Welcome to McKoy Dance Project’s hub of everything MDP. This is our monthly newsletter that will allow you to stay in contact with MDP throughout the year, giving you advance notice of all company events and programming. |
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Photo of MDP Directors and Company Dancers by Mariah Gravelin |
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Letter from the Artistic Director |
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Dear Friend,
2021-2022 is our visionary year.
Gratitude, Determination, and Hope are words that fill my heart as I reflect on McKoy Dance Project || MDP’s first complete season (2020-2021). Despite the challenges of the past year and a half, the company created some beautiful, invested, and authentic works. This allowed us to employ numerous dedicated artists of different mediums for various opportunities. We were able to inspire through both live and virtual programming, including film.
MDP is a dream being realized sooner than I expected. I did not think I would have a company for another 10 years. I had spent time reflecting on my identity as a Black queer person, while simultaneously experiencing the lack of representation. Our communities lack substantial content that adequately reflects the experience of those most marginalized in our society. MDP answers this call by providing safe platforms that are well equipped to support, fund, and discuss our individual and collective narratives through dance. We proudly uphold our values as they guide us in our mission: Authenticity, Integrity, Community, Equity, and Fun.
As we continue to build programming, I cannot thank our peers, friends, family, and supporters enough for your belief in our mission. We promise to continue fighting for visibility, representation, and all of our voices. Join McKoy Dance Project || MDP as we embark on a journey of healing and communion. I warmly invite you and I welcome you to be a member of our growing family. We will accomplish many great things together.
With Love and Light,
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Derick McKoy, Jr.
Founder and Executive Artistic Director
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Founder and Executive Artistic Director
Derick McKoy, Jr. (He/him) originally from Miami, Florida, is a graduate Glorya Kaufman BFA Scholar of the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program in Dance. Derick started his official training under Luctricia Welters and after a year...
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Associate Artistic Director
Mikaela S. Brandon (She/her), originally from Warren, NJ, is a freelance artist, dancer, and choreographer. She began formal dance training at the age of three at Washington Rock Dance under the mentorship of Cleo Mack...
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Photo of Derick McKoy, Jr. by Mariah Gravelin
Photo of Mikaela S. Brandon by Natalia Roberts
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Reflecting on Past Season Accomplishments |
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These Stars Are Something Heavy Premieres!
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McKoy Dance Project || MDP’s first year kicked off with the creation of a feature film, These Stars Are Something Heavy. The film grew out of our experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and our illuminated relationship with ourselves as marginalized bodies in space. So much of our lives revolved around the news and the troubled sociopolitical landscape. The film was choreographed as a way to highlight and move through these collective pains and traumas.
These Stars Are Something Heavy seeks to display the ever-present irony in our nation's pledge of allegiance. Our country was founded on one principle, "liberty and justice for all", which has continued to exist in contrast with the United States' historical events. On the surface, it seems like a simple and guaranteed right, but history has proven otherwise with the blood memories of those who have lived before us. Our symbols and images that claim freedom weigh heavily on our spirits when our words do not meet our actions. This film explores the stories of various individuals and how they navigate this pervasive truth in their lives. The music was composed by Kris Bowers, Valgeir Sigurdsson, and JR Stitt.
The company hired five dancers: Maya Addie, Mika Greene, Alex Haquia, Christopher Taylor, and Rachel Yoo for a four-week rehearsal process, beginning on Zoom and finishing in person, strictly following all CDC and Health/Safety Guidelines. The film premiered on Friday, April 16th, 2021 on YouTube and was followed by a post-premiere discussion, moderated by Joy-Marie Thompson.
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World Premiere of Hush at the Nimbus Arts Festival
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On Saturday, May 22nd, 2021 at 2pm ET, McKoy Dance Project || MDP performed Hush in Nimbus Arts Festival as a culmination of a five-week residency with the Nimbus Arts Center in Jersey City, NJ. Four dancers were hired: Shaina McGregor, Sara Erickson, Gianna Theodore, and MDP’s own AAD, Mikaela S. Brandon. The company was able to rehearse in person, strictly following all CDC and Health/Safety Guidelines.
Hush is a dynamically empowering and electrifying work that features four dancers as they navigate through the lives of Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, Rosa Parks, and Alice Paul. Set to music by Sons of Kemet, and choreographed by Derick McKoy, Jr, Hush discusses themes of freedom, equality, and an individual’s potential for greatness. These iconic historical figures helped shape a strong legacy that forever altered the country, affecting many futures to come. This work honors their contributions. Some of the costumes were created by Erica Johnston.
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MDP performs on Juneteenth at the Jamaica Dance Festival! |
A few weeks following the JC residency and performance, McKoy Dance Project || MDP was invited to perform in Jamaica Dance Festival at Rufus King Park in Jamaica, NY on Juneteenth (Saturday, June 19th, 2021 at 7pm ET). The historic and celebratory festival, hosted by Greg Mays, spanned four weeks, including a variety of different company and solo performances. We felt honored to perform Hush once more on the momentous occasion of Juneteenth. *See above for the full description of Hush.
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Please consider making a contribution and joining us in our mission! |
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If the company has touched you in any way, we hope you would consider making a tax-deductible donation to support and uplift our mission during our Visionary Year (2021-2022). Make your impactful contribution through the link below.
If you haven't already, please Like McKoy Dance Project on Facebook and Follow @mckoydanceproject on Instagram for direct access to exciting content created for your viewing!
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McKoy Dance Project || MDP
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