Lela Aisha Jones, Assistant Professor of Dance, Works with Brownbody on MLK Day
In addition to founding and directing FlyGround, Assistant Professor of Dance Lela Aisha Jones is Associate Artistic Director for Twin Cities-based Brownbody, a Black-led arts organization that "blends modern dance, theater, social justice practice, and figure skating." Under the guiding motto, "Skate Truth to Power," Brownbody's mission is to build "artistic experiences that disrupt biased narratives and prompt audiences to engage as active participants in the journey."
Brownbody partnered with Dr. Michelle Gibbs, Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts at Illinois Wesleyan University, to produce a full day of events for IWU's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration, titled "Undoing Racism Through Creative Practice for Racial Healing." Brownbody presented virtual anti-racism and racial justice introductory workshops and discussions as well as an evening virtual performance and screenings of films of the company's past and current works. Their offering was designed and facilitated by Jones, Brownbody's Undoing Racism, Healing, Organizational Consultant Sandra Richardson, and the company's Artistic Executive Director Deneane Richburg.
Jones' guided breathing, movement, and dialogue-based session with IWU's faculty and staff, "Embodied: Centering, Presence, and Racial Consciousness," was one of several modules engaging attendees in utilizing the wisdom of the body in understanding and processing personal histories, historical realities, and current issues that relate to race and trauma caused by racial oppression.
Lela Aisha Jones is a movement performance artist, an interdisciplinary collaborator, community-grounded organizer/curator, and the founding director of Lela Aisha Jones | FlyGround, her creative research home. She earned a B.S. in health science education from the University of Florida, an M.F.A. in dance from Florida State University, and a Ph.D. from Texas Woman's University. Learn more about Jones and the rest of the program's faculty on the Dance Program page.