It is with great pleasure to share my thoughts on this season’s A.I.R. Dance Conference titled and themed “Balancing Tradition.” A.I.R. is the acronym for Artistry in Rhythm and it is certainly that. I began my A.I.R. journey six years ago when I moved back to Florida. I participated as a performer, choreographer, teacher, lecturer, and now as a dance reviewer and critic; I am amazed at the evolution of the conference. I think it was stated that this is the 11th year (correct me if I’m wrong) that Mrs. Michelle Grant-Murray has blessed the South Miami community with this conference. Over the years, I have seen the participation fluctuate but never did Grant-Murray’s level of excellence waiver. She continues to pour into her students’ lives as well as the community, imparting grandiose wisdom and experiences through this conference. A.I.R. offers “A synthesized historical, cultural, and philosophical experience that explores dance, music, visual arts, and the aesthetic of a global narrative that grounds and expands the innovative practices of art making” (Grant-Murray 2023). Participants travel through the embodied, theoretical, scholarly, and artistic worlds “engag[ing] in masterclasses, panel discussions, artist talks, performance, and scholarly presentations” (Grant-Murray 2023).
 
Every year Grant-Murray recognizes a national powerhouse in the dance world, this year the awardee was Kevin Iega Jeff: Renowned dancer, award winning choreographer, and Co-founder/Artistic/Executive Director of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater (DRDT). She also recognized South Florida Power of the Arts Honorees: Commissioner Kionee McGhee, attorney and author of the best-selling book Conquering Hope: The Life You Were Destined To Live; Marion “Neise” Sneed: (Branch of Hope: Supporting Individuals and Families Impacted by Incarceration); Leatha Bush (Survivors Affected by Violence); and Romania Dukes (Mothers Fighting for Justice). Tiffany Meritt-Brown, currently a Visiting Professor at the University of Iowa received the “Distinguished Alumni Award in Artistry.” She also taught an Afro-Fusion contemporary class. The conference featured many Miami Dade College Kendall alumni as performers, choreographers, and teachers as well as local and national guest teachers and lecturers. Several featured guests are quintessential in their area such as A.I.R. Resident Choreographer Paunika Jones, Former Principle with Dance Theater of Harlem; Dr. C. Kamal Nance (Umfundalai Technique); Dr. Keisha Abraham (A Jedi Framework); and Marisol Blanco (Afro Cuban) to name a few. 
 
Performances are crucial elements transmitting knowledge, memories, histories, traumas, and identities (Taylor 2003 and Schechner 2013 and 2006) and within this construct, whether within the role of performer or observer “within cultural performances…we often come to realize truths about ourselves and our world that we cannot realize in our day-to-day existence (Madison 2020, 150).
 
Cultural performance “…include[es] ritual, ceremony, carnival, theatre, and poetry, [which] is an explanation and explication of life itself…” (Madison 2020, 146). As I watched the performance, I thought about how these elements were displayed in various forms through multiple representations of nationhood. Diana Taylor in The Archive and the Repertoire: Performing Cultural Memory in the Americas discusses how it is important to “keep examining the relationships between embodied performance and the production of knowledge (Taylor 2003, xvii -xv). The program was full of knowledge, offering a range of styles and aesthetics which were clear representations of African spirituality, fusion, womanhood, struggle, history, balance/imbalance, community, freedom, power, and tradition. There is not enough time or word count to discuss the luminous works featured on the program. I will briefly discuss three works that embodied this notion of cultural performance: they “transmitt[ed] knowledge, memories, histories, traumas, and identities (Taylor 2003 and Schechner 2013 and 2006). 
 
“Rituals” choreographed and performed by Shanna Woods featuring her daughter, Storyteller Lillian S. Harris. This mother-daughter duet is powerful. Harris is seated narrating a fable/myth dropping pearls of wisdom while Woods crawls through and over the chairs and small square tables. Harris exits stage right and Woods devours the space, conjuring, shapeshifting, asserting her power and revealing her feminine energy. African aesthetics are ripe and rich. She speaks of her history, heritage and offers affirmations focused on healing and self-love. Yasssss!
 
“Dame La Receta!” choreographed by Chachi Perez in collaboration with David Velazco (Musician), Jennifer Rivera (dancer) and Genesis Castaneda (dancer) offered a kaleidoscope of rhythm, movement, and vocalization that sucked you into their Spanish familia. The playfulness juxtaposed with ritual offered a comedic element to the work. The Orisha Yemaya was present. The rich blues of the costumes were captivating on each woman. The unspoken and the bodily narratives, winin’ hips, live drumming, beating of the pots and pans, and the constant rhythmic changes, pulled they audience inward to the next dimension. 
 
“InterDimensions: ACTIVATED” choreographed by Jennifer Rivera in collaboration with the cast brought the house down. Shango showed up and showed out. Each dancer was in it and received the spirit. Rivera is one to watch. Her aesthetic choices which include Hip Hop, House, Contemporary, and Afro Cuban, are full bodied, flavorful, and caliente! The red costumes, flaming energy, and warm lighting are the right combination—the audience agreed. They were moving, clapping, and smiling. 
 
At the end of show Dance Department Alumni and former Jubilation Dance Ensemble (JDE) President Brittany Williams discussed Grant-Murray’s purpose and vision for the conference when she presented her with a Certificate of Excellence at the Saturday show. The moment was impactful in many ways, yes, as Williams stated, “give them their flowers while they are alive” because there is no doubt that she is so deserving of this recognition, for her impeccable work and brilliance but Williams stated that Grant-Murray was addressing a need. The Black and Brown students in the community needed a place where they could dance, create, and explore, particularly in forms, vocabularies, and languages that were innate and germane to their ancestry while exposing them to new experiences and other technologies that they could draw upon, engage with, and coalesce. So, when you consider the theme “Balancing Tradition” and the conference offerings in terms of classes in Hip Hop, Contemporary, House, Kemetic Yoga, Umundalai Technique, Afro-Cuban, Afro-Fusion, and Ballet and the performances which embodied these elements, it was the perfect celebration and representation of culture.
The ancestors were pleased!!! Special mention to Light Designer, Apon Nichols and his fabulous technical crew. 
 
#dancewriter
#culturalcritic
#airdanceconference
#mdc_jde
#mossperformingartscenter
#mdckendall
 
Madison, D. Soyini. 2020. Critical Ethnography: Method, Ethics, and Performance. New York: SAGE.
 
Schechner, Richard. 2013. “What is Performance Studies?” Rupkatha Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, 5(2): 1-11. 
 
________________. 2006. Performance Studies: An Introduction. New York: Routledge.
 
Taylor, Diana. 2003. The Archive and the Repertoire: Performing Cultural Memory in the Americas. Durham: Duke University Press. 
 
 
Image 1: Tiffany Meritt-Brown and AC
Image 2: Tiffany Meritt-Brown, Michelle Grant-Murray, and Brittany Williams
Image 3: Kevin Iega Jeff and Michelle Grant-Murray
Image 4: Michelle Grant-Murray and Cast
Image 5: “InterDimensions: ACTIVATED” choreographed by Jennifer Rivera and Cast
Image 6: “Rum.jesus” choreographed by Joshua Archibald
Image 7:  “SIT; Symbiosis in 3” choreographed by Stephanie Franco
Image 8:  “SIT; Symbiosis in 3” choreographed by Stephanie Franco
Image 9: “Dame La Receta!” Choreographed by Chachi Perez in collaboration with David Velazco, Jennifer Rivera, and Genesis Castaneda
Image 10:  Michelle Grant-Murray

​Sciency Tings at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium
 
My family and I attended the Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach over the weekend. It was a wonderful experience engaging with the exhibits which many of them were interactive testing your cognitive, physical, and interpretive skills. The exhibits appealed to the senses through touch, smell, and the visual while providing enough historical information for young audiences to enjoy. The planetary shows “Night Skies Above the Palm Beaches” and “Dinosaurs Alive” as well as the “Dinosaur Explorer” exhibit were my favorite. “The Night Skies Above the Palm Beaches” reminded me of visiting the planetarium in Miami with my elementary school back in the day. I loved sitting back in the seats and witnessing the beautiful skyscape of stars, planets, and galaxies. As I sat in the show in West Palm Beach and listened to the orator inform us of the constellation and light pollution, I wondered if there were lives on the other planets and when we would encounter them. “The Dinosaurs Alive” film discussed the three periods when dinosaurs roamed the earth: the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous. Of course, all I could focus on were the Jurassic Park movies as that was my only reference!
 
This center is a fantastic family event which can take up your entire day. I saw families there who were only focusing on the outdoor activities which included a water area for the kiddos. It was so hot and humid, if I had on a bathing suit, I might have run through that sprinkler a few times myself. 
 
The food area was OK. It was simple with minimal offerings; my mom and I had salads, and my son had the grilled cheese combo off the kid’s menu. The woman working was pulling triple duty, taking the order, making it, and serving it. Come on Cox center, Do Bettah! It was ridiculous working this poor woman like this. She was extremely nice and pleasant considering the slave like working conditions. 
 
We made our rounds taking in the wonderment of the “Dinosaur Explorer” exhibit and snapping away at the life-sized animals ensuring that the most believable poses were captured. Our experience concluded at the aquarium which is much smaller than the aquarium in Tampa which we visited recently but no less intriguing and beautiful. Get out and experience the Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach. The “Dinosaur Explorer” exhibit ends April 30 but they offer so many other fun and educational opportunities which you can enjoy. 
 
#dancewriter
#culturecritic
#raisingculturedkids
#coxsciencemuseum

On Saturday, April 8, 2023, I attended the Island SPACE Museum Grand Re-opening VIP Reception at the Broward Mall in Plantation, FL. They were previously in a smaller space at the same location. I performed CariDad Bahamian Warrior Women in that space last year and I can attest to the fact that this move was necessary! The new space is beautiful and large enough to house the wonderful artifacts that call the museum home. 
 
“Island SPACE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the development and advancement of arts, culture, history, and educational initiatives that represent the Caribbean region, in South Florida and the broader diaspora community” (https://islandspacefl.org/about). This is the “only Caribbean museum in the country” (Lasana Smith 2023) and offers representation from many Caribbean (Anglophone, Francophone, and Hispanophone) countries. Jamaican nationals Calibe Thompson, President and David Muir, Past President are at the helm of this amazing organization.
 
The event was well attended and included patrons of Caribbean culture, local celebrities, business leaders, and entrepreneurs such as Trinidadian-American Neki Mohan, Vice President of Multicultural Business and Community Engagement for Broward County’s Tourism Agency, Visit Lauderdale and Jamaican Commissioner Winston Barnes, the News Director at WAVS 1170 AM Radio in Fort Lauderdale who cohosted the event with Lasana Smith of Garoi Media. Dr. Solanges Vivens of Haitian royalty who is recognized as a “visionary business leader,” healthcare entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author offered words of support for Calibe to the attentive audience. I had wonderful conversations with several members of the Bahamian Tourism Board (boop boop!) and premier culinary artist Hugh Sinclair (aka Chef Irie) made his rounds minglin’ wit di people dem. 
 
In terms of Island cuisine, culture, and libations, Barbados offered a wonderful rum punch. Two women dressed for Crop Over with their beautiful colorful costumes passed out souvenirs—fans with Barbados printed on them. They informed us of the upcoming Food and Rum Festival October 19-22, 2023 (who comin’ wit me?). Coffee was provided by David Levy of Xaymaca Coffee Traders, and I observed many patrons enjoying ice cream by Mr. Flavors. There was a Daytime table by the Jamaica Tourist Board and “Queen” Maxine Osbourne read a story in the thickest Jamaican patois and performed with full bodied expressions. When she ended her monologue, the music started, and she shuffled her feet to the center of the floor performing traditional Jamaican Kumina.  Her costume was emblematic of the culture, she was dressed for the role. “Queen” invited everyone to “dance for the spirits, dance for your ancestors and it no mean duppy and it no mean nuttin’ bad, ya mudda, ya fadda, and your grandparents, the people who gone on.” There is so much to unpack there! The DJ played music from all over the Caribbean diaspora keepin’ di vibes nice. The energy was high, the laughter was rich and genuine, but mostly I was captivated with the melodious orchestra of accents and dialects. 
 
The current exhibits were “Earth, Water, and Skin: Caribbean Women in Art” which features three female artists: Michelle Drummond (Jamaica), Sonya Sanchez Arias (Trinidad and Tobago), and Krystal Sabdul (Jamaica)—they present “multimedia fine art work based on the theme of social justice” (islandspacefl.org/events). The second exhibit is “Caribbean Sheroes” which showcases “women warriors for social justice, the exhibition …honor[s] the stories of 14 inspirational changemakers from South Florida and the Caribbean (I didn’t see CariDad Bahamian Warrior Woman on the wall but OK!!).
 
The museum offers literature, images, and artifacts in the areas of Media, Technology and Education; Music; Folklore and Pastimes; Costumes; Uniforms; Religion; Sports; Economy; National Influencers; Florida’s Caribbean Influencers; and so much more! Of course, there are some nations that are not represented but they are addressing these gaps. If you have artifacts that you think should be included in the museum, please call (954-999-0989). 
 
Dr. Solanges Vivens stated (I am summarizing) that when you sow into someone else’s vision, your blessing to support your vision comes back to you tomorrow. This resonated with me immensely and I immediately sowed a seed into Island SPACE Caribbean Museum. I implore you to check out the website (https://islandspacefl.org) to see all the offerings, membership options, and the ways to give in order to support this phenomenal project.
 
 Image 1: Bahamian Junkanoo Costume
Image 2: Dancehall Artist Spice Costume
Image 3: Paul Campbell
Image 4: Michelle Drummond
Image 5: Sonya Sanchez Arias
Image 6: Invited Guests
Image 7: Queen” Maxine Osbourne
Image 8:  Calibe Thompson, Executive Director
Image 9: Dr. Solanges Vivens

#caribbeanculture
#islandspacemuseumfl
#dancewriter
#culturalcritic