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PRESENTED BY THE CLARICE

FEBRUARY 3–5, 2022 • IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL

A Black, POC and LGBTQ+ celebratory space and an open invitation for participation, learning and conversation with all.

Registration is required and is free and open to all!

The Art of Becoming, Power and Passion: The More I Am, The More I Become.

The Clarice’s BlackLight Summit aims to activate the unimagined possibilities in dance–it is a convening that envisions dance as a conduit to galvanize resilience and inventiveness. Returning for a second year, the 2022 summit explores three fundamental inquiries: “What/who are we becoming?” “How do we return to one another?” and “Does progress equal healing?” Throughout the 2021–22 season, the BlackLight Summit will continue to foster community connection by facilitating a series of mentoring and professional development opportunities, conversations and performances.

FEATURING DANCE ARTISTS

Baye & Asa

Baye & Asa is a company creating movement art projects directed by Amadi ‘Baye’ Washington & Sam ‘Asa’ Pratt. They grew up together in New York City and that shared educational history is the mother of their work. Through the personal dynamics of their brotherhood, they address the larger political landscape of their upbringing, struggling to show a reality of violence while communicating a necessity for empathy. READ MORE>>

Photo by Umi Akiyoshi

Charlie Maybee

Charlie Maybee is a music and dance artist from Woodbridge, VA. He holds an M.F.A. in dance from the University of Illinois with a certificate in criticism and interpretive theory, a B.F.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University and is an alumnus of the Metropolitan Youth Tap Ensemble. As an educator, Charlie is currently on faculty at Shenandoah University where he primarily teaches tap dance technique, choreography, history and improvisation. READ MORE>>

Photo courtesy of the artist

Greg David

Greg David is a movement artist based in the DMV area. Exploring themes of grief, fear, care and solitude, the work and movement they enjoy making goes hand in hand with human emotion and experience and aims to capture that essence in motion. David joined Culture Shock® Washington DC in 2012 and became the artistic director for their 2015 and 2016 seasons where, nationally and internationally, they presented stage works and taught workshops.

Self-portrait taken by Greg David

Johnnie Cruise Mercer

Recently acknowledged as a 2021 Princess Grace Award Recipent in Choreograpy, and nominated for two 2021 Bessie Awards in Dance and Performance, Johnnie Cruise Mercer is a queer-black think-maker, freelance-performer, educator and social entrepreneur based in New York City. A native of Richmond, VA, Mercer holds a BFA in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. As the Company Director of Johnnie Cruise Mercer/TheREDprojectNYC, his processes/work has been shared and/or hosted by 92Y Harkness Dance Center, Gibney: Agnes Varis Performing Arts Center, Dixon Place, Danspace Project Inc, The Fusebox Festival, Mana Contemporary, The NADA Conference, Abrons Arts Center and most recently at The Clarice Performing Arts Center's BlackLight Summit. As an educator, Mercer facilitates within the New York Public School system through The Leadership Program-a mentorship-based organization that uses art to foster/engage restorative justice and motivate the true empowerment of self. Mercer has also been on teaching faculty/a guest artist at The American Dance Festival, Bates Dance Festival, PRATT Institute, NYU Tisch Dance Program, Gibney, University of Massachusetts Amherst, DeSales University, Muhlenberg College, the University of Texas at Austin, University of Maryland and The Dance Institute of Washington. Mercer was most recently a 2019-2021 Artist in Residence at Brooklyn Arts Exchange, a 2020-2021 Ping Chong and Company Creative Fellow and a 2020-2021 AIR through New Dance Alliance’s Black Artists Space to Create Residency curated by Angie Pittman. He is currently a 2022 Artist in Residence at Center for Performance Research.

Photo by Torian Ugworji

Kayla Farrish

Kayla Farrish/Decent Structures Arts is an emerging company combining filmmaking, storytelling, dance theater performance and sound score. The company has been commissioned by Gibney Dance Inc (2020-2021), Louis Armstrong House Museum (2020), Danspace Project Inc (2019), Pepatian and BAAD! (2018) and beyond. Kayla has been supported by creative residencies including Gallim Women + Residency (2021), Gibney Spotlight: New Voices, Barysnikov Arts Center and Arts On Site (2020). READ MORE>>

Photo Courtesy of the Artist

2022 SCHEDULE

H • Denotes hybrid event being offered both in-person and via livestream

V • Denotes virtual event only offered via livestream

P • Denotes event only offered in person

Thursday, February 3, 2022

Friday, February 4, 2022

Saturday, February 5, 2022

Baye & Asa, Photo Umi Akiyoshi

MOVEMENT WORKSHOPS

Join BlackLight Summit guest artists as they lead movement workshops in various styles. All abilities welcome!

Greg David

Thu, Feb 3, 9:30-10:45AM

Christian Warner

Thu, Feb 3, 2-3:15PM

Baye & Asa

Fri, Feb 4, 9:30-10:45AM

Kayla Farrish

Fri, Feb 4, 1-2:15PM

Charlie Maybee

Sat, Feb 5, 9:30-10:45AM

Colette Krogol

Sat, Feb 5, 9:30-10:45AM

Johnnie Cruise Mercer

Sat, Feb 5, 11AM-12:15PM

Baye & Asa, Photo Umi Akiyoshi

KEYNOTE sPEECH & PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Keynote Address

Ronya-Lee Anderson • Thu, Feb 3, 11AM–12PM

Charlie Maybee & Krystal Collins • Fri, Feb 4, 11AM-12PM

Panel Discussions

Practicing Our Future Now • Thu, Feb 3, 12:45–1:45PM

How do we support each other’s becoming? The COVID-19 pandemic has irrevocably altered the American arts sector. It has required many arts workers, companies and organizations to affirm the wisdom of knowing “necessity is the mother of invention.” We have been asked to practice our futures in meeting these historic moments now. In the opening panel of the BlackLight Summit, we discuss: how do we become what this country needs as we reimagine these futures?

What Do You Own? Becoming Better Through Accountability & Vision • Fri, Feb 4, 2:30–3:30PM

When to wield power and when to yield to power? This panel delves into the responsibility and imagination of leaders within the field of dance. We will also examine the victories and lessons that arise from developing a new vision for established organizations and/or artistic practices.

Hiding & Seeking–Spectrums of Passion • Sat, Feb 5, 1–2PM

“The Great Resignation” or the “Big Quit” is tremendously impacting the American workforce and the concert dance industry has not been immune to this phenomenon. As arts workers’ passions grow, diminish and/or change, how are they renegotiating their boundaries and proximity to art-making?

Kayla Farrish, Photo courtesy of the artist

ON STAGE

Keep the Light On Performance Series

Fri, Feb 4, 8–9:30PM & Sat, Feb 5, 3–4:30PM

The BlackLight Summit’s Keep the Light On Performance Series features work from award-winning artists Kayla Farrish, Baye & Asa, Greg David and Charlie Maybee-Ferrel, who innovate and activate the unimagined possibilities within dance performance.

afterGLOW Drag Show

Sat, Feb 5, 8:30–11PM

In continued support of BIPOC and LGBTGIA++ communities, Dance Place and The Clarice’s BlackLight Summit have partnered to present an exciting new drag show produced by haus of bambi. afterGlow closes out the three-day 2022 BlackLight Summit with a glitter-filled, wig pulling, lip-syncing, drag celebration. Hosted by the incomparable Pussy Noir and DJed by Rita Burns, with featured performances from some of the DMV’s most dynamic drag artists including Cake, Bumper, Molasses and Black Dynamite, afterGLOW affirms that the future is Black, queer, beautiful and happening now!

Kayla Farrish, Photo courtesy of the artist

Health & Safety

The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center follows University of Maryland guidance regarding health and safety and UMD follows the guidance of Prince George’s County and the State of Maryland.

Please also note, the following is required for all events at The Clarice:

  • All patrons 12 years of age and older are required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result from a test taken within 48 hours of the performance for entry into the venue (home tests will NOT be accepted).
  • Masks are required to be worn by all attendees, artists and staff while in The Clarice.

For complete details, accepted documentation of vaccination status, and the latest health and safety information, visit theclarice.umd.edu/health-safety.

Additionally, the following is required for events taking place at Dance Place on Sat, Feb 5:

  • Dance Place will also require proof of a COVID-19 booster. Please visit DancePlace.org/Covid19/ for their current health and safety requirements.
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The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
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