Dimensions Dance Theater Presents World Premiere of "The Reclaiming: Healing to Joy"

Dimensions Dance Theater, one of the nation's oldest and most respected African American dance companies, presents the world premiere of The Reclaiming: Healing to Joy for its Fall home season Saturday, October 25, at 7:30 pm and Sunday, October 26, at 4 pm at the Valley Center for the Performing Arts in Oakland (formerly the theater at Holy Names University). This powerful, two-part production honors the resilience and brilliance of Black dance traditions, bridging generations while presenting bold new work that reflects the urgency and beauty of our current cultural moment. At its core, the performance explores how we see, share and reclaim JOY as a form of resistance, community healing, and deep celebration.

The evening begins with a restorative justice–inspired opening, grounding the space through breath, reflection, and intention. This shared ritual invites the Oakland community to move from reflection into song, as performers and audience members co-create an atmosphere of unity and presence. Audiences will then experience Part I, which comprises excerpts from Dimensions' 2024 Season's Healing to Joy created by the vision of Laurie Fleurentin and Deborah Vaughan. It features Haitian drumming and a fusion of traditional and contemporary dance to express the indispensable need for joy in social justice and healing. Part 2: Reclaiming, is a new work born from a collaborative creative process during which the rehearsal studio became a lab for artistic and cultural inquiry. The work was developed with dancers brought their full voices and creativity, shaping a piece that centers truth-telling, movement and transformation. The individual pieces are powerful, eloquent, playful and personal expressions of joy that carry the universal message that joy is not escape, but a form of resistance, healing and celebration, Part 2 features a special collaboration with David Elliott (aka DJ Fuze)-producer, DJ, and longtime member of the legendary Digital Underground-who joins the company to create a soundscape that surrounds the audience and blends drumming, electronic beats, and live vocals. The performance uplifts the lived experiences of multiple generations, echoing the words of poet devorah major, and culminates in a high-energy, participatory finale with DJ Fuze, inviting the audience to move, groove, and reclaim joy together.

The creative team includes Lighting Designer Jon Gourdine, Sound Engineer Terrance Holiday and Stage Manager Chijundu Okonmah. Dimensions Dance Theater company members include Katrina Deans, Marianna Hester, Erik K. Raymond Lee, Bridgette Lott, Lavinia Mitchell, Valrie Sanders, Justin Sharlman, Denice Simpson, Phylicia Stroud, and Latanya d. Tigner.


Category: Arts | Performing Arts | Dance