Our final episode of the podcast is a conversation between co-creators Raja Feather Kelly and Yolanda Wisher on the eve of the final show, reflecting on the culmination of their vision for the world premiere of The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance. They highlight unforgettable moments in the premiere at Christ Church Neighborhood House and share what surprised them, what left them shook, and what lies ahead. Take a listen.

This podcast is produced by Dr. Bruce Campbell Jr. with V. Shayne Frederick, Nia Benjamin and Yolanda Wisher for Journey Arts. For more information about the podcast and project, visit https://reemancipatedance.org/.

Theme music courtesy of Deep Black Society, you can find them on Instagram: @therealdotmatic.

The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. The views expressed are those of the artists and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, or The Pew Charitable Trusts. 

In this episode, we chat with the cast of the Re-Emancipation of Social Dance show about their process of devising their individual sections of the show. Initiated by prompts from Raja, the dancers sit down together after their first rehearsal in early 2024 and reflect on their creative process thus far. Germaine gets into the musical inspirations behind her set, and Metal and Lela get into what they’re going to wear. Nikki talks about how her father influenced the piece she’s working on, and Ra talks about doing something nasty. So take a listen. 

This podcast is produced by Dr. Bruce Campbell Jr. with V. Shayne Frederick, Nia Benjamin and Yolanda Wisher for Journey Arts. For more information about the podcast and project, visit https://reemancipatedance.org/.

Theme music courtesy of Deep Black Society, you can find them on Instagram: @therealdotmatic.

The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. The views expressed are those of the artists and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, or The Pew Charitable Trusts. 

In this episode, host Raja Feather Kelly talks with Vitche-Boul Ra, a self-described transhumanist and folk theurgist. Coming from a background in sculpture, Ra's practice as a choreographer and dancer involves pulling things apart, putting things back together, and making something out of nothing. In this episode, Ra and Raja ponder questions like: What is a body? What is dance? And what does it mean to want to rip those definitions apart? Listen in.

This podcast is produced by Dr. Bruce Campbell Jr. with V. Shayne Frederick, Nia Benjamin and Yolanda Wisher for Journey Arts. For more information about the podcast and project, visit https://reemancipatedance.org/.

Theme music courtesy of Deep Black Society, you can find them on Instagram: @therealdotmatic.

The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. The views expressed are those of the artists and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, or The Pew Charitable Trusts. 

This week we're joined by poet, performer, dancer and educator Nikki Powerhouse and Mark Wong aka Metal, a breaker, teaching artist and arts administrator. Nikki and Mark sit down to discuss how Philly's nightlife scene has fed their practice as dancers. From house clubs and queer spaces like The Nile to break dance battles at events like West Philly's The Gathering, Nikki and Mark trace their nonlinear languages as dancers through these vital community spaces. They discuss what it means to be trained vs. untrained, and what drives them to continue growing as dancers. Through their individual journeys, they've given themselves permission to be free...and want to inspire others to do the same. So listen in. 

This podcast is produced by Dr. Bruce Campbell Jr. with V. Shayne Frederick, Nia Benjamin and Yolanda Wisher for Journey Arts. For more information about the podcast and project, visit https://reemancipatedance.org/.

Theme music courtesy of Deep Black Society, you can find them on Instagram: @therealdotmatic.

The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. The views expressed are those of the artists and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, or The Pew Charitable Trusts. 

Lela Aisha Jones is a movement performance artist, community-based curator/organizer, inter-arts interdisciplinary collaborator, and embodied researcher. Lela, Raja and Yolanda first collided in divine order during a brunch in Philadelphia. Now a member of The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance ensemble, Lela talks about coming to Philly via New York to do Afro-Brazilian dance. She talks with Raja about being a witness, the struggle to find freedom in academia, the embodied work of Yoruba and African spiritual practice, and dancing with a changing body, and so much more. Take a listen. 

This podcast is produced by Dr. Bruce Campbell Jr. with V. Shayne Frederick, Nia Benjamin and Yolanda Wisher for Journey Arts. For more information about the podcast and project, visit https://reemancipatedance.org/.

Theme music courtesy of Deep Black Society, you can find them on Instagram: @therealdotmatic.

The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. The views expressed are those of the artists and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, or The Pew Charitable Trusts. 

“Recovered” lawyer, archivist, choreographer, and dancer, Germaine Ingram is a cultural force in Philadelphia. Germaine was involved with ODUNDE’s Hucklebuck to Hip Hop African American Social Dance project in the 1990s, a critical reference for The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance. 

Now in her seventies, Germaine takes listeners through the lineage of social dance in Philadelphia, recounts her childhood run-in with celebrity preacher of the 1930s to 50s Daddy Grace, and discusses what is required to lay the groundwork for younger artists and culture bearers. Listen in. 

This podcast is produced by Dr. Bruce Campbell Jr. with V. Shayne Frederick, Nia Benjamin and Yolanda Wisher for Journey Arts. For more information about the podcast and project, visit https://reemancipatedance.org/.

Theme music courtesy of Deep Black Society, you can find them on Instagram: @therealdotmatic.

The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. The views expressed are those of the artists and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, or The Pew Charitable Trusts. 

Where did the idea for The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance come from? 
This episode is a behind the scenes dip into archival audio from “day one” of the project. Co-creators Raja Feather Kelly and Yolanda Wisher sit down to discuss why Philadelphia is a special case study when it comes to social dance. The two artists talk about what it means to practice freedom, and how they can make a performance that gives audiences an opportunity to see how culture is made in the moment.

This podcast is produced by Dr. Bruce Campbell Jr. with V. Shayne Frederick, Nia Benjamin and Yolanda Wisher for Journey Arts. For more information about the podcast and project, visit https://reemancipatedance.org/.

Theme music courtesy of Deep Black Society, you can find them on Instagram: @therealdotmatic.

The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. The views expressed are those of the artists and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, or The Pew Charitable Trusts. 

Welcome to The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance podcast, a prelude to the world premiere of an immersive dance-theater experience created by renowned choreographer and director Raja Feather Kelly, with Philadelphia’s finest poet, Yolanda Wisher. Listen in as 5 multifaceted dancers tell the evolving story of social dance and the impact that it’s had on the people and cultures of Philadelphia.

Featuring artists Germaine Ingram, Lela Aisha Jones, Nikki Powerhouse, Vitche-Boul Ra, and Mark Wong, this is one house party you won't want to miss. Now come on in, and let’s move.

Buy tickets to the Re-Emancipation of Social Dance live show, here.

This podcast is produced by Dr. Bruce Campbell Jr. with V. Shayne Frederick, Nia Benjamin and Yolanda Wisher for Journey Arts. For more information about the podcast and project, visit https://reemancipatedance.org/.

Theme music courtesy of Deep Black Society, you can find them on Instagram: @therealdotmatic.

The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. The views expressed are those of the artists and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, or The Pew Charitable Trusts.