Marc Bamuthi Joseph Artist Residency with NC State LIVE | Spring 2018

“Marc Bamuthi Joseph belongs to a rare breed of artists who can kindle political and cultural awareness while delivering a highly entertaining performance.” – The Philadelphia Inquirer

A favorite on NC State LIVE’s stage and across the globe, writer/performer Marc Bamuthi Joseph has garnered countless awards and critical acclaim for his passionate productions that seamlessly weave spoken word, contemporary movement and hip-hop (most recently he was selected as a prestigious TEDGlobal 2017 Fellow and Dance Magazine named him one of “The Most Influential People in Dance Today.”). Joseph is at it again. With /peh-LO-tah/, he pairs soccer with performance to create a powerful effect. Camaraderie, pride and tradition across cultures are all in play.

Inspired by memories of playing soccer growing up, Joseph draws on his experiences as a child of Haitian immigrants. The multimedia work, developed with and directed by Michael John Garcés and choreographed by Stacey Printz, chronicles Joseph’s travels to World Cups in South Africa and Brazil. Choreography inspired by soccer technique complements the musical narratives performed live in English and Portuguese. Performers are accompanied by original music composed by Tommy Shepherd with selected vocal arrangements by Yaw Agyeman of the Black Monks of Mississippi, altogether creating an action-packed meditation on freedom and citizenship with “the beautiful game” at its core.

Beyond the Stage

In residence with NC State LIVE from March 23-28, 2018, Marc Bamuthi Joseph and the Living Word Project engaged with the community in many different ways including:

MOVING & PASSING
Saturday, March 24, 2018
At St. David’s Soccer Fields
In partnership with with Futbol 4 All, Wake Futbol Club, the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Juntos, and the NC State Crafts Center – NC State LIVE and Marc Bamuthi Joseph teamed up to offer a free day of soccer clinics, site-specific performances (by Sube Ritmo, Helping Hand Mission Marching Band, and the cast of /peh-LO-tah/), and art-making for immigrant and refugee youth and their families. This free event was a celebration of soccer and culture without borders.

CONVERSATION WITH THE BLACK MALE INITIATIVE VILLAGE
Sunday, March 25, 2018
In an intimate conversation with NC State students who live in the Black Male Initiative Village, Marc Bamuthi Joseph shared the story of his life as a poet, performer, soccer player, father and black male. He challenged the young men to consider how systems that perpetuate hate and greed might be replaced by those that embrace love and generosity.

CREATION & MOVEMENT WORKSHOP
Sunday, March 25, 2018
In this workshop with the /peh-LO-tah/ cast, NC State students explored how to create works collaboratively and embrace social justice. The students were led through an obstacle course of artistic collaboration, using the choreography, literary, movement-based, and musical elements that form the structure of /peh-LO-tah/.

THE ARTS AND SPORTS AS A VEHICLE FOR ACTIVISM IN EDUCATION
Monday, March 26, 2018
In partnership with the NC State College of Education, Marc Bamuthi Joseph shared his education model, Moving and Passing Curricular Tactics. The discussion included how educators can utilize this model to incorporate the arts and sports into advocacy and education.

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This project is made possible by grants from the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources; is funded in part by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Theater Project, with lead funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; and by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the N.C. Arts Council.