The Process
Letter from the Director
Welcome to Voyages and Journeys!
I am so pleased that we are able to present this original work with Seda Negra/Black Dance Company (SNBSDC). It has been a journey for all of the dancers in various ways. The dancers all have invested their time, energy, beliefs, ideas, and philosophies of past, current, and future journeys that are integral parts of the narrative of the show.
SNBSDC explores movement from various genres and expressions to tell stories through the exploration of the political, social, and cultural narratives as well as the lived experiences of people in the African Diaspora.
Voyages and Journeys began with exploring my own migratory experience from Puerto Rico to East Chicago, Indiana. My father left Puerto Rico and was a migrant worker in Florida and migrated through Maywood, Illinois and ultimately to the steel mills of East Chicago, Indiana also known as “Da Harbor”.
My spoken word in Voyages and Journeys also illustrates the routes, pathways, and feelings of my own personal journey; but hopefully, many others can relate in an abstract or visceral way. The music track, spoken word and movements guide the journey from the beginning to completion.
The dancers’ expressions are captivating and entrancing. Their individual stories can also be seen in their face, eyes, and bodies. They are my rocks and have been with me through not only during my journey, but they discovered their own journeys through the process of discussions, dialogue, and choreography which they have also created and helped me navigate through this experience.
I am so fortunate to have the support of my family, friends and dancers who have guided me through this experience. I want to thank IndyFringe for giving us the opportunity to be bold and stretch our imagination by allowing us to tell our story.
The Creative Process
The creative process is like writing an article or book. The ideas have to be conceived. They are followed by researching and writing about your selected subject matter. The text is reviewed, rewritten, critiqued, rearranged, and rewritten again. Creating a dance piece comes from an idea, thought, concept, inspiration or feeling which is followed by experimenting with movements and finally setting those movements into a sequence that pleases the choreographer and will work in a large dance piece. Voyages and Journeys was inspired by a personal journey of migration.
Costuming
Costumes are an integral part of dance. In thinking about draping a dancer with fabric, there has to be a synergy with the body that includes creativity, in a color palette, fabric weight, style, movement, and function. Individuality in the collective allows a creative thread to follow through each dancer. At the same time, it gives each body the opportunity to demonstrate confidence during a performance.
“The costumes of Voyages and Journeys are partly inspired by the practice of patchwork and mending. The act of passing-on clothing through members of communities and families is an act of sentimentality and intimacy that only textiles can hold.”
Anatomy of Freedom
The commanding voice of the Jamaican spoken word artist, Mutabaruaka, told a story about Christopher Columbus that described the horrors of oppression, subjugation, and colonial supremacy. The story was converted into dance expression and provided opportunities for dialogues and extended discussions regarding the historical, cultural, political, social, and racial challenges when it was performed at Indiana University in April 2017. The piece was performed in the Communist countries of Beijing, China, and Santiago de Cuba, where it was received positively.
This iteration of Anatomy of Freedom has now metamorphosed into the story of Voyages and Journeys. Prefacing the Atlantic Slave Trade as the beginning of our journey, allows us to describe through our own expression the dissemination of people “across the waters” into the new world.
Developing the Narrative
Storytelling can be a way to engage an audience. There are many stories to tell even from one’s own background and personal lived experiences. In addition, there are stories that can be told from historical, cultural, political, social, and racial perspective that we encounter daily. What is your story to tell?
Spirituality
Voyages and Journeys utilizes language from the Orisha culture. Elegua mentioned in the piece is the Orisha of the crossroads. Elegua opens and closes the doors of the pathways to our lives. It is the first Orisha that is summoned during a ceremony and stays until the completion. Elegua represents beginnings and endings and may appear as a child or old man. Our journeys begin and will end when it is time.
