Rooted in Black oral tradition and centering Black experience, Black is the Light is an ongoing series of classes, workshops, festivals, and networking opportunities intentionally designed to cultivate local talent and create bridges for young Black and POC artists between academic learning and the professional world.
The goal of Black is the Light is to engage and inspire BIPOC youth in our community to explore their identity and tell their own story, using artistic mediums including storytelling, poetry, and movement as a source of healing and to harness joy.
RAISE YOUR VOICE SERIES
This free Zoom workshop series focuses on channeling your inner voice to express your true self. Students will engage in mindfulness, writing, and acting exercises aimed at using their own experiences and embracing all aspects of their identity. Each workshop has a capacity of 25 students.
Workshops are open to students grades 6 through age 19, and are open exclusively to students who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color.
Questions? Contact Alex Lee Reed, Associate Director of Arts Engagement, Youth & Learning
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PERFORMANCE POETRY: PEN OVER PAPER
Dates: Monday, November 16 & Tuesday, November 17 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. PT
Teaching Artist: Allyson Lee Brown
Exploring rhythm, body language, and the power of their own voice, students will create, practice, and perform original pieces of performance poetry.
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THE ART OF STORYTELLING
Dates: Wednesday, November 18 & Thursday, November 19 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. PT
Teaching Artist: Dedra Woods
Students will engage with their own history (present and future) through exercises in writing, performing, engaging an audience, and preserving their stories.
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RAISE YOUR VOICE PERFORMANCE PROJECT
REGISTER ►Dates: Saturday December 5 & Sunday, December 6 from 2-4 p.m. PT
Teaching Artists: Dedra Woods, Allyson Lee Brown, Alex Lee Reed
Utilizing aspects of performance poetry and storytelling, students will work together with teaching artists to create and perform an original work.
Students interested in participating in the Raise Your Voice Performance Project are encouraged to also register for Performance Poetry and/or The Art of Storytelling.
Meet the Teaching Artists
Zuzu Kandilige and Asmian Obanion-White competing in the 2020 August Wilson Monologue Competition. Photo by Angela Nickerson.