Uproot: love and legacy
About the Performance
Uproot: love and legacy focuses on themes of love, ancestry, and lineage, as it explores the idea of the first family, the family tree. Through vignettes of movement, the dancers create different portraits, reminiscent of family photos. The work was conceived with the Black community and African diaspora in mind, highlighting those who have built and left a legacy for us, as well as the stories that are currently being left behind for those who come after. In the work, dancers search for their soulmate with their ancestors guiding them toward one another, supporting them to create a future of their own. Choreographer Maleek Washington sought to capture the spiritual connection between generations, and between individuals.
- Choreography
- Maleek Washington in collaboration with the company
- Music Composition & Performance
KAMAUU & Kwinton Gray
- Lighting Design
Dan Scully
- Scenic Design
Lee “SOEMS” Beard in collaboration with Maleek Washington
- Costume Design
Bones Jones
- Premiere Cast
Jamaal Bowman, Tamisha A. Guy, Catherine Kirk, Donovan Reed, Gianna Theodore
- Duration
- 18 minutes
- Premiere
- The Joyce Theater, New York, NY (2023)
Support
Uproot: love and legacy is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Uproot: love and legacy is commissioned, in part, with the support of The Joyce Theater Foundation's Stephen and Cathy Weinroth Fund for New Work.
