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Tokoliana by CreativiTEA.JPG

Choreography and Art Installation by Indya Childs 

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Dancers:

Dia Adams

Malia Craft

Charray Helton 

Kaela Lawrence

Adrienne Abdus- Salaam 

Jordan Steve

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Voice: Charmaine Minniefield is an artist-activist whose work preserves Black narratives as a radical act of social justice.

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“Tokoliana” is a contemporary African dance work inspired by the Congolese experimental music group KOKOKO!'s song "Tokoliana" meaning "we are devouring each other" in Lingala. This song is a reference to the daily struggle and greed that has engulfed the country. Their powerful message is met with an upbeat track that also captures the hope and optimism of the people. Taking the lead from KOKOKO!, this dance work uses upbeat tracks combined with vigorous African-inspired dancing to juxtapose the bluntly spoken text concerning the harsh truths of America. This work aims to capture the hope and ancestral connection infused in the Black community.

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Art Installation 

 

This art installation aims to grasp the spiritual energy connected to Black people. Each structure is made from gold rings- gold being a prestigious metal signifying wealth and luxury. There are three different-sized rings to represent the divine trinity. The rings, adorned with green, yellow, and red flowers along with black African masks, represent the colors of the Pan-African or Black Liberation flag. The selected colors truly capture the make-up of the Black community: red for the violence/ sacrifice, yellow for the optimism/ rebirth, green for the spiritual growth, and black for our skin. These colors are represented through flowers as a way to give homage to our ancestors.

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Support for the development of Tokoliana was provided by Dance Canvas and Atlanta Contemporary. 

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Photography by CreativiTEA

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Performance Dates: 

- SEPT. 11, 2021 at 6:30pm.

Summer Residency with Dance Canvas at The Atlanta Contemporary 

Location: Atlanta Contemporary Art Center

535 Means Street Northwest

Atlanta, GA 30318

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS.

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-SEPT 18, 2021 at 6:00pm. 

Peace One Day with Can I Color Now Studio at Aatma Dance School 

Location: Aatma Dance Studio 

3308 Laventure Dr, Ste 170

Atlanta, GA 30341

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Send your payments below. Be sure to list Peace One Day and Your Name with your payment. For virtual tickets, include your email! All ticket sales will go towards supporting the global Peace One Day movement.

Tickets

$15 IN PERSON/ $10 VIRTUAL

Venmo : @Rene-Nesbit
Cash App : $ReneNesbit
PayPal : canicolornowstudios@gmail.com

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October 17, 2021 at 3 pm

ELEVATE Atlanta- "A Dance, Reunited" 

Location: Atlanta Contemporary Art Center

535 Means Street Northwest

Atlanta, GA 30318

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

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Director: Indya Childs

Director of Photography: Dwayne Young

Executive Producers: Indya Childs, T'Shauna Henry, and Dwayne Young

Story Producer: Indya Childs 

Dancers: Dia Adams, Indira Cunningham, Veronica Silk, Zunitria Butler, Brianna "Azule" Nixon, Destiny Smith, Jordan Steve, Jade "Danni" Clark, Ebonee English

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A mini docu-series that highlights Black female dancers' experiences in their respected dance genres as Black artists. 

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Premiered

Presented by The Peace, Love, and Dance Project- Windmill Arts Center- East Point, Ga (2021)

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Directed by Indya Childs

Director of Photography: Joshua Cleveland
Choreography- Indya Childs in collaboration with dancers
Produced by Ball State University
Costume Design: Indya Childs
Sound Design: Chris Gravely and Joshua Cleveland
Coordinator: Melanie Swihart
Production Manager: Chloe Kincade
Assistant Production Manager: Grace Schoening
Dancers: Katie Cole, Bridget Donovan,  Kyra Jacobs, Kate Laughlin, Carly Lucas, Teah Mirabelli, Hannah Morrow, Jadah Rowan, Keith Smith, Robbie Weatherington, Ashlyn Works, Annicka Erickson, Caelan Smith 

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Peace, Love, and Dance is a dance on film work influenced by self-described Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet - Audre Lorde and her writings on creatively using our differences to bring change. The work explores her idea of there not being a hierarchy of oppression and asks the question of "How do we find equity, justice, and liberation on race and gender issues that have been plaguing our world for centuries?" Through research and collaboration, Peace, Love, and Dance explores the possibilities to the posed question through acknowledgment of the past, understanding the depth of one's identity, and more. This work is an ongoing conversation and process.

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Premiered

Ball State University Digital Theater (2021)

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(Click here to learn more about this project) 

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LOADED(2020) 

Directed/ Produced by Indya Childs

Video Editing/ Sound Design by Joshua Cleveland

Videographer: Alan Kimura Dixon

Choreography by Indya Childs in collaboration with Joshua Schadl 

Dancers: Indya Childs and Joshua Schadl

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This dance film commemorates some of the many Black American lives lost due to police brutality.  

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Premiered:

WOW- Women of the World Festival at the Apollo Theater (2021)

ElevateATL- (2020)

 

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And I am also... (2021) 

Choreography by Indya Childs in collaboration with Charray Helton  

Costume Design by Charray Helton   

Music- "Love" by Mica Levi, Spoken Word by Charray Helton, Edited by Alesandra Harper 

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This work challenges the social stigmas and limitations placed on Black women through exploring the multidimensionality of Black women's identity outside of social constructs.

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Premiered:

Black- a dance film premiere + a live performance presented by The Peace, Love, and Dance Project- (2021)- Windmill Arts Center- East Point, GA 

 

In Her Voice Showcase- (2021) - Synchronicity Theatre- Atlanta, Ga

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BLACK (2020) 

Written and Directed by  Charray Helton

Produced by Charray Helton and Indya Childs  

Video Editing by Joshua Cleveland

Choreography by Indya Childs in collaboration with Charray Helton  

Costume Design by Charray Helton   

Spoken word by Charray Helton

Music by Jaron Hardy   

Videograper:  Victor (V.J.) Lopez  

Lighting Designer : Lorin Dent

Audio: Katie Leaman  

Audio Assistant/ Grip: Daniel Lopez

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Charray Helton is a graduating student with Alonzo King LINES Ballet BFA Program. She has spent her senior year investigating the definition of blackness sparked by recent events of racial injustice within the country. The work does not speak for an entire race, but rather for Charray and how she defines being a Black woman in America today. While collaborating with choreographer and producer, Indya Childs, and filmmaker, Joshua Cleveland, the trio creates a visual depiction of how Charray recognizes how the layers of strength and perseverance have developed the character of the African American community. As she continues her research beyond “BLACK”, and concludes her senior year, she hopes to continue to create works like this one, bringing awareness to necessary social and political discussions through dance and film. 

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Premiered:

Black- a dance film premiere + a live performance presented by The Peace, Love, and Dance Project- (2021)- Windmill Arts Center- East Point, GA 

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Serendipity Film Festival (2021)

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