Over fall break I caught up on my television shows and came across, The Shop. Collaborating with HBO Sports, LeBron James and Maverick Carter curate conversation with some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment about cultural issues. While watching the show I was filled with pride and hope for the future of Black people. I enjoyed seeing the gathering of individuals who influence and impact America coming together discussing the issues. The guests on the show are athletes, rappers, and comedians, so their conversations deal with the trials they face in their respective fields. 
The underlying themes of identity and community were prevalent throughout each episode. The barbershop in the Black community is a place of comfort and sanctuary to speak whatever the heart desires. This show created a safe space and I connected with that idea. As an artist I want to facilitate spaces of vulnerability that are welcoming to a plethora of ideas and issues that can be discussed. This show was a pleasure to watch and I can’t wait for the upcoming episodes.
The performance of Untamed Space by Renegade Performance Group was a melting pot of technology, music, movement, and wonder. The melodies and rhythms flowed from the music and was transported into the projections displayed on the scrim and into the bodies of the dancers. Along with responding physically to the music, the dancers created their own sounds becoming instruments themselves. Fusing the technological effects with specific songs related to spirituality and the Black culture, brought the audience into the world of Afrofuturism. The choreography of the show was based upon a series of movements that were used throughout. Pairing specific phrases with music that was complimentary enhanced the reception of the movement, while phrases that were linked to contradictory music allowed for mental contemplation and an acceptance over time. With the bulk of the movement being floor-work and using the technique of physical propulsion, the dancers filled the space and music with electric energy that resonated well after the show is over.
Davianna's Space 