Join us for a virtual celebration for the publication of Dance We Do: A Poet Explores Black Dance on Ntozake's Shange’s birthday. Register here to attend.

Barnard College’s Shange Magic project, in collaboration with Beacon Press and the Shange Literary Trust, present a virtual launch of visionary poet and playwright Ntozake Shange's (BC '70) first posthumously published book, Dance We Do: A Poet Explores Black Dance (Beacon Press, 2020). A testament to the power of dance and the community it creates, Dance We Do features interviews with Black choreographers with whom Shange danced, studied, and celebrated. This virtual launch honors the contribution of Dance We Do to the academic field of dance study. In making space for the study of Black dance history in academia as well as outside of it, Dance We Do offers a critical examination about the history of dance in the academy.

“No graduate students came to trace the opus of these masters. So, on the internet, at the library, in the dance magazines, Black dance doesn’t exist yet." -- Ntozake Shange, Dance We Do

The launch celebration will include an introduction on the creation of the text, pre-recorded footage of dance performances; and a panel discussion with dance scholars and practitioners, including several choreographers featured in the book.

Remarks and Introductions from:

• Paul Williams

• Renee’ Charlow

• Alexis Pauline Gumbs

A panel discussion moderated by Gabri Christa, with:

• Dyane Harvey

• Dianne McIntyre

• Halifu Osumare