Ever wanted a dance party for activists, visionaries, movers and shakers? Ever wondered why our progressive communities are so divided… by cause, by race, by age? Ever seen how dance and music can bring people together in new ways… activists and dancers, massage therapists and anti-capitalists?
If so, ○ Movement ○ is for you!
* The Vision *
○ Movement ○ is a recurring dance gathering dedicated to inclusion, connection, activation, and transformation. It is a space that brings together diverse local artists, people who like to dance and express, and nonprofits that work every day to defend the rights of marginalized communities. Ultimately, Movement is a supportive, nurturing environment where people of all backgrounds can unite in healing and in hope.
This will be the second event in the Movement series and the first one here in Oakland.
* The Theme of this Event * — Resisting Prisons, Supporting Freedom.
How do we play our part in ending mass incarceration and the systematic oppression of communities of color? Even though this is a dance party–not a conference–you will have a chance to meet some amazing folks, get honest and get real. The movement of our bodies (the dance part) opens up space for the movement within (the healing part) and supports our collective movement toward a better future (the donation part).
* All Proceeds * — Go to two local nonprofits that support incarcerated and formerly incarcerated folks.
Tickets will be available at the door sliding scale $10-$30. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. All proceeds will go to the two reentry nonprofits.
Prison Reentry Network – http://www.prisonerreentrynetwork.org/- who will use the money we raise to finish and distribute parole manuals to hundreds of prisoners across the state.
California Reentry Institute – http://californiareentryinstitute.org/ – who will use the money toward providing housing and job training to men coming out of San Quentin prison.
They will send reps to the event so that you can meet them and hear about their work.
* The Flow of the Evening *
8pm – doors open, arrive early to make sure you get a ticket
8:30pm – “Create Your Own Meditation” – a workshop about sound and healing, led by Nekia Wright
9:30pm – opening circle (an opportunity to drop in, fully arrive into the space and hear from the orgs), followed by a secret performance
10:00pm – live music by Na’im Nete-sie Abdul Aziz, aka Någå∞Någåm∈(m)
10:45pm – a full-on dance party to the music of DJ Noetik the Alchemist
* The Performers *
— Nekia Wright —
Nekia is an incredible artist, musician, performer, activist who uses sound as a portal to deep healing. She specializes in flute and singing bowls, and helps people create their own sound meditations. There is so much more to be said about Nekia…
After over a decade of teaching around the world in Washington DC, Guatemala, Panama, and Australia she chose to pursue a career as a facilitator of healing via music. She is a self taught musician, visual artist, and performance artist. She facilitates the YMCA’s first Sound Massage and Meditation Group in San Francisco and was recently featured in two documentaries including, Kestrin Pantera’s Lives of Women and Erin Kokdil’s Sound Healing Process. Her most recent performance was a self-written piece for Jovelyn Richards’ Strip Down to Story. She also performed the accompanying music for the dramatic performances. She performs regularly here in the bay area for local events and fundraisers. Check out her upcoming performances on KPFA’s Cover to Cover with Jovelyn Richards Weds, June 21st @ 3:30p and at The Marsh on July 17th and and July 31st!
Check out her music @ https://soundcloud.com/nekiaiken
— Någå∞Någåm∈(m) —
Born in St. Louis Missouri to a Liberian father and African-American mother, Någå grew up connected to two cultures and developed a love for music at a young age. He is trained in auxiliary percussion and classical voice, and is also a self-taught guitarist and songwriter. Någå has created a vocal style reminiscent of John Legend, Ceelo Green, Wyclef Jean, Erykah Badu, and Lauryn Hill – delivering dynamically powerful vocal performances over sweet and simple acoustic guitar melodies. Någå presented “Why am I” written during the height of the protests ignited by the police shootings in Ferguson, MO. After moving to Los Angeles in 2012 Någå set out to “fine tune” his creative form, producing a unique hip-hop oriented musical style he has dubbed “lyrical theatre.” Någå maintains active status in the mixed-medium collective: Ubiquitous Love Tribe which is based out of Santa Monica, California.
Here is a tiny sample of what he is up to – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i1WfzRrPwk.
— DJ Noetik —
\Noe-et-tik\ Music producer, instrumentalist, composer, poet, turntablist, Hip Hop dancer, and performing artist. Noetik the Alchemist began djing in 2004, studying the art of turntablism and mixing. In 2008 Noetik began his studies of audio recording and music production. Noetik was quickly drawn to beat making for lyricists and underground events. While dedicating his life to Hip Hop culture Noetik became strongly influenced by breakbeat, world music and future bass. In the process of creating new genres of music, anchored by the back bone of Hip Hop, Noetik relocated to the California Bay Area in 2010. After being submerged into West Coast Bass Music, Noetik began making music to compliment his recordings of tablas, wood winds, berimbaus and various world instruments.
Find him here – https://soundcloud.com/noetikmusic
Invite everyone in your life! It’s time for MOVEMENT.