Flashback of Baby Suggs, holy’s performances in the Clearing; Scene choreographed by Dianne McIntyre (1998)

Marronage

Refers to a group of persons isolating themselves from a surrounding society in order to create a fully autonomous community

kongo cosmogram

The tracing of a circle while singing to connect the living and the dead

the ring shout

Clapping of hands and stomping of feet in the round

the cypher

Dancers take turns performing in the center of a circle formed by the community witnessing

  • church

    Names the work possible in the Black sacred triad and is defined as a body of people who gather regularly around a common point of reverence and who in the process, through ritual, through shared belief and practice, form meaning-full relationships to engender spiritual growth

  • STAGE

    A site of public performance, such as the concert stage or even the street, outside the realms of club and church and requiring an audience

  • CLUB

    Social nightlife space in cities and major suburbs