Join us for an in-depth conversation with Bessie Award Winner, dancer, choreographer, educator, and Tradition-bearer of Black American Social Dance, LaTasha Barnes. Programmed as part of LaTasha Barnes’ residency at The Church, the conversation focused on the development of Barnes’ most recent project, The Jazz Continuum, which premiered at the Joyce Theatre in Fall 22.

The Jazz Continuum centers the prolific artistry of Jazz music and dance as a cornerstone of Black American dance forms. Through this project, LaTasha Barnes and her cast of masterful dancers and musicians embody, amplify, and showcase the power of Jazz dance and Lindy Hop to their personal dance journeys and the artform as a global phenomenon. Barnes reaches back nearly 100 years, making the connection between the dances that sprang from America’s Black jazz music to today’s house and hip hop dance vernacular. Each performer embodies their personal dance and music journeys, investigating the energetic and generative relationships within Jazz and Lindy Hop as they share their imaginings of its reapplication.

The conversation was be moderated by The Jazz Continuum’s costume director, Mary Jane Marcasiano. Collaborator Reyna Nunez and other members of the project also join in the conversation.

Behind the Work is an ongoing series at Guild Hall that brings together performing arts collaborators for an open dialogue on the creative process and development of new works. This iteration of the series was presented with The Church as part of Guild Hall’s 2022 OFF-SITE Season. Behind the Work is co-produced with Mary Jane Marcasiano.

https://www.guildhall.org/