What does it feel like to live uninterrupted? For so many marginalized groups within the United States the ability to move through the country unencumbered is a rare privilege. Be it the over-policing of Black and Brown communities; the surveillance of citizens deemed a threat due to religious beliefs, or even the ability of female-identifying people to walk home without being  physically/verbally/sexually accosted. In this panel discussion, we ask ourselves: what is the possibility of safety and peace for those that society has categorized as the “other”?

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Presented in Partnership with Dance Place

Opening night of the BlackLight Summit features two mid-career BIPOC dance artists with a strong connection to the DC Metropolitan Area. Following the presentation of digital works by these artists, they will join BlackLight Summit artists Candace Scarborough and Jamal Abrams as well as BlackLight Summit Guest Panelist Aisha White to discuss works and the themes of the Summit: amplifying unfairly silenced voices through action.

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In this keynote address, Executive Artistic Director of Dance Place and internationally acclaimed dance artist Christopher K. Morgan and Executive Director of The Dance Institute of Washington and visionary arts activist Kahina Haynes share their perspectives on honoring and continuing legacies. Their address focuses on addressing inherited legacies in a shifting arts and social justice ecology, while also considering the impact of their own work on the communities they serve. The session will include ample time for questions and topics submitted via chat from viewers.