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BEEN READY
For us in the Black community, we’ve always been told “stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.” Ready as in ready for the discrimination, ready for the prejudice, ready for the racism. Well… we are ready, we’ve been ready and now its time to galvanize. Been Ready brings together our five personal experiences navigating conflicts that are inherently imbued with layers of race, gender and bias. With an inward focus we find what makes us ready. Premiered Feb. 2020 at Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Portland, OR Choreographic works by: Michael Galen, Bethany Harvey, Jamie Minkus, Decimus Yarbrough, and Oluyinka Akinjiola Lighting and set design: Maggie Heath Music composed by Cody 'Coflo' Ferreira Funding and support from the Regional Arts and Culture Council, Multnomah County Cultural Coalition and Ronni LaCroute. |
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A MidSummer Night at the Savoy
Rejoice! brings the energy of Harlem to Portland by examining spaces that allowed African American arts to flourish and marinade in US history. In collaboration with our dancers, four choreographers and our community ensemble program, we bring life to Shakespeare’s A Midnight Summer Night’s Dream as a poetic through line, incorporating a recreated set of the Savoy Ballroom. This was the first integrated ballroom in the country and an artistic incubator in Harlem. Come experience our take on Shakespeare, and the contributions of artists of color throughout history. Premiered November 2018 at Portland Playhouse, Portland, OR Choreography by Oluyinka Akinjiola, Jamie Minkus, Michael Galen, Decimus Yarbrough, Bethany Harvey Funding and support from the Regional Arts and Culture Council, Multnomah County Cultural Coalition and Ronni LaCroute. |
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Uprise
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. Premiered Oct. 2017 at Reed College, Portland, OR “There is a reclaiming of power when we value aesthetics from the African Diaspora. Our bodies and our stories are inseparably political.” - audience member "a strange beauty in grief... Say a name" - audience member |
IBUKUN / The Celebration
The work is inspired by Oluyinka's trip to Nigeria, the passing of her grandmother, and experiencing funeral celebrations in Nigeria. Oluyinka’s artistic investigation of contemporary dance and African Folklore explores the presence of traditional Yoruba culture in a fast changing society in Nigeria. Surrounded by a spiraling recession and government corruption, Ibukun/The Celebration is a dedication to female leadership, maintenance of familial bonds and cultural preservation.
Premiered Januaray 2017 at New Expressive Works, Portland, OR
Choreographic work by Oluyinka Akinjiola
Musical guests: Nojeem Lasisi (Jujuba), Rudy Slizewski (TapWater & Scott Pemberton Band), and Jeff Burres
The work is inspired by Oluyinka's trip to Nigeria, the passing of her grandmother, and experiencing funeral celebrations in Nigeria. Oluyinka’s artistic investigation of contemporary dance and African Folklore explores the presence of traditional Yoruba culture in a fast changing society in Nigeria. Surrounded by a spiraling recession and government corruption, Ibukun/The Celebration is a dedication to female leadership, maintenance of familial bonds and cultural preservation.
Premiered Januaray 2017 at New Expressive Works, Portland, OR
Choreographic work by Oluyinka Akinjiola
Musical guests: Nojeem Lasisi (Jujuba), Rudy Slizewski (TapWater & Scott Pemberton Band), and Jeff Burres
Alegria
A celebration of life, triumph and humanity imbued with Brazilian music. ALEGRIA! continues with the Rejoice! tradition by fusing the joyful expressions of folklore, Brazilian, Caribbean, and contemporary dance to form "contemporary folklore."
Premiered June 2017 at Portland Playhouse, Portland, OR
Choreographic works by Oluyinka Akinjiola, Uriah Boyd, Dar Vejon Jones, Jamie Minkus and Andrea Whittle.
Lighting Design: Robin Greenwood
Musical guests: Andy Sterling, Rudy Slizewski, Hans Barklis
A collaboration with BCC: Brown Hall with funding from the Regional Arts and Culture Council
A celebration of life, triumph and humanity imbued with Brazilian music. ALEGRIA! continues with the Rejoice! tradition by fusing the joyful expressions of folklore, Brazilian, Caribbean, and contemporary dance to form "contemporary folklore."
Premiered June 2017 at Portland Playhouse, Portland, OR
Choreographic works by Oluyinka Akinjiola, Uriah Boyd, Dar Vejon Jones, Jamie Minkus and Andrea Whittle.
Lighting Design: Robin Greenwood
Musical guests: Andy Sterling, Rudy Slizewski, Hans Barklis
A collaboration with BCC: Brown Hall with funding from the Regional Arts and Culture Council
Ancestry in Motion
Premiered June 2016 at Headwaters Theater, Portland, OR
Choreographic works by Oluyinka Akinjiola, Dar Vejon Jones, Jamie Minkus, and Michael Galen.
Lighting Design: Robin Greenwood
Featured guests: Rudy Slizewksi, Okaidja Afroso
Premiered June 2016 at Headwaters Theater, Portland, OR
Choreographic works by Oluyinka Akinjiola, Dar Vejon Jones, Jamie Minkus, and Michael Galen.
Lighting Design: Robin Greenwood
Featured guests: Rudy Slizewksi, Okaidja Afroso
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ICONS
Premiered June 2015 at Performance Works NW, Portland, OR Includes the following works:
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