February is behind us, and with it we leave the month of introspection and love and—for Vanguard Seattle‘s editorial theme for March—we move to reflect on war, friction and uncomfortable states of being. Kyle Abraham / Abraham.In.Motion are presenting three new works that thoroughly span this transition at The Moore Theatre, co-presented by On The Boards. The recent MacArthur Fellowship honoree has created a historical homage triptych to celebrate 150 years after the Emancipation Proclamation and 20 years after the abolition of Apartheid in South Africa. As recent emotive speeches at the Academy Awards and recent events in the South African parliament indicate, both of these journeys are far from over, with much work to be done to establish true equality for all.
Fifty years ago, Max Roach’s protest album, We Insist: Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite, celebrated the centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation while shedding light on growing Civil Rights Movements in the United States and South Africa. That album serves as the model for Abraham’s three new works, titled The Gettin’, When the Wolves Came In and Hallowed. They explore themes of freedom, civil rights, perception of persecution, queer urban dance aesthetics as well as other dance vernaculars such as whacking, popping, locking, and voguing over a musical score composed of the church sermons and music that characterized the Civil Rights Movement.
Kyle Abraham / Abraham.In.Motion
When: Wednesday, March 4, 2015, 8 PM; Thursday, March 5, 2015, 8 PM;
Where: The Moore Theater (1932 Second Ave)
Tickets available through www.stgpresents.org
