The Weight of Sugar Creative Director/Choreographer: Bernard Brown
Director/Cinematographer/Editor: Jingqiu Guan
Dancers: Laila Shabazz, Cynthia Booth, Joniece Boykins,
Gelline Guevarra and Jade Tabayoyong
Music and Sound Design: Karam Salem
Costume Design: Kristina Garnett of KaartKaart

With Support of The California Arts Council

Processing Sugar Notes+
Ma Series Art, Sacramento
Project Director: Bernard Brown

Processing Sugar Notes organized by Ma Series Art, will consist of a dance theater work and public dialogues that will examine the lasting effects of colonialism on global communities of color through the prism of sugar, the most important harvest crop to the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Through athletic and lush physicality, dancers of color will utilize the choreography to queer and reimagine the racialized (de)value system entrenched in Western society, to explore the depths of addiction, diabetes, and systemic racism ravaging communities. This project hopes to serve as an intervention leading to awareness, dialogue and advocacy surrounding health. Programming will run from March through October 2021. Funded by California Humanities Quickgrant

With support from Ma Series Arts Bernard Brown and bbmoves is in Residency upstairs at the B Street Theater in Sacramento, CA from Sep 16 to December 9th. bbmoves will hold community classes and a culminating performance on December 9th 2019

BERNARD BROWN is a California-based dance artist, choreographer and educator. His work is rooted in catalyzing change through dance; dance sparks dialogue which in turn, inspires action, the action being the change within our communities. He is interested in excavating the ways in which art can transform, create ripples of empathy, and foster healing. He received his MFA from the Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance at UCLA and his BFA from Purchase College. Bernard began his dance training at the Lula Washington Dance Theatre School and continued on to the illustrious Idyllwild Arts Academy. 

Lisa E. Harris

ONSHORE TRILLING: WHAT TO DO WHEN THE EARTH SINGS THE BRUISE is the title of Harris’ current research initiative. This research project develops into a song cycle composition inspired by the life cycle of an oil and gas field. Investigating the relationships between voice, Earth, body, vibration, space and ritual, environmental and personal healing initiatives are attempted through experimental public performances using seismic graphs in Norway, Texas and beyond.

https://lisaeharris.com/onshore-trilling-3

Khimberly Marshall/MacBeth Project

Khimberly Marshall is directing a production of Shakespeare’s MacBeth produced at Celebration Arts. This project is a part of our community engagement, furthering their mission to bring expansive art experiences to our underrepresented communities.

…About MacBeth Project

Thru a partnership with Celebration Arts and Ma Series Arts I am directing my adapted script of William Shakespeare’s MACBETH and featuring an All African-American Cast for the first time in Sacramento history.

This adaptation reflects a future Africa while honoring our past, recognizing the western culture of our present, and the possibilities of our future.

While utilizing non-traditional casting methods, we are building the narrative around African traditions. You may find hints of spoken word, African drum, call and response, college step performance and a touch of gospel.

This production is the beginning of a larger 5 year project, The MacBeth Project. Each year, The MacBeth Project is partnering with 3 different arts organizations to co-build and produce a truly unique and vastly different experience each of the 5 years.

-Khimberly Marshall