Welcome to Seattle Center
Prove it on Us
This piece uses dance to look at the legacy of Queer Black Blues women such Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Gladys Bentley, and Lucille Bogan and how it affects us today. These artist dared live in a free way that was unprecedented for people of African descent on this continent. They were able to dream of other ways of being, and because they did so relentlessly, we can too. We are all painting our self portraits due to the efforts of Black women before us. This piece looks at what it feels like to dream and define self against all odds.
Artists involved:
Akoiya Harris, dancer & choreographer
Symone Sanz, dancer
Kearia Duncan, dancer
Nia Amina Minor, dancer
Marco Farroni, dancer
More info on lead artist HERE.
Artists At the Center is a multi-year collaboration between Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and Seattle Center, with support from Uptown Arts & Culture Coalition and the communities adjacent to Seattle Center campus. The project is made possible by a 10-year grant from Climate Pledge Arena and Seattle Kraken.
Join us as we introduce emerging and established artists and celebrate their talent on a newly revitalized Seattle Center campus. Artists are given a performance opportunity, allowing them to connect with new audiences, display their talents and advance their careers. Visitors to campus and the surrounding neighborhood benefit from surprising and delightful pop-up performances throughout the year. Each year, artists are selected with an equity and social justice lens, ensuring equitable representation for underserved and emerging artists. Artistic genres include music, dance, theater, demonstrations, and multi-disciplinary work.
