HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE: Following the direction of our city and state health officials, Dancing Grounds' Dance for Social Change Festival, scheduled for March 28-29 at the CAC, has been postponed until further notice. The Contemporary Arts Center remains open while we closely monitor the latest developments by officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Read our Health & Safety Update here.
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WHAT IS DANCE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE?
DSC is a year-round, multifaceted youth leadership initiative where participants learn how to use their artistic talents to advocate for change in their communities. It is led by the DG Uprising teen company, a group of 25 high school artists that rehearse weekly on Saturdays during the school year, studying dance, exploring advocacy issues, and building skills in creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and leadership. Each year, they select a social justice topic impacting their community and create an original performance about that issue. They premiere their work at the annual DSC festival and tour the work to community organizations and festivals. They also organize a block party, community forums, and other platforms that use the arts to advocate for social change. Past themes have included the school-to-prison pipeline (2016); women’s rights and gender justice (2017); mental health (2018); and gentrification and displacement (2019-2020).
Dance For Social Change Festival
March 28-29,2020
Contemporary Arts Center (900 Camp St. NOLA 70130)
$5 youth | $15 students/seniors | $25 DG/CAC members | $30 GA
Ticket includes one performance + all workshops and visual art installations.
Dancing Grounds is committed to ensuring that the performances are accessible to all New Orleans residents. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. For financial assistance: email info@dancingrounds.org or call 504-535-5791.
DSC Festival Schedule: Saturday, March 28th
10am-12:45pm - Workshops
Undoing Racism® Workshop Introduction with People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB)
This short introduction focuses on understanding what racism is, where it comes from, how it functions, why it persists and how it can be undone.
NOLA Rooted Dance Workshops
New Orleans native dance artists will teach the styles that contribute to the fabric of New Orleans unique dance cultures and discuss how we can responsibly engage with and preserve these cultures in the midst of gentrification and displacement.
10 - 11:15am - Afro-Caribbean with Kelly White & drummers
11:30am - 12:45pm - Second Line & DanceHall with Lalah Smith
2-3:30pm & 7:30-9pm - Performances & Panels
2pm Performance
SOLASTALGIA by DG Uprising
Opening Acts: DG Senior Company, The Golden Dynasty
Panelists: Dr. Kimberly Richards (PISAB), Cashauna Hill (LAFHAC) and more TBA
7:30pm Performance
SOLASTALGIA by DG Uprising
Opening Acts: Silhouette Dance Co, New Orleans Youth Open Mic
Panelists: Dr. Kimberly Richards (PISAB) and more TBA
Visual Art Installation
The house will open 75 minutes before each performance for a pre-show visual art installation and advocacy fair.
Featured Artwork: DG Uprising, Frederick Douglass High School, People's Assembly and more TBA
Advocacy tables: Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center (LFHAC), Housing NOLA and more TBA
PURCHASE TICKETS SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2PM
PURCHASE TICKETS SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 7:30PM
DSC Festival Schedule: Sunday, March 29th
10am-12:45pm - Workshops
Undoing Racism® Workshop Introduction with People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB)
This short introduction focuses on understanding what racism is, where it comes from, how it functions, why it persists and how it can be undone.
NOLA Rooted Dance Workshops
New Orleans native dance artists teach the styles that contribute to the fabric of New Orleans unique dance cultures and discuss how we can responsibly engage with and preserve these cultures in the midst of gentrification and displacement.
10 - 11:15am - Traditional West African with Mariama Curry & drummers
11:30am - 12:45pm - Bounce n’ Line with Kristal “M2daE” Jones and Afro-Grooves with Chanice Holmes
2-3:30pm - Performances & Panels
SOLASTALGIA by DG Uprising
Opening Acts: Spotlight Dance NOLA, KM Dance Project Youth Company
Panelists: Dr. Kimberly Richards (PISAB), Sunni Patterson, Ifátùmínínú Bamgbàlà Arẹ̀sà, and Shana M. Griffin
Visual Art Installation
The house will open 75 minutes before each performance for a pre-show visual art installation and advocacy fair.
Featured Artwork: DG Uprising, Frederick Douglass High School, People's Assembly and more TBA
Advocacy tables: Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center (LFHAC), Housing NOLA and more TBA
PURCHASE TICKETS SUNDAY, MARCH 29 2:00 PM
Dancing Grounds youth present a multidisciplinary performance about their experience with gentrification and displacement in New Orleans. Their original work combines hip hop, contemporary bounce, and African diasporic dances with poetry and music.
The show is preceded by a visual installation by young artists from across New Orleans and opening performances by other local dance groups. Following each performance, youth will lead story circle discussions with audience members to reflect on their experiences.
Learn more at http://www.dancingrounds.org/dance-for-social-change