Artivist Talk Red Clay Dance Company

The season wrap up is here! Join us for our last episode as we reflect on the entire creative process of Rest. Rise. Move. Nourish. Heal, and what that has looked like for both company members and collaborators. We’ll also be discussing Leah Penniman’s work, Farming while Black, and what themes have risen to the top for Vershawn personally in relation to the new work.

Utilizing family friendly events filled with song, music, dance and urban agriculture, Creating Fertile Grounds for Healing is a way for both members of the touring company and Chicago Communities to engage in a creative exchange. Tune in as we discuss the purpose of this project and how Company members plan to bring Chicagoans into an open creative space.

You’re in for a real treat! This episode we’re joined by Rehearsal Director and Company Member Chaniece Holmes! Chaniece shares a unique perspective on the new work, balancing the role of Rehearsal Director and Company Member, as well as our Carolina residency’s impact on her.

We’re talking about the Harvest Section of our new work again, but this time we’ve got the multi-hyphenate Kenesha Reed in the house! She’ll be telling us how her background in drama helps her prep, as well as how she has used the rest of her talents during her season with Red Clay Dance Company. We’ll hear how the residency shaped her as she continues to be in process with Rest. Rise, as well as some of her favorite moments!

We’re talking to Kelley, aka K-FLEYE, who started out as a jeweler before collaborating with us as the costume designer of several different works. Kelley shares where she finds her inspiration as she designs costumes for Red Clay Dance, and what kind of conversations go into the process of designing new pieces, particularly in light of the new work, Rest. Rise.Move.Nourish.Heal.

For today’s episode we’ve got Company Member Destine Young in the house! Destine, aka D-Rock, will be discussing her role in the Harvest section of Rest.Rise.Move.Nourish.Heal. We’ll be talking about the symbolism behind her role, how it’s shaping, and the creative process in community with Vershawn and the company members.