French connection
Saturday, October 22
Sunday, October 23
French Connection explores the life and artistry of Josephine Baker and gives a nod to St. Louis’s French foundings. Featuring new choreography by Artistic Director Arica Nyamsi as well as Company Artists Callie Bratsch, Leah Fry, Carly Lucas and Mary Meo with special guest performance by local performing artists Markesha Howlett, Amrian Johnson and Mel McCray
Meet Our Choreographers
callie bratsch
The Eyes of the World are Upon You
Leah Fry
Le Sommet
Carly lucas
When I Screamed Loud Enough
"[T]he truth was that all I wanted was a cup of coffee. But I wanted that cup of coffee where I wanted to drink it, and I had the money to pay for it, so why shouldn't I have it where I wanted it?"
"[W]hen you scream, friends, I know you will be heard. And you will be heard now."
These are the words of Josephine Baker, the only woman to officially speak at the March on Washington in 1963.
Mary Meo
One and the Same
"I can see you because I know that you exist."
"I can't see you because you're not in my line of sight."
"Together, we realize that we're one and the same."
arica nyamsi
Arica is CKDC’s Founder, Artistic and Executive Director and is presenting four works in this concert created for and performed by CKDC’s Junior Company. These young artists are the subject of the paper written by Patrick Brayer that our concert is based on, and it’s through their eyes that we learn about Josephine Baker and St. Louis’s past.
A Visit
After a long weekend of demonstrations, a young artist journals about coping through the pandemic and continuing to fight for equality and justice for everyone while she waits for her artistic director to open the studio for rehearsal. She is visited by a mysterious woman who points up Taylor Street to Delmar and shares stories of her youth and things that happened in this neighborhood 70 years ago.
Perception
Young artists at CKDC who were originally in disbelief about what Katelyn learned start to believe that she was visited by a very special woman.
Defeated
What Will You Do To Ignite Change?