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Socially Conscious Choreography
with
Joya Powell
November 17 2016, 7-9pm
SUGGESTED DONATION $8 OR PAY WHAT YOU CAN
Brooklyn Arts Exchange

Class description (Theme: Targeted Public Appearance)
This class addresses ways in which we explore choreography of a sociocultural/sociopolitical nature through research, movement exercises, theater games, and personal reflection. It focuses on tools related to the art of creating and crafting socially conscious choreography in an engaging and approachable fashion. Participants will be encouraged to continually discuss and reflect on their experience throughout the process, and by the end of their experience they will leave with the shared tools of the facilitator, their own tools, as well as their own short choreographic sketch or phrase that encompasses the sociocultural topic of their choice.
This session will look to inspire people from all walks of life to discuss local, national and international issues both past and present through the medium of dance. By creating a safe space for participants to explore their social and political beliefs they are able to make profound connections between their understanding of themselves, their immediate surroundings and our global community. Their creative process becomes both interdisciplinary and introspective. 

Experience required for the participants 
Any level 

Goals for participants 
- to engage in exploring national/international issues through the language of dance
- how can we effectively create works that challenge audiences and their views on justice/injustice
- in what ways do our current dance practices push boundaries of sociocultural norms

Goals for teacher 
- bridging clearer pathways between company rehearsal processes and public workshops
- further our tool kit in ways in which we approach our socially conscious choreography workshops
- exploring new ways for creating a release for participants at the end of the workshop

About Joya
A native New Yorker, Joya Powell is a Choreographer and Educator passionate about community, activism, and dances of the African Diaspora. Joya is the recipient of The 2016 Outstanding Emerging Choreographer Bessie Award. Hailed by The New York Times as a “radiant performer."
She has taught and studied dance in Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. She has also been a Guest Artist at Penn State, Hobart William Smith Colleges, Columbia University's Teacher's College, Queens College, Brooklyn College, Kean University, and is a substitute Adjunct at NYU and Barnard College. 
Joya is currently an Adjunct Lecturer of Dance at SUNY Old Westbury, and is also a part of the Artistic Resource Group for The FLEA Theater, a collaborating member of Dance Caribbean Collective, choreographic collaborator of Table Theater, and is a Stage Directors and Choreographers 2016-17 Fellow. She received her M.A. in Dance Education from New York University, and her B.A. in Latin American Studies and Creative Writing from Columbia University. As Artistic Director/Choreographer of Movement of the People Dance Company Joya is dedicated to connecting cultures, creating socially conscious choreography and finding ways for underserved communities to use dance as a means for self empowerment.

about this series
This series is geared towards the professional development of dance teachers, and as a mean to offer affordable training for the dance community.

​This series is a part of the CREATING SPACE Program. Funded in large part by the Lambent Foundation Fund of Tides Foundation, the CREATING SPACE Program provides opportunities to support and develop artists of all races, backgrounds, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and aesthetic traditions.