Ja' Malik * Social Justice Power Hour!
Ja' has built a career of executing commissions from nationally-renowned dance companies whilst at the same time advocating for representation of Black artists. He founded & has served as Executive Director of New York City's Ja'Malik|BalletBoyProductions whose mission is to create pathways for young Black men to thrive in a career in dance. Ja’ was inspired to create Ballet Boy in response to the growing number of deaths in America of young black men as he credits his dance training as a life-saving opportunity while growing up in the often rough urban neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio.
As he shares, “BALLET SAVED MY LIFE… & I WANT TO OFFER THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES TO OTHER YOUNG MEN OF COLOR”
In 2019, Ja' Malik collaborated with Tony-nominated Camille A. Brown on choreography for The Public Theater’s 2019 production of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When The Rainbow is Enuf, & is a former member of Cleveland Ballet, Oakland Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Nathan Trice Rituals, City Dance Ensemble, Ballet Hispanico, & Ballet X. In 2003 he graduated from the first class of Joffrey Ballet School, & now as newly appointed Artistic Director of Madison Ballet, Ja’ has been called a “choreographer to watch” by The New York Times.
Now he is choreographing with two other extraordinary artists the American Repertory BalletSPRING SEASON FINALE, “MOVIN’ + GROOVIN’” which opens tomorrow nite at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center!
(& by the way, folx, tune in tonite for a special PRIDE discount code to see this show at reduced admission price as a kindness from our friend Dan Bauer!)
Describing his piece Moving to Bach, Ja’ says he was “inspired by both the dancers of ARB & Bach’s beautiful Sonata for Violin Solo No. 1. This new work for five dancers will create an ever evolving world of exhilarating physicality in both a direct relation & counter relation to the rhythmically serene and sometimes explosive score by Bach.”
Well, serene & explosive also describes our Social Justice Power Hour quite well indeed, so please join Ja' & our own BRCSJ Chief Activist Robt Seda-Schreiber in virtual community-buildin' conversation equally empowerin' & entertainin'
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In the meanwhile we are here for you, please be here with us 7pm ET/4pm PT BRCSJ virtual HQ Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice The BRCSJ Power Hour is broadcast live every weeknite from our FB page with fabulous & meaningful guest-stars each & every nite!
Whereas we hope you join us live, if you miss any broadcasts, all of our over 600 Power Hours are always available for your viewin' pleasure aqui~
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