Sweet Wata: A Succulent Sensory Sanctuary of Artistry and Ancestral Spirit. My son and I attended the grand opening of this curated art exhibition at The Martin and Pat Fine Center for the Arts at Miami Dade Kendall Campus, which featured images, video, and artifacts that capture the striking embodiment of ancestral movement memory of several performances in the repertory of Olujimi Dance Collective (professional) and Jubilation Dance Ensemble/JDE (Miami Dade College Kendall Student Company) both are directed by Michelle Grant-Murray.
Ancestral Movement Memory is the choreographic and pedagogical practice of Grant/Murray and this project showcases the visual representation of the divine ancestral spirit through the alter spaces, musical instruments, fabric, imagery, sounds, and video. Olujimi dancer, Shanna Woods performed “Sweet Wata” and musician Yasmine Santos accompanied her dance story, and it was nothing short of phenomenal. The regal entrance, her entanglement with her cascading blue fabric, and the sculpting and carving of the space with her wildly proficient technical vocabulary that is rooted in the ancestral world was satiating…Sis ate…
Lisbet Moquet, JDE dancer performed “Ineffable Water” and wowed the audience with both her beauty and powerful expression and advocacy representing the woes and pride of Black hair. I will write more about this exquisite evening soon but I wanted to share my immediate thoughts. Thank you Dr. Alexandra Gelbard who moderated the event (and she is the talented photographer for the images). It was absolutely amazing! You moderated and held space with a thoughtful consciousness that demonstrated not only your knowledge of the work but the deep connection and relationship you have with the artists, artwork, and artifacts. This is definitely just the beginning!
Ancestral Movement Memory is the choreographic and pedagogical practice of Grant/Murray and this project showcases the visual representation of the divine ancestral spirit through the alter spaces, musical instruments, fabric, imagery, sounds, and video. Olujimi dancer, Shanna Woods performed “Sweet Wata” and musician Yasmine Santos accompanied her dance story, and it was nothing short of phenomenal. The regal entrance, her entanglement with her cascading blue fabric, and the sculpting and carving of the space with her wildly proficient technical vocabulary that is rooted in the ancestral world was satiating…Sis ate…
Lisbet Moquet, JDE dancer performed “Ineffable Water” and wowed the audience with both her beauty and powerful expression and advocacy representing the woes and pride of Black hair. I will write more about this exquisite evening soon but I wanted to share my immediate thoughts. Thank you Dr. Alexandra Gelbard who moderated the event (and she is the talented photographer for the images). It was absolutely amazing! You moderated and held space with a thoughtful consciousness that demonstrated not only your knowledge of the work but the deep connection and relationship you have with the artists, artwork, and artifacts. This is definitely just the beginning!
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