions steps are:
an anti-racism pledge for dancers, musicians, and organizers.
anti-racist and inclusive language and guidance for teaching contracts
guidance on language or commitment statements organizations can incorporate in their mission/ vision statements
We believe that we as dancers can be an example of how to create positive change in our global community, and have a ripple effect on the world.
UPDATE July 12, 2020: What an awesome event! Watch the full video of the event below. Plus here’s the link to the anti-racism pledge they mentioned in the description.
