As an artist, thinker, writer and educator specializing in jazz dance, Melanie George centers the West African roots of jazz dance via the historically-informed technique, Neo-Jazz, which aims to unseat the privilege of Eurocentric dominance in contemporary jazz dance. In an effort to advance recognition and awareness of this form — and all jazz dance styles and techniques, Melanie founded Jazz Is… Dance Project. In this conversation, Assistant Professor of Dance Joanna Dee Das will talk with Ms. George about the history of jazz dance and its relationship to jazz music, Ms. George's work in advocating for jazz dance as a Black aesthetic form, how the multiple hats she wears (as scholar, artist, educator, and curator) weave together, and what she sees as the future of jazz dance.

Please join us for refreshments following the talk.

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Masks are requested at this event.

Co-sponsored by the Performing Arts Department and The Divided City: An Urban Humanities Initiative