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. 

Bernard Brown/bbmoves, founded in 2014, began as a call to action. Inspired by the arts and social justice movements of the past and present, Bernard Brown/bbmoves aims to serve as a conduit for the oppressed to express their voices. Artistic Director, Bernard Brown, has been featured in the New York and Los Angeles Times for his Dance Activism. The company also seeks to preserve the legacy of historic dance works. Bernard Brown/bbmoves has been presented at Royce Hall, REDCAT, Phoenix Center for the Arts, ODC Theater, Dance Mission, Aratani Theatre, Highways Performance Space, Fowler Museum, Los Angeles Dance Festival, Diavolo Dance Space, HomeLA, Japanese American National Museum, Miles Memorial Playhouse, and the Crocker Art Museum. The company’s work has been supported by the City of Los Angeles’ Department of Cultural Affairs, Sacramento State University, and Dance/USA. The company has collaborated with Steven T. Gordon, emerging Los Angeles artist DeFacto X, and with jazz great, Kenny Burrell.

Khimberly Marshall/MacBeth Project

Khimberly Marshall is currently 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