Dance For Social Change 2019: Reclaiming Our Home
Dance for Social Change 2019: March 18-31
Reclaiming Our Home: A Festival Centered on Gentrification and Displacement
This year, our students have chosen to examine the impact of gentrification and displacement on our city. Due to the depth, breadth, and complexity of this theme, we will be using the March festival on the Saint Claude corridor as a launching pad for a full year of events, learning opportunities, and conversations, culminating with the DSC Festival in March 2020. As an organization situated in the rapidly gentrifying Bywater, we embrace the opportunity to think critically about our role in this shifting landscape in partnership with our young people.
MAJOR FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES:
THE BLOCK PARTY
March 23, 11am-3pm at Arise Academy (3819 St. Claude Ave. NOLA 70117)
FREE
A celebration of young artists in the yard of DG partner school, Arise Academy, featuring 10+ youth performances, dance classes, food, a bounce house, family-friendly activities, and resource tables highlighting local advocacy efforts.
"REUNION"
March 30, 12pm & March 31, 3pm at Studio BE (2941 Royal St. NOLA 70117)
$5-40 sliding scale, FREE for under 18
DG Uprising will premiere their new multidisciplinary performance piece at Brandon “B-Mike” Odums’ ephemeral warehouse. Each performance will be followed by small group discussions amongst audience members about what we can do as a community to address gentrification.
ARTIST TALKS, WORKSHOPS & CREATION OPPORTUNITIES:
IN THE KITCHEN at Dancing Grounds (3705 St. Claude Avenue NOLA 70117)
A series of events for young artists to “cook up” new ideas and collaborate with professional artists.
March 9, 7pm: naked
an open mic without the mic curated by Cat Dorvilus.
March 16, 6pm: roughwrks
a works-in-progress performance series curated by Paris Cian.
March 22, 7pm: DSC Jam Sessions
a youth-designed and youth-only space for young artists to express their truth.
NOLA ROOTED at Dancing Grounds (3705 St. Claude Avenue NOLA 70117) March 18-28
A series of adult classes taught by New Orleans native dance artists curated by Chanice Diante and Kristal “M2DaE” Jones. All classes will be sliding scale within a pricing structure that highlights the current and historical economic disparities faced by New Orleans’ native culture bearers, whose work is exported and often exploited by folks that are not from New Orleans. See the full schedule at dancingrounds.org/classes.
PORCH TALKS at various locations
A series of neighborhood conversations about the role of the arts in gentrification and displacement.
Antenna::Signals Issue.012: Strata
March 27, 6:30-9pm, location TBA
A collaboration with Press Street/Antenna Gallery’s live magazine series, curated by Nic Aziz.
Arts & Action Panel
March 29, 6:30-8pm at the Music Box Village (4557 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70117)
A discussion about Junebug Productions’ Homecoming Project, New Orleans Airlift’s The Bridge, and Onye Ozuzu’s Project Tool, moderated by DG Uprising company members.
After the festival, we will continue to program public events in an effort to facilitate conversations about injustices related to gentrification and displacement. April events will include a partnership with New Orleans Airlift and Junebug Productions. Dancing Grounds will use all festival activities to highlight the work of local advocacy groups such as the New Orleans People’s Assembly, Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative, Housing NOLA, Junebug Productions, and European Dissent’s Anti-Gentrification Working Group.
For general festival information: http://www.dancingrounds.org/dance-for-social-change/
For a short film about DSC 2018: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMjsNOh1A8c
