Happy Black History Month!
Javon Jones and Tamisha Guy in “Studies on a Farewell.” - from the NYTimes
2021 is already moving quickly; February has arrived! As many already know, February is Black History Month, and Dogtown wants to honor and celebrate the invaluable contributions that Black artists have made to the field of dance. Below I have compiled a list of performances, companies, and resources that highlight the expansive and historical impacts Black artists have had on modern dance and performance.
Articles, Performances, Media:
Jacob's Pillow Interactive Performance Archive Playlist
15 Black Dancers who Changed American Dance
10 Contemporary Black Choreographers You Should Know
Black Owned Dance Companies and Choreographers:
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Book List:
Digging the Africanist Presence in Performance, Dance, and Other Contexts
Katherine Dunham: Dancing A Life
My Story, My Dance: Robert Battle's Journey to Alvin Ailey
Dancing Many Drums: Excavations in African American Dance
Dance Pedagogy for a Diverse World: Culturally Relevant Teaching in Theory, Research and Practice
Oxford Handbook of Dance and Politics
IABD's Comprehensive List of Books
Local Community and Advocacy Resources:
This list is by no means comprehensive and is informed by my own background as a specifically modern-contemporary dancer; please leave comments with your suggestions and resources as well! Happy Black History Month to all :).