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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. Funding and support from the Regional Arts and Culture Council, Multnomah County Cultural Coalition and Ronni LaCroute. |
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" |
UPRISE
Thank you for coming to UPRISE at the Washington Park Festival "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** |
IBUKUN/ The Celebration
Oluyinka Akinjiola will be premiering Ibukun/The Celebration. The work is inspired by a recent trip to Nigeria, the passing of her grandmother, and experiencing funeral celebrations in Nigeria. Featured in the performance is Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater, Jujuba’s Nojeem Lasisi and Jeff Burres, and Rudy Slizewski of TapWater and the Scott Pemberton Band.
Oluyinka’ current 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.
Oluyinka Akinjiola will be premiering Ibukun/The Celebration. The work is inspired by a recent trip to Nigeria, the passing of her grandmother, and experiencing funeral celebrations in Nigeria. Featured in the performance is Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater, Jujuba’s Nojeem Lasisi and Jeff Burres, and Rudy Slizewski of TapWater and the Scott Pemberton Band.
Oluyinka’ current 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.
Alegria
June 24th-27th
The Portland Playhouse
Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater presents ALEGRIA! June 24 – 27 at Portland Playhouse. 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."
The four evenings will be filled with choreographic works by Oluyinka Akinjiola, Uriah Boyd, Dar Vejon Jones, Jamie Minkus and Portland Playhouse’s own Andrea Whittle. Rejoice! is reviving their signature piece “Phenomenally,” reset for the Portland Playhouse stage, featuring special guests and new interpretations of Maya Angelous’s provocative poetry.
Choreography by Uriah Boyd explores our physical, sensual selves in the act of flirting. She entices, provokes and courts the audience into friendly conversation. Andrea Whittle presents an inspiring monologue in tribute to Betty Shabazz. Dar Vejon Jones will leave you breathless with his self-choreographed solo work. Oluyinka Akinjiola and Jamie Minkus will present the playful, spirited side of Samba in their new duet. Oluyinka Akinjiola will be premiering “Let Loose (Your Tongue)” for the first time on the West Coast. The work premiered at the Hochstein Theater in Rochester, New York, November 2015. This contemporary folkloric work is set the music of Nina Simone and Lauryn Hill.
The stage will be set with brilliant lighting design by Robin Greenwood. Musical guests include Andy Sterling and Rudy Slizewski as well as members of Popgoji. Prepare to travel towards the equator as they set the score for a Brazilian soundtrack connecting an evening of dance. Alegria! will be collaborating with BCC: Brown Hall with funding from the Regional Arts and Culture Council.
Make sure to get your tickets early, Rejoice! shows sell out fast! Tickets are available on-line at brownpapertickets
$16 in advance, $20 day of the show.
June 24th-27th
The Portland Playhouse
Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater presents ALEGRIA! June 24 – 27 at Portland Playhouse. 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."
The four evenings will be filled with choreographic works by Oluyinka Akinjiola, Uriah Boyd, Dar Vejon Jones, Jamie Minkus and Portland Playhouse’s own Andrea Whittle. Rejoice! is reviving their signature piece “Phenomenally,” reset for the Portland Playhouse stage, featuring special guests and new interpretations of Maya Angelous’s provocative poetry.
Choreography by Uriah Boyd explores our physical, sensual selves in the act of flirting. She entices, provokes and courts the audience into friendly conversation. Andrea Whittle presents an inspiring monologue in tribute to Betty Shabazz. Dar Vejon Jones will leave you breathless with his self-choreographed solo work. Oluyinka Akinjiola and Jamie Minkus will present the playful, spirited side of Samba in their new duet. Oluyinka Akinjiola will be premiering “Let Loose (Your Tongue)” for the first time on the West Coast. The work premiered at the Hochstein Theater in Rochester, New York, November 2015. This contemporary folkloric work is set the music of Nina Simone and Lauryn Hill.
The stage will be set with brilliant lighting design by Robin Greenwood. Musical guests include Andy Sterling and Rudy Slizewski as well as members of Popgoji. Prepare to travel towards the equator as they set the score for a Brazilian soundtrack connecting an evening of dance. Alegria! will be collaborating with BCC: Brown Hall with funding from the Regional Arts and Culture Council.
Make sure to get your tickets early, Rejoice! shows sell out fast! Tickets are available on-line at brownpapertickets
$16 in advance, $20 day of the show.
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Phenomenally
Choreography by Oluyinka Akinjiola in collaboration with dancers Text by Maya Angelou Live music: Jeff Burres, Andy Sterling, Simon Lucas Recorded music: “Break you off” Phrenology by the Roots and “Phenomenal Woman” by Daz-I-KUE Photography by Anthony Arnista “Phenomenally” is in dedication to the artistic contributions and life of Dr. Maya Angelou. She inspired us to merge cultures and traditions of the African Diaspora in choreography. The body of the work focuses on Dr. Angelou’s poems "Still I Rise" and “Phenomenal Woman,” first published in 1978. We merge her text with expressions of female orishas of the Yoruba Diaspora. The orishas, or deities—Oshún, Oya, and Yemaja—represent fertility, motherhood, sensuality, and the passage between life and death. |
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Onward
Choreography by Jamie Minkus in collaboration with the dancers. Music: "Walking Blues" by Robert Johnson, "Cumulonimbus Interlude" by Christian Scott, "Caution" by Bob Marley. Sound Score by Jeff Burres, Simon Lucas, and Andy Sterling Prop design and construction by Erik Newgard The word "displacement" is a noun, though it carries significant emotional weight from stifling helplessness and confusion, to motivating frustration and anger. This piece was sewn together based off the different stories from the dancer’s vast family histories, all with the similar undercurrent of displacement. |
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Been Restless
Choreographed and Performed by Uriah Boyd Music: “Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter” performed by Nina Simone |
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Sentiments
of Ogun
Choreographed and performed by Oluyinka Akinjiola and Jamie Minkus Music composed and performed by Jeff Burres, Simon Lucas, and Andy Sterling Photography by Jamie Minkus Ogun is the Yoruba deity of mechanization, civilization and divine justice. As he dances with a machete, He clears a paths for civilization and liberation. He is the orisha of divine justice and truth, which gives him insight into the heart of men. Ogun; liberator and executioner. |
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Oshún,
Xica and the Sambista
Choreography by Oluyinka Akinjiola Dancers: Rejoice: Diaspora Dance Theater Costume Design by Sara Mohkami part I: Sojourner’s Truth Text: Sojourner Truth’s Ain't I a Woman? 1851 Women's Convention in Akron Ohio part II: Xica Music: Jorge Ben, Xica da Silva, África Brasil, ©1976, Universal Music/Mercury Collaborative choreography by Oluyinka Akinjiola, Vera Passos and Rosangela Silvestre part III: Deusa de Ebano Music: Alô Brasil, Deusa de Ebano, Alô Brasil Abre A Janela, © 2006 Collaborative Choreography by Oluyinka Akinjiola and Bankoma The context of this work explores black female iconography from the African Diaspora including Oshún, Xica da Silva, and the Deusa de Ebano. Oshún, the Yoruba deity from Nigeria and presents ultimate femininity from the African perspective. Xica da Silva was an Afro-Brazilian slave who became the richest woman in Minas Gerais through her romantic union with João Fernandez. The Deusa de Ebano, or ebony goddess, becomes the symbol of Blocos Afros during the yearly celebration of Carnaval in Salvador, Brazil. |
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Single Story
Choreographed and Performed by Oluyinka Akinjiola Music composed by Michelle Fujii Music Performed by Unit Souzo Single Story is inspired by “The Danger of a Single Story” TED talk delivered by chimamanda ngozi adiche. By blending storytelling, dances of the African Diaspora and Taiko drumming, we will unpack the culprit of stereotypes - “the single story.” This performance is a synthesis between traditional and contemporary art forms, spoken word, and audience interaction. |
