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CALABASH – 15 minutes
A choreographic dance and live percussion narrative on how African-diasporic communities engage in everyday social relationships with their vessels. Inspiration centers on the transatlantic connections of the calabash to gather, contain, transport, and transcend offerings that communicate sacred purposes for African and Caribbean communities, in the conversation of local food sovereignty. Research, dance choreography and performer: Collette 'Coco' Murray Visual/Videography: Collette Murray and SQuire Media Elder/Griot (storyteller): Kwanza Msingwana Musical Composition: Sherwin Charles, Kimberley Charles, Kobèna Acquaa-Harrison, Nicole Powlette, Christian Powlette TECH RIDER: projection of video in background for the opening, 4 chairs, wireless mics for two artists, mics for projection of balafon, bolon and dunun |
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Curatorial Arts Programming/ Community Engagement
Coco Collective’s artistic director curates programs and audience engagement activity to invite the community to be a part of the Calabash experience. With international recognition as the 2023 National Dance Education Organization’s Outstanding Leadership Award in Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Toronto Arts Foundation’s 2019 Community Arts Award recipient, Collette ‘Coco’ Murray equitably transforms spaces for diverse communities to access dance, arts and culture through her creative programming lens. For example, Coco Collective curated and led a dancing, call and response tour with live rhythms through the Gardiner Museum exhibition to decolonize how audiences interact with the African artwork displayed in a museum space. A curated community engagement can be booked in addition to Calabash, for presenters and touring spaces. |
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FB/IG: @cococollectiveto X: @cococollective_
Email: [email protected]
www.misscocomurray.com/cococollective.html
Artistic Director: Collette ‘Coco’ Murray
Collette Murray is a multi-award-winning artist-scholar, cultural arts programmer, dance educator and arts consultant. Murray pursues a PhD in Dance Studies at York University’s School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design. Murray holds a Master of Education and Specialized Honours BA in Race, Ethnicity and Indigeneity from York University, along with a BA in Sociology from University of Toronto. With over 20 years in the Canadian arts sector, she specializes in Afro-diasporic dance forms from the West African region, Caribbean Folk, carnival arts and stilt-walking explorations. As an advocate for equity in the arts, her artistry extends beyond performance to teaching, arts education, mentoring, leadership, curation, community arts engagement and publications. Her artistic process is informed by her research and praxis in advancing cultural dance education, anti-racism in dance and inclusion of African diasporic arts knowledge and expressions.
Collette Murray is a multi-award-winning artist-scholar, cultural arts programmer, dance educator and arts consultant. Murray pursues a PhD in Dance Studies at York University’s School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design. Murray holds a Master of Education and Specialized Honours BA in Race, Ethnicity and Indigeneity from York University, along with a BA in Sociology from University of Toronto. With over 20 years in the Canadian arts sector, she specializes in Afro-diasporic dance forms from the West African region, Caribbean Folk, carnival arts and stilt-walking explorations. As an advocate for equity in the arts, her artistry extends beyond performance to teaching, arts education, mentoring, leadership, curation, community arts engagement and publications. Her artistic process is informed by her research and praxis in advancing cultural dance education, anti-racism in dance and inclusion of African diasporic arts knowledge and expressions.