Black to the Future, A Festival of Art, Social Justice & Dreaming
KST Presents
Presented by The Center for African American Poetry & Poetics at the University of Pittsburgh
Black to the Future: A Festival of Art, Social Justice, and Dreaming, is a reframing of what it means to celebrate Black History Month. The Festival has an eye toward the relationship between remembering and reimagining; it’s a way to honor the past while simultaneously creating the future we want to live in. With concepts from AfroFuturists in mind, Black to the Future brings together “the imagination, technology, the future, and liberation” via experimentation and a redefinition of culture and blackness itself. Black to the Future focuses on the critical impact of art, poetry, and music in helping to change culture so that what we dream will become reality.
Curated by Yolanda Covington-Ward, Dawn Lundy Martin, and Nicole Mitchell Gantt.
FESTIVAL PROGRAM AT KST
KanKouran West African Dance Company
West African Dance Workshop
Saturday, February 29
1:00pm – 2:30pm
KST’s Alloy Studios
5530 Penn Ave
Pay What Makes You Happy!
This class focuses on the authentic dance and drumming styles of select West African cultural groups. Classes are taught by KanKouran West African Dance Company Artistic Director, Assane Konte, and are open to all age groups and levels of experience.
KanKouran West African Dance Company
Circle of Praise
Saturday, February 29
6:00pm
Kelly Strayhorn Theater
5941 Penn Ave
Pay What Makes You Happy!
Circle of Praise takes us on a spiritual journey using praise and celebration dances from the African diaspora. These dances showcase the complexity of healing and spiritual connection while highlighting the resilience and creativity of people facing systematic oppression.
Simone White
(T)rap Music & Poetry
Saturday, February 29
8:00pm
Kelly Strayhorn Theater
5941 Penn Ave
Pay What Makes You Happy!
Simone White hosts IN THE OPEN / IN SECRET / A BLACK FUTURES / POETRY PARTY where we undertake to heal ourselves / with the presence of others / gathering the urge to be together / black peace is a kind of dreaming… With appearances by guest artists Jaamil Olawale Kosoko & Tongo Eisen-Martin.