The Liberation Academy 1.0 was held January – June 2022.
We are thrilled to announced that LIBERATION ACADEMY 2.0 is happening from August 2023-February 2024!
ABOUT THE LIBERATION ACADEMY
The Liberation Academy was conceived to restore the intellectual scholarship, spiritual wisdom and creative richness which resides historically in Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color collective oral and underground traditions.
In these critical times we will use our critical theories to rescue ourselves as critically vital to our healing, survival and skill building towards Liberation. We choose to intersect all the siloed knowledge-based projects (ethnic studies/ feminism/ gender/ housing/ medicine) based in resistance movements begun in the 20th Century and revive them as critical (vital and necessary) collaborations. Yes WE WILL BE CRITICAL – as in critical to each other’s freedom, well-being and survival.
The Liberation Academy:
- asserts that Black and other artists/creatives of color exist as architects of wisdom and world building
- reclaims the idea of scholarship and wisdom
- dismantles the idea that if it’s not written down, it’s not real
- seeks to decolonize ideas and bodies
- uplifts Black and other artists of color across time as crucial to social justice movements
- sees dance as a metaphor for navigating the world
- sees rhythm and movement as a metaphor for coming into synch with one another
ABOUT LIBERATION ACADEMY 2.0
Liberation Academy 2.0 is a FREE series of workshops and intensive training to uplift BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) dancers and additional mentorship for dance makers of Afro-descent dedicated to freedom. It includes an intensive dance training and mentorship experience for Dance Makers of Afro-descent, a free series of workshops to uplift BIPOC dancers, and select free workshops for all dancers.
Liberation Academy 2.0 offers three tracks:
- A free INTENSIVE EXPERIENCE open to dance artists of Afro-descent to give tools and a platform to create and produce powerful performance work. The intensive experience is by AUDITION ONLY. Audition happens on Saturday, August 26 at Dance Mission Theater. To sign up for the audition, please email Sarah Crowell at sarahcrowell65@gmail.com and prepare one minute of movement.
- A free series of in-person MASTER DANCE CLASSES and online workshops open to all BIPOC movers.
- A free series of select WORKSHOPS OPEN TO EVERYONE.
LIBERATION ACADEMY INTENSIVE:
- In-person dance master classes with African and African American dancers/choreographers
- In-person and online workshops with African and African American designers (lights, sound and stage management)
- Online African and African American dance history classes
- Rehearsal space and mentorship to create dance works
- Platform for performing dance works
DANCE MASTER CLASSES:
- In-person dance master classes with African and African American dancers/choreographers.
WORKSHOPS OPEN TO EVERYONE:
- An in-person workshop and an online offering for anyone interested in participating
WHAT IS THE COMMITMENT?
The Liberation Academy organizers understand that removing the obstacles to our freedom requires discipline and commitment. Therefore, in order to take part in the LIBERATION ACADEMY INTENSIVE for dance makers of Afro-descent, participants must commit to attending ALL Liberation Academy in-person and online classes, workshops, choreography showings and showcases. Other Liberation Academy events (other than the Liberation Academy Intensive can be attended on a drop-in basis).
HOW TO PARTICIPATE?
The Liberation Academy sessions are free. Different workshops are open to either everyone, BIPOC or dancers of Afro-descent (please see the designation in the description). The session are available on a drop-in basis. Please note that Liberation Academy Intensive members must be of Afro-descent and must be able to commit to the entire series. To participate, you must attend an audition on Saturday, August 26 at Dance Mission Theater. To sign up to audition, please email Sarah Crowell at sarahcrowell65@gmail.com and prepare one minute of movement.
- FOR THE FULL SCHEDULE, please click here
- FOR LIBERATION ACADEMY TEAM BIOS, please click here.
The Liberation Academy is made possible by support from the SF Arts Commission and Dream Keepers Initiative.
