FLUXX (work-in-progress)
A Black woman's life has always held close the seed of spirituality. FLUẊẊ cuts into that seed as an interrogation of personal memories and those of mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers, and what it can look like to take it to the stars.
This is an embodied performance and musical journey, which creates space to capture that essence of the ultimate intergalactic BLACK nurturing, healing, leading, diva spirit in all her glory. This work-in-progress aims to capture the dissonance between the difficult internal dialogues backstage/behind closed doors, to the journey ethereal feelings, hopes, & dreams. A creation from a NEW world, where all her demise and discombobulations reveal tireless beauty and strength.
Created, choreographed, and performed by Courtney J. Cook and Tendayi Kuumba
Co-Creative Director/Music Producer: Greg Purnell
This work was created, in part, with a space grant from BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange with support from the New York State Council on the Arts, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Jerome Foundation.
General Admission: Seated
BIOS:
Courtney J. Cook is a Virginia native now residing in Brooklyn, NY. She began her formal movement training at family reunions and her home church. She later shifted to training in European-centered dance forms at Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts while continuing studies of marginalized dance forms at local night clubs. She also attended and graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University, receiving her B.F.A in Dance and Choreography. She is now a company member and BOLD facilitator with the iconic Urban Bush Women. She is also included in creative projects and works by other innovative women choreographers of color such as Maria Bauman and Marguerite Hemmings. In addition, she is currently preparing for her upcoming collaborative residency with Greg Purnell at Mount Tremper Arts. She continues learning, living, and developing her own creative voice through various forms of movement, sound, and visual arts. She is here, in the NOW, and she is beyond grateful.
Tendayi Kuumba, currently a touring company member of Urban Bush Women and backup singer/dancer of David Byrne’s “American Utopia” world tour, she is a graduate of North Atlanta High School of Performing Arts and Spelman College. One of Dance Magazine’s “7 Black Artists to keep on your radar in 2018,” Tendayi has also been an artist-in-residence at the Czech Center of NY and has internationally toured solo work in collaboration with musician Lenka Dusilova as a premiered artists for the “Prague Effect.” She’s worked with The Illustrious Blacks, Marjani Forte’, ASE Dance Theater Collective, & Axam Dance Theater Experience on and off since 2012. Other past works include T. Lang Dance, Liberata Dance Theater, Nathan Trice/ Rituals Performance Project “StrangeLove,” Laurie Taylor/ Soul Movement, & Jim Findlay’s “Electric Lucifer.” Tendayi released an EP Just A Matter of Time in 2016 with the Gerry Eastman Quartet, whom she has performed regularly with as a resident jazz vocalist at the Williamsburg Music Center in Brooklyn, NY, as well as various NYC music venues. In addition, Tendayi tours among the cast of Philadelphia Opera’s We Shall Not Be Moved, directed Bill T. Jones. Following the success of the released single “Incog-negro,” Tendayi and artistic partner Greg Purnell are in the process of completing their long awaited EP.
Together they are FLUẊẊ and give thanks and blessings for life, love, breath, and the pursuit of happiness.
Venue Information:
The intimate, flexible studio space within BRIC House is dedicated to emerging and mid-career artists, with an audience capacity of 50-75 for rehearsals and performances in a workshop setting.
Beginning Nov. 1, 2022, attendees of any BRIC House programming will no longer have to show proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter the building. Masks are encouraged but not required in all BRIC operated spaces. If you have questions regarding this protocol, please email Safety@bricartsmedia.org