3 RITES: HAPPINESS
Part Three of the 3 RITES Trilogy
photos: Alex Bershaw, Julie Lemberger, Crystal Wei
The Happiness rite is like a wedding event, where the audience/guests are the wedding party. The rite investigates how laughter and pleasure reside in the body. It features four dancers and commissioned music by Nathaniel Braddock, played live by the Occidental Brothers Dance Band International, whose sound is a lively blend of high-energy soukous, rootsy Ghananian Highlife and African Jazz.
Happiness begins with the Happiness Fête where guests are invited to engage in a collective celebration of wellness and joy by having their portrait drawn; experiencing a massage, Delirious Hair Design or personal music moment; learning line dances, sharing a meal family style and more.
On arrival, the guests are welcomed by the Sunbeams who write what makes them happy on a white balloon, which is then attached to the person and floats above them like a thought bubble. Guests are also invited to write what makes them unhappy on a card, which is placed in a ‘pool of unhappiness.’ The Fête is followed by laughtercises, and a performance by DELIRIOUS and the Occidental Brothers Dance Band International, that culminates in a dance party and a ritual skewering of unhappiness .
Happiness is about wellness, self-care, and making time to relax, laugh and recharge for the labor to uphold the values of life, liberty and happiness for everyone.
WATCH > 3 RITES: Happiness creative residency at Mount Tremper Arts
PREMIERE > PRESENTED BY 651 ARTS NOVEMBER 2023
CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
3 RITES: Happiness
Concept: Edisa Weeks
Choreography: Edisa Weeks in collaboration with Angel Chinn, Ashley Pierre-Louis, Brittany Grier, Devin Oshiro, EmmaGrace Skove-Epes, J’nae Simmons, Johnnie Cruise Mercer
Composer: Nathaniel Braddock
Performers: Brittany Grier, Ashley Pierre-Louis, J’nae Simmons, EmmaGrace Skove-Epes
Occidental Brothers Dance Band International: Nathaniel Braddock (Guitar, Band Leader), Greg Ward (Saxophone), Joshua Ramos (Bass Guitar), Kenneth Salters (Drums)
Costume Design: Sarita Fellows
Draping & Costume Making: Gilles Montezin
Lighting Design: Tim Cryan
Set Design/Decorations: You-Shin Chen & Edisa Weeks
Creative Producer: Marýa Wethers
Community Engagement Coordinator: Rebecca Fitton (2017-2021), Maya Simone Z. (2021 – 2023)
Creative Advisor: James Scruggs
Production Director: Violet Asmara Tafari
Illustration: Leo Jimenez
3 RITES: Happiness is a National Performance Network/Visual Artists Network (NPN/VAN) Creation & Development Fund Project co-commissioned by 651 ARTS, Mount Tremper Arts, RestorationART, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, DancePlace and NPN/VAN. 3 RITES is made possible in part through funding from the Brooklyn Arts Council; Creative Capital; Durst Organization; Harkness Foundation for Dance; The New England Foundation for the Arts, National Dance Project which is generously supported with lead funding from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation; New Music USA; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; a PSC-CUNY Award, jointly funded by The Professional Staff Congress and The City University of New York; The Puffin Foundation, as well as through the sponsorship of The Field; and the generosity of individuals.
The Happiness rite was developed through creative residencies with ChoreoQuest at RestorationART - Billie Holiday Theater; Dance in Process at Gibney Dance with funds provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Materials for the Arts; Norte Maar @ Socrates Sculpture Park; and Snug Harbor Cultural Center.
3 RITES: Happiness
Concept: Edisa Weeks
Choreography: Edisa Weeks in collaboration with Angel Chinn, Ashley Pierre-Louis, Brittany Grier, Devin Oshiro, EmmaGrace Skove-Epes, J’nae Simmons, Johnnie Cruise Mercer
Composer: Nathaniel Braddock
Performers: Brittany Grier, Ashley Pierre-Louis, J’nae Simmons, EmmaGrace Skove-Epes
Occidental Brothers Dance Band International: Nathaniel Braddock (Guitar, Band Leader), Greg Ward (Saxophone), Joshua Ramos (Bass Guitar), Kenneth Salters (Drums)
Costume Design: Sarita Fellows
Draping & Costume Making: Gilles Montezin
Lighting Design: Tim Cryan
Set Design/Decorations: You-Shin Chen & Edisa Weeks
Creative Producer: Marýa Wethers
Community Engagement Coordinator: Rebecca Fitton (2017-2021), Maya Simone Z. (2021 – 2023)
Creative Advisor: James Scruggs
Production Director: Violet Asmara Tafari
Illustration: Leo Jimenez
3 RITES: Happiness is a National Performance Network/Visual Artists Network (NPN/VAN) Creation & Development Fund Project co-commissioned by 651 ARTS, Mount Tremper Arts, RestorationART, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, DancePlace and NPN/VAN. 3 RITES is made possible in part through funding from the Brooklyn Arts Council; Creative Capital; Durst Organization; Harkness Foundation for Dance; The New England Foundation for the Arts, National Dance Project which is generously supported with lead funding from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation; New Music USA; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; a PSC-CUNY Award, jointly funded by The Professional Staff Congress and The City University of New York; The Puffin Foundation, as well as through the sponsorship of The Field; and the generosity of individuals.
The Happiness rite was developed through creative residencies with ChoreoQuest at RestorationART - Billie Holiday Theater; Dance in Process at Gibney Dance with funds provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Materials for the Arts; Norte Maar @ Socrates Sculpture Park; and Snug Harbor Cultural Center.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS 2023 PREMIERE
Happiness Fête & Sunbeam Coordinator
Mars Garcia
Sunbeams
Cierra Woods, Isobel Seabrook, Katherine Paola De La Cruz, Nana Nyarko, Uila Marx
FOOD
Provided by Chef Lex & Brownsville Community Culinary Center
whose culinary program provides free, world-class culinary vocational training to Brownsville residents
Menu
Butternut Squash Galette
Chicken Skewers
Crudite – carrots, celery, in season vegetables
Black Bean Hummus
Fresh Bread
Chutney
Sweat Potato Pie
Sorrel
MASSEUSE
Darryl Aiken-Afam, Iyanna Betaudier
PORTRAIT ARTISTS
Rich Soto, Tichacoco
PERSONAL MUSIC MOMENT
Nathaniel Braddock, Greg Ward, Joshua Ramos, Kenneth Salters
DELIRIOUS HAIR DESIGNS
“Hairstyles for the playful at heart”
Delirious Hair Designs creates fantastical, playful hair designs with combs, hairpins, gel, and a variety of objects
ranging from flowers to mousetraps, toothbrushes, feathers, toy soldiers and more. The objects are arranged
on a person's head to create a unique hair design that resembles a hat. Hair designs are possible on all people
whether they have long hair, short hair or are bald. No hair is ever cut.
Raffle Partners
Brownsville Community Culinary Center, Rikers Public Memory Project
Happiness Fête & Sunbeam Coordinator
Mars Garcia
Sunbeams
Cierra Woods, Isobel Seabrook, Katherine Paola De La Cruz, Nana Nyarko, Uila Marx
FOOD
Provided by Chef Lex & Brownsville Community Culinary Center
whose culinary program provides free, world-class culinary vocational training to Brownsville residents
Menu
Butternut Squash Galette
Chicken Skewers
Crudite – carrots, celery, in season vegetables
Black Bean Hummus
Fresh Bread
Chutney
Sweat Potato Pie
Sorrel
MASSEUSE
Darryl Aiken-Afam, Iyanna Betaudier
PORTRAIT ARTISTS
Rich Soto, Tichacoco
PERSONAL MUSIC MOMENT
Nathaniel Braddock, Greg Ward, Joshua Ramos, Kenneth Salters
DELIRIOUS HAIR DESIGNS
“Hairstyles for the playful at heart”
Delirious Hair Designs creates fantastical, playful hair designs with combs, hairpins, gel, and a variety of objects
ranging from flowers to mousetraps, toothbrushes, feathers, toy soldiers and more. The objects are arranged
on a person's head to create a unique hair design that resembles a hat. Hair designs are possible on all people
whether they have long hair, short hair or are bald. No hair is ever cut.
Raffle Partners
Brownsville Community Culinary Center, Rikers Public Memory Project
The Burning of Unhappiness
"We can't always control the outcomes in life, however we can control how we respond."
During the happiness rite at Weeksville Heritage Center in November 2023, guests were invited to
write down and then skewer on a knitting needle what makes them unhappy. The final act of the happiness ritual
involved the burning and letting go of the unhappiness; and then composting the ashes. May we rise-up from the ashes
to embrace our capacity for change, rejuvenation, and doing the work to create a just, equitable, and healthy society and world.
You can watch a video of the burning here.
"We can't always control the outcomes in life, however we can control how we respond."
During the happiness rite at Weeksville Heritage Center in November 2023, guests were invited to
write down and then skewer on a knitting needle what makes them unhappy. The final act of the happiness ritual
involved the burning and letting go of the unhappiness; and then composting the ashes. May we rise-up from the ashes
to embrace our capacity for change, rejuvenation, and doing the work to create a just, equitable, and healthy society and world.
You can watch a video of the burning here.
DELIRIOUS HAIR DESIGNS IMAGES
