Venue: Outside, sidewalks & alleyways of Rainier Beach & Columbia City
THIS IS A FREE, LIVE, OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE IN SEATTLE.
Patrons are requested to wear masks during the entire event.
Let ‘im Move You: Intervention
Location and route for this performance will be announced, by the artists, day of. Follow them, and On the Boards, on Instagram to see the announcement on Sept 23
Let ‘im Move You: Intervention
Photo by by Gema Galiana
Let ‘im Move You: Intervention
Thursday, September 23
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Between Rainier Beach and Columbia City)
Let ‘im Move You: Intervention premiered in three Philadelphia neighborhoods in June 2016. Part of the duo’s decade-long collaborative research into J-Sette performance, Intervention activates historically and/or predominantly Black neighborhoods, as it uses rhythm and precision as vehicles into subversion and satisfaction.
On sidewalks and in alleyways, jumatatu m. poe and Jermone Donte Beacham draw on J-Sette’s call-and-response structure to reveal the powerfully singular expression that can emerge within this highly regimented dance. J-Sette originated among drill teams and majorette lines of historically Black southern universities and continues to grab the attention of half-time stadium crowds—while having a parallel life, and alternate political meanings, in the Southern "Black gay club scene."
Performance routes are announced only hours before their intervention. Follow On the Boards on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter on September 23rd to learn the route.
Follow Let 'in Move You, and the artists at _move_you_, @jumatatupoe, and @idance4_me.
Let ‘im Move You: Intervention is co-presented with Portland Institute For Contemporary Art and REDCAT.)
In 2009, jumatatu m. poe and Jermone Donte Beacham began an artistic relationship, initiated by jumatatu’s interest in Donte’s sharply rhythmic approach to J-Sette. J-Sette is a call-and-response dance form originating in the early 80’s by Black southern U.S. majorette lines at various historically Black colleges. Leagues of Black queer men, prohibited from trying out as majorettes, would create competitive teams to practice the form in gay clubs and pride parades. Choreographic phrases are extremely set, confidential until they publicly premiere, and strategically “called” by a captain to be “responded” to by their squad.
Donte’s experience at a pride parade in Atlanta was formative for him. He has said, “That was the first time that I saw guys in uniform, in full costume....It was like six teams, so that was actually my first time seeing that many teams compete. And after that I crunk it up, I turnt it up, and that’s what I’ve been doing since. And then jumatatu and I started working together.”
The Let ‘im Move You series houses Donte and jumatatu’s ongoing collaboration, in which they search for satisfaction and subversion within J-Sette’s team-oriented call-and-response structure. Primarily duet structures, previous works in the series have been performed in black box theaters, white box gallery spaces, and outdoors in predominantly Black neighborhoods with significant foot traffic (small marketplace districts, public transportation hubs, areas proximal to block parties). The Let ‘im Move You series also includes visual installation work that is thought of in partnership with the performance work.
Explaining the titling of the series, jumatatu has said “There were various kinds of intersections that I was interested in, between this style and these Black club styles and religion, specifically Christianity. There is that saying “Let Him move you,” where the “Him” has a capital “H,” and it’s God. I think that there is a reference to that in this title and the kind of transformation that happens on the club dance floor, this ascension, this rise that happens. So there’s that kind of surrender, I wouldn't say to God but...to the Spirit.”