The Black Artist Talk: Decolonizing Methodologies

The Black Artist Talk presents Epistemological Apartheid in Dance Practice and Pedagogy: Decolonizing Methodologies

The Black Artist Talk was held on October 17th and was hosted by Artist-in-Residence, Michelle Grant-Murray. This virtual forum focused on engaging Black artists, activists and educators in discussions surrounding the decolonization of artistic spaces. Panelists included: A'keitha Carey, Augusto Soledade, Melissa Cobblah-Guiterrez, Florencia Guerrier and Tiffany Merritt-Brown.

Grant-Murray has performed and presented work in Europe, Asia, South America, the United States and the Caribbean. She is currently on her second term as an artist in residence for the historic Deering Estate. She is an Associate Professor and Coordinator of Dance at Miami Dade College where she is the Artistic Director of Miami Dade College's Jubilation Dance Ensemble. Grant-Murray is the host and brains behind The Black Artist Talk, a conversation that dialogs the process, politics, and preservation of Black and Brown Artist in South Florida. She is the Executive Director of the annual Artistry In Rhythm (A.I.R.) Dance Conference, presented and sponsored by Miami Dade College. As a writer, scholar, performer, choreographer, educator and mentor, Grant-Murray authored Beyond the Surface: An Inclusive American Dance History. She has developed and implemented Olujimi Dance Technique, a unique blend of contemporary and traditional modern dance styles infused with elements of African Diaspora Dance Movement forms, designed to chop at the core of physicality. "The aim of this process is to develop the physical, mental and intellectual body from a humanistic perspective; a perspective that values humanity, individuality, creativity and inventiveness," she said.

Additionally, Grant-Murray has developed a unique choreographic process, Ancestral Dance Movement Memory (ADMM). It explores movement that seeks to go beyond the collective memory of the present physical body and imagine the future utilizing the ecology of spirituality to reveal the essence of human nature. ADMM celebrates, heightens and authenticates the intuitive wisdom of the body. She fuses sensuality, creativity, enthusiasm and zeal to live a life and create works that redefines the corporeality of the body as a living, viable and moving portal. Michelle is committed to Earth ethics, ecology and the sustainability. She serves on the Miami Dade College Earth Ethics Institute and is actively engaged in National Water Dance.

Cultural Arts Programming at the Deering Estate is made possible with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, and The Deering Estate Foundation, Inc.