Marcus Moore, a UH Mānoa Master’s of Music in Composition student, in collaboration with Jonathan Clarke Sypert, MFA student with the Department of Theatre & Dance, debuted an original ballet score – Beige: An Afro Ballet, which explores Black heritage and identity while drawing inspiration from Black diasporic music.
“During my formative years, my family and friends would use music for dancing, telling stories, connecting, working and healing,” Moore explained. “For Beige: An Afro Ballet, I wanted to explore the sounds I grew up listening to and create a space where Afro-dance could be expressed in a traditional ballet format. This ballet is a reflection of the love I have for the vastness and beauty of Afro-cultures that I grew up experiencing.”
The performance featured an all-black cast of 14 dancers and debuted during Black History Month at the MFA/BFA Dance Concert, a milestone as one of the first productions of its kind at UH Mānoa. Audiences will have another chance to experience Beige at a public film presentation during Marcus’ Master’s Recital on March 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Orvis Auditorium.