…using dance theatre to prompt discussion around black identity and economics.
With new support as a 2019 Knight Arts Challenge Winner, Inlet Dance Theatre to present 2020 performances and develop workshops, educational videos, online platform
Cleveland, Ohio (November 25, 2019) –
Inlet Dance Theatre today announced plans to expand Dominic Moore-Dunson’s dance theatre production, “The ‘Black Card’ Project.” The expansion, which will include performances at the Akron Civic Theatre, educational videos, movement workshops, and more, is centered on using the arts to generate community discussion on the narrow scope of black identity and its connection to economic development. It is supported through new funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as a 2019 Knight Arts Challenge Akron winning project.
“The ‘Black Card’ Project” premiered to enthusiastic audiences in September 2018 at Firestone Community Learning Center in Akron, OH. It is a live-action dance theatre cartoon about Artie Alvin Beatty III, a young homeschooled black boy with a highly overdeveloped inner-sphere. Artie’s mother, being concerned about his lack of awareness of his cultural identity, sends him to “Booker T. Malcolm Luther Parks Academy of Absolute Blackness!” In a single school day, Artie must pass various classes such as, “How To Dance on Beat” and “Thuggin 101” in order to earn his “black card”. (“The Black Card” is an African-American metaphor of one’s black identity, authenticity, or belonging.)
This family-friendly show aims to impart hope, raise awareness, and open dialogue about the narrow definition of the black identity. While specific to the black cultural experience, the show explores universal themes of identity, belonging, and perseverance.
Performances at the Akron Civic Theatre will begin in January 2020. A student matinee will be held for the Akron Public Schools and other student groups on Jan 16, 2020, along with a public performance on the evening of Friday, Jan 17, 2020. Tickets for the public performance are available on Ticketmaster at www.tinyurl.com/TBCP2020.
Dominic Moore-Dunson (2019 Cleveland Arts Prize Winner) is a Company Member and the Assistant to the Artistic Director with Inlet Dance Theatre. Now in his 10th season with the company, Dominic hails from Akron, OH where he attended the University of Akron and Firestone High School (Akron School for the Arts). Recently recognized as “New Agent” by MOCA Cleveland, Dominic has received numerous fellowships and recognitions as an emerging artist and arts leader including: 2019 Jacob’s Pillow Ann & Weston Hicks Choreography Fellow, 2018 Commission by Akron Art Museum to his solo work, “CAUTION”, a 2018 Breakout Artist by the Devil Strip Magazine (Akron), 2016 National Arts Strategies (NAS) Creative Community Fellow (DC), 2016 Collen Porter Fellow (International Performing Arts for Youth), and an inaugural member of Leadership Akron’s Diversity on Board Program. Recently, Dominic has completed a professional certificate program with National Arts Strategies’ Executive Program in Arts & Culture Strategies (University of Pennsylvania) to enhance his capacity in all aspects of running a successful arts & culture non-profit organization. Moore-Dunson currently serves as a board member of ArtsNow and is a member of the Akron Cultural Plan Steering Committee.
Inlet Dance Theatre was selected as a 2019 Knight Arts Challenge winner for its idea to expand “The ‘Black Card’ Project.” The challenge is a community-wide initiative that supports projects designed to engage and enrich Akron through the arts.
“Art has the power to transform people and communities. It helps us challenge assumptions, hear new perspectives and see the world differently. As a Knight Arts Challenge winner, “The ‘Black Card’ Project” will showcase Akron’s talent and creativity, as well as use the arts to inspire resident conversation on an important, relevant topic,” said Victoria Rogers, Knight Foundation vice president for the arts.
Learn more about “The ‘Black Card’ Project” at www.facebook.com/blackcardproject
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About Inlet Dance Theatre: Founded in 2001 by Executive/Artistic Director Bill Wade, Inlet embodies his belief that dance viewing, training and performing experiences may serve as tools to bring about personal growth and development. In 19 years, Inlet transformed from a small dance company with local impact into an organization that reaches people on an international level. Inlet’s ensemble-based culture intentionally focuses on craftsmanship and mastery while employing a collaborative creative process in the development of new work. Inlet develops and teaches people from the inside-out in all of their design-centric programming. Performing and educating are viewed as two sides of the same coin and not separate entities unto themselves. In contrast to an industry where people are often used to further dance, Inlet Dance Theatre is committed to using dance to further people. For more info, visit inletdance.org.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit kf.org.
About the Akron Civic Theatre: Long recognized among the community’s cultural landmarks, the Akron Civic Theatre has a rich and spectacular history. It has provided the community with a venue for quality entertainment and live performances for over seventy years. During that time, hundreds of thousands of people have been thrilled by various theatrical presentations, both on stage and on screen. Among facilities of its size, the Civic is one of only five remaining atmospheric theaters in the country where patrons experience a twinkling star-lit sky and intermittent clouds moving across the horizon, all while sitting inside the auditorium. For more info, visit akroncivic.com.
Media Contact Libby Koba, Managing Director, 216-721-8580, libby.koba@inletdance.org
For immediate release: Novemeber 25, 2019
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