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Spring Spotlight on ajusticenetwork | |
ajusticenetwork has some exciting projects coming up this Spring & Summer - read on for updates and get involved!
We are collaborating with Nxt Thrsdy and Brownbox Theatre, co-producing The BTMR Project which is unfolding over the next year in a multitude of new and re-imagined theatrical productions. We had the opportunity to co-direct and co-choreograph for the successful 25th Anniversary production of BLACK TO MY ROOTS: African American Tales from the Head and the Heart at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute in Seattle this past November. Now we are taking the production, along with its sister project, Hair's Breath, to Edinburgh, Scotland for the Festival Fringe this August!
Another exciting project we are co-producing next month is in collaboration with Nava Bastani-Sarracino and Dramaforachange out of Anchorage, Alaska, bringing the theater production, When The Moment Comes to Seattle for a 3-show run, June 19-21st! See below for details and link to get tickets! Each performance will be followed by a Q&A led by journalist John Sharify with special guest, Ruhi Jahanpour.
Join us on June 1st to hear excerpts from MWEUSI MPAKA MZIZI, the Swahili translation of Black To My Roots, at Inspiration Lab in Renton, Washington. Tickets are by donation - more details below.
Keep your eyes on our social media pages, and your inboxes - we have more opportunities lined up this fall for you to get involved in projects and performances with The BTMR Project and ajusticenetwork!
If you aren't able to join us for an upcoming performance, please consider donating! HUGE thank you to our donor's generous contributions thus far - you are making this dream possible! There is still time to be a part of this amazing journey by donating to help cover costs of travel, venue fees, and accommodations for our trip to Edinburgh in August!
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We are thrilled to partner with Producer and Actress Nava Bastani-Sarracino to bring this production of When The Moment Comes to Seattle next month!
When the Moment Comes is a powerful play about resilience, faith, and justice.
Touring from Anchorage, AK, DramaforaChange presents this moving production at the Rainier Arts Center, June 19-21, 2025.
Directed by Tamara Rothman the play tells the true story of Ruhi Jahanpour, an Iranian Bahá’í woman imprisoned for her beliefs after the 1979 revolution. Her journey, alongside ten cellmates executed in 1983, highlights the intersection of gender equality, religious freedom, and human rights.
Part of the global #OurStoryIsOne campaign, it honors those fighting for justice worldwide. Don’t miss this poignant reflection on courage in the face of adversity.
| | We are honored to announce that Ruhi Jahanpour will be in attendance during the run. She will be offering a Q&A after each show, led by Seattle journalist, John Sharify. | | | | Black to My Roots: African American Tales from the Head and the Heart | |
Black To My Roots, co-written by Kathya Alexander and Reneschia Brown, tells the complex, convoluted, and unique relationship Black women have with hair. A relationship that is not only an important part of our collective American history, but deeply rooted in the personal, social, and political experience of Black women in the United States, popular culture, and the world.
Join us for two upcoming fully staged performances - Saturday, June 28 2025 @ Rainier Arts Center, Seattle
If you happen to find yourself in the UK in August, come see us at The Fringe! Performance dates for the Edinburgh Fringe are Aug.11-17th at C ARTS| Aurora and tickets will be listed on the venue's website when they go on sale. Be sure to check back or watch our socials for updates!
Photos by: Jordan Somers & Justice Beitzel
| | Hair's Breath feat. Adra Boo & Blake Madden | |
Hair's Breath: Music Inspired by Black Women and Their Hair is a powerful exploration of identity, culture, and the deeply rooted significance of Black women's hair. It is an evening of music, storytelling, and live performance, delving into the social, personal, and political significance of Black
women’s hair—an emblem of beauty, identity, and cultural pride.
With dynamic performances by
Adra Boo, known for her soulful voice and unapologetic artistry, and Blake Madden, a versatile musician and composer, this collaboration promises to be an unforgettable experience that explores the intersection of art, culture, and identity.
If you find yourself in the UK in August, be sure to check them out as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe August 4-10th at theSpaceUK, tickets will be available soon and will be posted on our website, so be sure to check back!
| | Photo by: Justice Betizel | | | | |
The BMTR Project is proud to present a special English/Swahili staged reading of MWEUSI MPAKA MIZIZI the Swahili-language adaptation of Black To My Roots: African American Tales from the Head and the Heart by Kathya Alexander and Reneschia Brown.
Join us at Inspiration Lab on June 1st at 3pm for this powerful reading which aims to bring the personal, social, and political themes surrounding Black women's hair to a broader, global audience, particularly within Swahili-speaking communities across the world.
Originally produced in the United States, the play will be translated by Muso Simekha, a distinguished playwright and performer. This adaptation seeks to amplify the lived experiences of Black women while fostering deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between African-American and African diasporic identities. Through this work, we will celebrate Black women’s self-expression, identity, history, and beauty.
photo by: Justice Beitzel
Tickets (by donation) are on sale now!
| | Splinter Dance Company - Upcoming performance! | | | | |
Folklife with Moisture Festival
May 26, 4:10pm - FREE!
We are excited to be a part of the Moisture Festival Variety Show at this year's Northwest Folklife Festival! There will be magic, juggling, physical comedy, dance, a one-man band, and even Godfrey Daniels!
Catch the fun on the Fisher Green Stage, Monday, May 26th at 4:10 p.m. It’s a bite-sized blast of classic Moisture Festival magic!
Hosted by Montana Von Fliss with performances by Wren the Juggler, Harry Levine, India & Marigold, Bill Robison, Splinter Dance, Eric Haines, Vanessa Vortex, Steve the Pretty Good, Godfrey Daniels and Louie Foxx!
Photo by: Robert Falk
| | In case you missed us...here's where we've been! | | |
Event Fresh Seattle
Seattle's Event Fresh Expo this past December was a delight to participate in!
It was a fun-filled open house-style event, full of sweet and savory bites, delicious drinks, live performances and all flavors of party fun ... Abundant opportunities to unwind as you chatted with new and old friends, and basked in the joyful energy of our community.
Insiders tip, if there is an event of any sort on your horizon (a wedding, a launch or corporate party, a private party, or a nonprofit event), be sure to check out their IG page to get connected to resources!
Photos by: Diwas Photography
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2025 Moisture Festival
We had an incredible time performing at this year's Moisture Festival for our 12th year! Each year we create a new piece to share with audiences and are honored to be an ongoing part of this Seattle tradition!
Photos by: Michelle Bates & Robert Falk
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Providence Family Preview
Another favorite tradition is our annual performance to help Providence Home & Community Care raise funds for the their programs! They acheived their goal this year and raised over 1.6 million for the ministries of Providence Home and Community Care in Western Washington!
Photos by: Vivian Hsu
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Masquerade XIV and The Joy Street Orchestra
Always an incredible evening of dance and community, The Joy Street Orchestra's annual Masquerade at Century Ballroom is an event not to be missed! Following our performance, we had the opportunity to teach some disco moves and lead a Soul Train Line!
Photos by: Karen Ludwig
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Thank you always for being a part of our community!
Stay creative and inspired,
Justice and Robin
| | We believe that the arts should be accessible to the community and inspire diverse and meaningful collaboration. | | | | |
