After the turmoil of the last two years and ongoing societal uncertainties, OKRA has been extremely fortunate to thrive as we maneuver these realities.
An NYC Artist Corps grant allowed us to premiere Roots to Rap: Evolutions of American Rhythm at Queens Theatre in October 2021, with new OKRA performers Makayla Peterson, Adante Power, and Sherrell Whitmire, along with returning Brother Brian Davis (aka Mr. Taptastic), Trashina Conner and Amy Romero.
We also joined the Brooklyn Arts Council’s (BAC) Global Rhythms program and had transformational experiences at schools in East New York, Canarsie, Bed-Stuy and Bushwick. We thank the visionary organizers at schools such as PS 328, JHS 218, PS 21, and PS 185, and the arts education leadership at BAC for this and future opportunities.
OKRA (and tap dance!) also represented formidably at the 5th bi-annual Collegium for African Diaspora Dance conference at Duke University in Durham, NC, (which OKRA Director Shireen Dickson also produces) with a performance tribute to keynote Dianne “Lady Di” Walker and a panel featuring past and present OKRA performers.
We were invited back to some favorite locales:
Makayla, Adante and Brian were back at Staten Island Head Start locations engaging and educating little people at several sites in the winter and spring. Below, photos from one February performance:
Our fourth visit to the Springfield Museums in Massachusetts included pre-show family workshops and performances over two days:
Kenilworth Public Library in New Jersey invited us in February and July for two unique variations on our shows American Dance: From Africa to Broadway and Rhythm Dances from Around the World. The shows featured veteran OKRA performers Brian Davis, Dexter Jones, OKRA Director Shireen Dickson, Abdus Sabor and Newman Taylor Baker aka Washboard XT. (We’ll be there again in June and September 2023!)
New York State Assemblyman Michael Benedetto’s first post-COVID Juneteenth event:
An expanded Pinkster show for the second year at Dyckman Farmhouse Museum in upper Manhattan – who provided us with some lovely images:
In 2022-2023, we have partnerships with a Brooklyn senior community and Young Audiences – plus an exciting announcement about OKRA’s expansion.
We look forward to dancing with you!