Jasmine Hearn on [text me when you get home]
Contextual writing from Jasmine Hearn concerning [text me when you get home] the upcoming Artist Talk with Joseph Hall.
Joseph Hall and I met a lesbian dance party in 2011 or maybe in the lobby of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater. If the first, I was in complete shock that he won first place in the dance competition that we both had entered into. I placed second. If the second, I was in complete admiration of this person who cared so deeply for artists and order.
Joseph and I kept meeting on dance floors from then on at SAPPHO — a bimonthly queer dance party … at post show dance parties at the Kelly Strayhorn… at protests.
We found each other in sweat in joy in movement together spinning in the night.
As I continue my residency at Kelly Strayhorn Theater with A Patient Practice, I am remembering how I have learned to move my queer black body and listening to who I learned from, alongside.
Queer dancing black body
Queer dancing black body at night with spirit and kin alongside
Queer dancing black breathing body at night alongside
Sweat
Sweat through my white geometric print dress
We were together tequila on the floor
Gin on tongues
Maybe you make out with that one
And I make out with this one
Meeting you at first at a lesbian dance off
You win
And I identify lesbian
You had heels
I got second place
Competition
And spark of interest
Who is this guy?
Sappho
Protest
Mayor’s office
Sleep overs
Living room spillage of grooves and the tempo of want and release
Sappho — a bimonthly queer dance party
Like full moon
Like new moon
Like best time to make medicine of sweat and the accidental bumps that immediately are followed by sympathy and apology
The wild
The ancient
The naming of ourselves
Rhythm that didn’t prescribe it self
Cypher without pressure
Sometimes white hands on our breathing black brown sweaty bodies
Mostly eyes
Mostly awe
The Walk home always measured
In the middle of the street
Loud
Maybe witnessed
Crazed
Or lucky rides with friends with cars
Bus no longer running
Black bodies running or walking fast
In middle streets
Or alongside with two others
We flank ourselves
Text me when you get home
photo by Caldwell