“joyUS justUS” is an evening length participatory Activist Dance Theater experience that takes on joy as the ultimate expression of resistance. Whenever humans have survived immense hardship and injustice, prevailing with their humanity intact, the presence of joy or, the knowingness and celebration of our true beauty and power has always been at the root. “joyUS justUS” reclaims the dominant deficit based narrative of people of color in this country as being underprivileged, voiceless, powerless, and victimized, and flips it on its head by embodying stories of joy collected from communities of color in South Los Angeles. The stories shared in this work are personal truths about the power of hope, faith, and family, the strength of the villages that have raised our children and the wealth that lives in our collective histories of struggle and resistance.
These truths are embodied through the technically rigorous social dance forms that were born out of these experiences, that are at the root of our company’s Urban Latin Dance technique, and that are the physical embodiment of that most powerful, healing joy. Through the conversations with South LA communities, retelling our stories through movement on the concert stage, inviting audiences locally and nationally to actively participate in what they’re experiencing on the stage, and continuing to engage broader audiences in the telling of their own truths, we are creating spaces of joy and healing, allowing the collective “us” to feel more connected, loved, powerful, and alive.
"joyUS justUS" was a deeply collaborative effort. Conceived and directed by Ana Maria Alvarez the piece includes choreograph by Alvarez and each company member who contributed their unique ideas and richly diverse movement styles, music by Las Cafeteras, whose powerful East L.A. sound and socio-political message closely compliment our own, d. Sabela grimes, whose soundprints were the heartbeat of Agua Furiosa, Charlese Antoinette, whose costumes help our dancers radiate joy and power, Emily Orling whose altar quilts create a beautifully sacred visual environment and Tuce Yasak, whose technical direction has literally brought light to so many of our stages.
"joyUS justUS" could not have be created without the generous support of the following: The James Irvine Foundation, Mapfund, Doris Duke Foundation/DanceUSA, New England Foundation for the Arts, National Association of Latino Arts and Culture, California Arts Council, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, L.A. Department of Cultural Affairs, and Ordway Center for the Performing Arts who generously commissioned the work.
Read the Artistic Director’s note here.
CREDITS:
Conceived and Directed by Ana Maria Alvarez
Choreographed by Ana Maria Alvarez, Isis Avalos, Christopher Cuenza, Jannet Galdamez, Samad Raheem Guerra, Bianca Medina, Jasmine Stanley, Diana Toledo, Shantel Ureña
Text written by Samad Raheem Guerra (Water Creation Story, Court Scene, Reframing Justice, Miranda Rights to Happiness), Diana Toledo (joyUS Thanksgiving Address, Mama Rueda Story), Isis Avalos (Miranda Rights to Happiness), Ana Maria Alvarez (joyUS Thanksgiving address, Luca Story, Justice Run, Miranda Rights to Happiness), Angela Davis (Justice Run)
Sound archiving and design by d. sabela grimes
Original Music by d. sabela grimes, Las Cafeteras, "Ionkwanoronhkwa Ohneka" or the Water Song sung by Daniel J. French Written by Bear Fox
Music sampled and inspired by Bukom Mashie by Oscar Sulley & The Uhuru Dance Band The Tendencies That Work Against Being Free - Interview with Mooji, Toro Mata (Afro-Peruvian Lamento Negro), Baiana (CloZee Remix) by Barbatuques, La Diaspora by Nitty Scott feat. Zap Mama, This Land by Woodie Guthrie
Lighting Design by Tuce Yasak
Visual Design/Altar Quilts by Emily Orling
Costume Design by Charlese Antoinette
Dramaturgy and Theatrical support by Daniel Penilla
Events
joyUS justUS @ Queens University
booking
SOPHIE MYRTIL-MCCOURTY
LOTUS ARTS MANAGEMENT
347 721-8724 SOPHIE@LOTUSARTSMGMt.COM
press
"The dancing was superb, the music outstanding and the message was potent, timely and positive."
”In times when violence, hatred, and bigotry have become the norm, Alvarez proposes a different way to resist in her performance — not with anger, but with happiness.”
“La pieza que traen a Miami en su segundo estreno mundial es joyUS justUS, y enfoca los temas del prejuicio racial y la justicia social para los inmigrantes latinos. El título quiere decir Alégranos, danos felicidad, danos justicia.”
“Contra-Tiempo’s new work joyUS justUS is exuberant, activist dance-theater.”
Joy as revolution is a much-needed antidote to the times we live in, and “joyUS justUS” promises to be about as much fun as you can legally have."
"Justice & joy united by CONTRA-TIEMPO"
"CONTRA-TIEMPO Fights Injustice with Joy"
"joyUS justUS upends conventional notions of minority communities in the United States, offering stories of hope, faith, family, and joy"
COMMUNITY VOICES
“When I was young, I had lots of hope; a copious amount of hope in ‘reserve’… As I have aged, my reserve of hope has been significantly diminished. Participating in CONTRA-TIEMPO (joyUS justUS) replenished my hope and went a long way to restore my faith in the humanity of mankind.”
- Community Member from the joyUS justUS Community Altar
"It was beautifully danced, designed, and directed, and such a wonderful embodiment of community, joy, resilience, resistance, humanity, and hope."
-Daria Yudacufski, Executive Director of USC Visions and Voices
“Thank you for the PROFOUND AND JOYOUS experience you and all your exceptional dancers and team shared with us and our communities! You filled our hearts and souls beyond measure.”
-Sharon Moore, Director of NC State LIVE
"What most impressed me with CONTRA-TIEMPO was their desire to connect authentically with community, both in workshops as well as in their stage performance. Our community knew that they were important to the company and, as a result, they came out to support their engagement at the Ordway."
- Shelley Quiala, Director of Arts Education and Engagement, Ordway Center
"What an incredible sight to see over 300 teenagers completely engaged for over and hour and a half! The choreography was brilliant, the dancing was incredible and your interaction with the students was exemplary."
- Emily Mahon, Skirball Cultural Center
“Four months following the performance and I can still feel the profound and visceral emotions of that evening in our theatre. At the end of joyUS justUS, the audience was invited to the stage for a Community Get Down. Watching a sea of people (young and old – brown, black and white) share the powerful bond of music and dance with each other with such abandonment and joy.......I became a firm believer in Ana Maria’s quest to change the world through dance.”
-Sharon Moore, NCSU
THANK you TO OUR FUNDERS
"joyUS justUS" could not have been created without the generous support of the following: The James Irvine Foundation, Mapfund, Doris Duke Foundation/DanceUSA, New England Foundation for the Arts, National Association of Latino Arts and Culture, California Arts Council, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, L.A. Department of Cultural Affairs, and Ordway Center for the Performing Arts who generously commissioned the work.