Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater
Rejoice! is a Portland-based contemporary dance ensemble led by the bold vision and artistic direction of Oluyinka Akinjiola. Inspired by the folklore of the great African diaspora, Rejoice’s performance repertoire boldly weaves stories of adversity and hope, captivating audiences with their outspoken calls for social change.
Rejoice! is a Portland-based contemporary dance ensemble led by the bold vision and artistic direction of Oluyinka Akinjiola. Inspired by the folklore of the great African diaspora, Rejoice’s performance repertoire boldly weaves stories of adversity and hope, captivating audiences with their outspoken calls for social change.
Rejoice! Upcoming Performances
July 27 Washington Park Festival
**November 2-4** Portland Playhouse
July 27 Washington Park Festival
**November 2-4** Portland Playhouse
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A MidSummer Night at the Savoy
New Show Dates: Nov 2-4, 2018 Preview show: Nov 1 Four choreographers, one story-line, plus a community ensemble will bring the energy of Harlem to Portland through a distinctive production examining spaces that allowed African American arts to flourish and marinade in US history. Imagine Shakespeare’s A Midnight Summer Night’s Dream as a poetic through line with a recreated set of the Savoy Ballroom, the first integrated ballroom in the country and an artistic incubator in Harlem. Experience this twist on Shakespeare and the contributions of artists of color throughout history. Be part of the next production by donating! |
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UPRISE
Thank you for coming to UPRISE at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center "powerful reminder of self responsibility in our collective experience" Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater presents UPRISE an evening of choreographic premiers by Oluyinka Akinjiola, Michael Galen and Jamie Minkus. UPRISE features a body of choreographic works addressing power, oppression, and community. Inspired by Angela Davis’ desire to see liberation movements become intersectional, we are bringing expression to the many ways race, class, culture, and history influence power.Funding and support from the Regional Arts and Culture Council and the Oregon Arts Commission. “There is a reclaiming of power when we value aesthetics from the African Diaspora. Our bodies and our stories are inseparably political.” Oluyinka Akinjiola, Artistic Director Stay connected by joining our mailing list by e-mailing rejoicediasporadancetheater@gmail.com ***Our latest updates are posted on our Facebook page** From the Audience
"Despite rough times, reminding me of the joy and hope available in my everyday existence" "This performance helped move my anxiety and sadness of the current poltical environment into the creative energy you made. It felt healing and made me feel amped to help create change." "a strange beauty in grief... Say a name" "This show is important" |
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Contemporary Folklore by Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater
written by Oluyinka Akinjiola
Performance: June 18, 2016
— TEDxMtHood is honored to introduce Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater as one of our 2016 performers. —
Contemporary folklore = Contemporary: the freedom of breaking away from traditional structures and blending dance techniques + Folklore: maintaining a connectedness to people, stories, history and ancestry.
We are Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater – an ensemble of multi-dimensional dancers and musicians under the artistic direction of Oluyinka Akinjiola. We look at tradition through a contemporary lens, bridging our vast history with our complex present. Using folkloric movement as a basis of communication to our immediate surroundings, Rejoice! weaves movement and music of the past and present with an underlying narrative for powerful storytelling. We navigate through modern day issues and current topics that are steeped through generations.
Rejoice! is made up of many voices. We believe an artistic community and environment is collaborative. Everyone in Rejoice! has amazing and diverse strengths, and we complement each other so incredibly well. Choreographically, Rejoice! is created collaboratively with the dancers. When everyone is invested in the creative process, a higher purpose is served and allows everyone to invest and engage with the work more. The traditional power-structure of choreographer vs. dancer is shifting, and a new culture of collaboration within a dance company is becoming the norm. The first piece we will bring to the TEDxMtHood stage exhibits just that.
“Phenomenally” was created in tribute to Dr. Maya Angelou soon after she passed. The work honors Angelou’s contribution to the arts, humanity and women. The excerpt that will be shown is set to the poem “Phenomenal Woman.” From the sounds of our voices to the curves of our hips, we celebrate individuality and community. Woven in to Angelou’s words is a vocabulary of folkloric and contemporary movement from the African Diaspora and Brazilian samba.
Following “Phenomenally” will be “Growing Pains.” This piece illustrates inter-generational tension and the inevitability of cultural evolution. Vernacular jazz movements mixed with contemporary house dance movements demonstrate the evolutionary thread of American street dance since the early 1900’s. This is similarly represented in the music, mixing jazz and house. Within the constant ebb and flow of tension and release lies the struggle older generations have had with attachments to how things should be done, while the youth step away from tradition to innovate.
Rejoice! is excited to bring this contemporary folklore to the TEDxMtHood stage June 18, with original works choreographed by Oluyinka Akinjiola and Michael Galen.
written by Oluyinka Akinjiola
Performance: June 18, 2016
— TEDxMtHood is honored to introduce Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater as one of our 2016 performers. —
Contemporary folklore = Contemporary: the freedom of breaking away from traditional structures and blending dance techniques + Folklore: maintaining a connectedness to people, stories, history and ancestry.
We are Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater – an ensemble of multi-dimensional dancers and musicians under the artistic direction of Oluyinka Akinjiola. We look at tradition through a contemporary lens, bridging our vast history with our complex present. Using folkloric movement as a basis of communication to our immediate surroundings, Rejoice! weaves movement and music of the past and present with an underlying narrative for powerful storytelling. We navigate through modern day issues and current topics that are steeped through generations.
Rejoice! is made up of many voices. We believe an artistic community and environment is collaborative. Everyone in Rejoice! has amazing and diverse strengths, and we complement each other so incredibly well. Choreographically, Rejoice! is created collaboratively with the dancers. When everyone is invested in the creative process, a higher purpose is served and allows everyone to invest and engage with the work more. The traditional power-structure of choreographer vs. dancer is shifting, and a new culture of collaboration within a dance company is becoming the norm. The first piece we will bring to the TEDxMtHood stage exhibits just that.
“Phenomenally” was created in tribute to Dr. Maya Angelou soon after she passed. The work honors Angelou’s contribution to the arts, humanity and women. The excerpt that will be shown is set to the poem “Phenomenal Woman.” From the sounds of our voices to the curves of our hips, we celebrate individuality and community. Woven in to Angelou’s words is a vocabulary of folkloric and contemporary movement from the African Diaspora and Brazilian samba.
Following “Phenomenally” will be “Growing Pains.” This piece illustrates inter-generational tension and the inevitability of cultural evolution. Vernacular jazz movements mixed with contemporary house dance movements demonstrate the evolutionary thread of American street dance since the early 1900’s. This is similarly represented in the music, mixing jazz and house. Within the constant ebb and flow of tension and release lies the struggle older generations have had with attachments to how things should be done, while the youth step away from tradition to innovate.
Rejoice! is excited to bring this contemporary folklore to the TEDxMtHood stage June 18, with original works choreographed by Oluyinka Akinjiola and Michael Galen.
