The Sacred, the Secular, and the Science

Choreographer: Isaiah Harris

The Michael D. Eisner Center for the Performing Arts

2024

Costume Designer: Laura Plikerd  

Lighting Designer: Abby Lynn Smith

Music: DJ Krate Digga

Dancers: Fallon Brackley, Portia Brackley, Grace Han, Cat Henning,

Ashlee Salmon, Caitlin Toohey, Abby Webster

This restaging stands at the crossroads of tradition and modernity, embarking on an explorato-

ry journey that navigates the rich tapestry of African diaspora dance - from the reverent echoes of sacred

movements to the vibrant pulses of secular rhythms. At the heart of this exploration is a deeply rooted

inquiry into the biological and wellness benefi ts engendered by engaging with an array of dance forms.

Through a lens that is both uniquely Black American and universally human, the project delves into the sa-

cred dances rooted in religious practices and the secular expressions found in Caribbean social dances and

West African diaspora movements, including the exhilarating Sabar and the spiritually resonant Orixa. The

inquiry does not stop at the mere identifi cation of these forms; it seeks to understand and articulate the

profound impact these dances can have on the physical health of the body.