"An audacious solo, unlike anything else” - Dance Tab, by Susanna Sloat “The most far out thing I’ve ever seen in my life.... A practically perfect work of political theater” - Theater Times, by Abigail Weil
Connected like a puppet to objects that have informed the Black experience in America, multi-media artist Edisa Weeks alternates between black face, white face, storytelling and visceral dance to dig into the foundations of Liberty in America. As our nation grapples with confederate monuments, Black Lives Matter, fake news and economic stratification; 3 RITES: Liberty humorously and poignantly insists on a reckoning with our past and present.
3 RITES: Liberty begins with an installation of roots made out of paper and twine that hang from the ceiling to floor. The audience moves through the roots, as if moving through the toxic underbelly of American history, to eventually meet the Liberty character (Weeks), whose hair is braided to resemble the Statue of Liberty’s crown. Each spoke of the hair crown is connected via tie-lines and pulleys to specific objects, (Bible, black dick, blonde wig, gun, lightbulb, sneakers, watermelon) that represent the Black experience in America.
CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Concept, Choreography & Performance: Edisa Weeks Text: Edisa Weeks Lecture: The Pathologizing of the African American by Psychiatry (excerpt), Gary Null Sound (may or may not happen) Blue Danube, Johann Straus, performed by Sousa Band (1912); Laughing Love, Charles Crawford; The OKeh Laughing Record, Anonymous; We All Everyone Of Us, lyrics and music by Bernice Johnson Reagon Sound Environment: Nathaniel Braddock Lighting Design: Tim Cryan Set Design: You-Shin Chen & Edisa Weeks Costume Design: Edisa Weeks Creative Advisor: James Scruggs Creative Producer: Marýa Wethers Community Engagement Coordinator: Rebecca Fitton (2017-2021), Maya Simone Z. (2021 – 2023) Root Making Assistance: Francesco Gattuso Southern Accent Coach: Nathan C. Crocker Vocal Coach: Peter Sciscioli Illustration: Leo Jimenez
3 RITES: Liberty 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 Liberty rite was developed through creative and administrative residencies with BRICLab; ChoreoQuest at RestorationART - Billie Holiday Theater; the Harlem Stage WaterWorks Emerging Artists program, which received support from the Jerome Foundation and the Mellon Foundation; Mabou Mines SUITE/Space program; Maggie Allessee National Center for Choreography; Materials for the Arts; Performance Spaces for the 21st Century; and Snug Harbor Cultural Center.
ARTICLES & REVIEWS
DELIRIOUS Dances / Edisa Weeks – 3 RITES: Liberty – New York, DanceTabs, by Susanna Sloat, January 15, 2020. Link | PDF Two Bold Shows by Women of Color at Mabou Mines, The Theatre Times, by Abigail Weil, February 9, 2019. Link | PDF THREE RITES: Liberty, An Interview with Edisa Weeks, New York Theatre Review, by Jody Christopherson, February, 2019. Link | PDF
photos: Alex Bershaw, Tucker Mitchell, nikki lee
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:
3 RITES: Liberty > March 9 & 10, 2024 > Dance Place, 3225 8th Street NE, Washington, DC 20017 > Information here 3 RITES: Liberty > April 26 & 27, 2024 > Kelly Strayhorn Theater, 5941 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206 > Information here
AFTER WORDS Immediately after the performance in the theater, we invite you to join Nicole Lavonne Smith-Johnson for a town hall style conversation to provide a moment of communal digestion, and to discuss what is resonating with you after experiencing the liberty rite.
Nicole Lavonne Smith (she/her) - Post Show Facilitator - is a Restorative Justice Consultant whose work centers racial and social justice. She provides coaching and training to organizations, institutions and communities looking to deeply embed diversity, equity and inclusion within their culture. Nicole works collaboratively with individuals, teams and staff to sustainably build capacity around rethinking systems and structures, repairing harm, and holding space for critical conversations. Building and strengthening relationships is foundational to Nicole’s philosophy and processes. Prior to her work in restorative justice, Nicole was a dedicated New York City educator for two decades. A committed advocate for culturally responsible education, Nicole holds a Masters in Urban Planning and International Development from New York University and a Bachelor in Psychology from Howard University. She resides in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and two sons.
The Promise of America: Enough Already! Exhibition of dance videos and artwork by high school students from Benjamin Banneker Academy for Community Development in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, NY. The concepts in the work were created with guidance from dance teacher Francie Johnson-Sealey and art teacher Matt Mecca. The work is an opportunity for students to reflect on issues in their community and larger society; and to use art making as a way to engage in civic dialogues. The Promise of America: Enough Already!is on display in the Mark O'Donnell Theater Lobby from October 5-22, 2023.
ARTWORK BY: Deandre Alleyne, Jairo Aparicio, Christian Ballard, JoshuaBertresse, Jonathan Bethel, Esom Cumberbatch, Alisha Cummings, Faith Deallie, Elisa Dsouza, Jehu Ermilus, Timothy Franklin, Jayden Graham, Prince Harper, Shakira Harper, Lucas Heredia, Christopher Herrera, Memorie Hinds, Andrea Joseph, Kastasia Kellman, Naima Kibria, Caleafa King, Dioncounda Kone, Brent Lyons, Maxillia Madeus, Nasir Miley Jr., Madison Milton, Niaja Moore, Isaiah Nesbitt Jr, Quamezz Nixon, Sanaa Paul, Stephanie Preston, Ameer Rozier, Zoe Scott, Nafesa Siddique, Jaazaniah Stewart, Matthew Westbrook, Khum Yuen Zheng.
DANCE VIDEOS: Earth Dance -Shakira Harper, Niya Fennel, What Crime? - Sanai Abdellah, Jaikel Alston, Chanely Acevedo, Ibrahim Bah, Payton Chervoni, Ja-Nice Cooper, Amanda Edwin, Kristian Logan, Jamyra Mccray, Zara Nazir, Stephanie Ramirez, Jazmine Salinas, Tesleemat Tesleem, Samia Thomas, Lillyanna Velez-Appling Is This My America? - Jaikel Alston, Alyssa Franklin, Ajhanae Athalia Hunter, Dale Jr Joseph, Kara Leu-Edwards, Nizmarlyn Mateo Almanzar, Medzait Nedziposki, Saphira Pacaud, Taiwo Ajibola Subuloye Our Black Lives Matter - Music Written and Performed by Deandra Regis, Dancers: Chiomoa A, Namdi, Xavier, Kiana, Angel, and Stephanie * Benjamin Banneker Academy for Community Development (BBACD) is located in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn and proudly provides a collaborative and professional learning environment where all stakeholders have a voice, students feel safe and are challenged with rigorous daily instruction in every classroom and are provided with opportunities for college access in preparation for the 21st century workplace.