Exploring women's empowerment through movement, music and more
We see you Black woman. Women of the diaspora continue to triumph, accomplishing what they will, creating, imagining, uplifting and transforming. This year, we are celebrating her magic and diversity across the diaspora. Through dance, music, cultural education and other immersive experiences, Cumbe is exploring the ways in which women across the diaspora move mountains, raise nations and end wars. We are exploring the ways in which women show appreciation, express gratitude, elevate and enact justice. This year we are asking, what does empowerment look like in the bodies of Black women across the diaspora?
“Black and Brown women are not a monolith and our experiences around the world are widely varied and we are widely varied. I want to highlight those multitudes,” says Rakia Seaborn, Cumbe’s Senior Manager of Engagement. “I hope we are building a softer, more empathetic world. There is no such thing as art that isn’t political. Our work is in direct response to what’s happening and we are envisioning a future that is more just.”
Cumbe’s special workshops, lecture series and new book lists will explore empowerment in the Black woman’s body and challenge our community to think deeply about ourselves in the world as advocates, participants and leaders of change.
“We’re taking a deep dive into what feminine empowerment looks like and we’re looking at it with a 360 degree view, interrogating literature, movement and dance as well as taking a look at women led collectives and organizations to forge new partnerships to support transformational work like this.”
This year we are welcoming new teaching artists, practitioners and scholars to the Cumbe roster for special workshops, events and discussions. Each month we will focus on an aspect of feminine empowerment. It is certainly most appropriate for all to join us on this journey because we recognize that the holistic development of our community relies on balance and communal participation. This year is about learning, sharing and growing together and we welcome and encourage everyone to be a part of this experience.
Each month will feature a sub-theme, highlighting a different aspect of women across the diaspora.
January – Experiencing the divine feminine through healing and sexuality
February – Social Dance: How we get down
March – Women in Hip Hop
April – Environmentalism: Mothering the earth, nurturing nations
May – Embodying Ayiti: Walking in the Steps of Dunham?
June – PRIDE: Women leading the movement
July – Women in Dancehall
August – Carnival: Costumes, dance and power
September – Latinx: La mujer es mágica
October – Our Ancestors are with us
November – The divine Black beauty
December – We dance for us
Check our website for the latest updates with book lists to match the month's themes along with special events and dance workshops.