Copy of Black, Indigenous & People of Color Gathering Space: Resist, Rebel, Reclaim, Rest

A space & time held by Taja Will and supported by Brian Evans

What territory have we encountered over the last 7-8 months, or a lifetime, or a generation, or many generations? Who has access to rest? How does one build resilience? How do individuals weave connections to community, resources, wealth, and tools? How do we find each other in mutual resistance to systems that have oppressed the spirit, voices and bodies of BIPOC folks? In this shared experience, I hypothesize that we need rested and expressed bodies, we need affinity spaces, we need each other and we deserve each other. 

This virtual space is held by Taja Will, with support from Brian Evans and in collaboration with resources and interest provided from Earthdance leadership. With 2.5 hours reserved, we, the collective of participants may decide to spend 20 minutes together or the full 150 minutes. This space is offered in order to exclusively center Black, Indigenous, and people of color. This is not a space for white allies. Amongst BIPOC identity demographics we hold the potential of intersectional privilege and marginalization. This time together will also hold space for the intersections of queerness, disability justice and the class/wealth inequities America’s contract with capitalism has oppressed on those with marginalized identities. 

The centerpoint of our time together will be a proposal to focus on our own bodies, in stillness and movement, and our connections with each other. We will have no goals, we will not need to share what we accomplish, there is no need for success in our time together. This is not a class, this is an invitation for building connections together across distance.

Taja Will (pronouns Taja/they) is a queer, Latinx (Chilean) adoptee, performer, choreographer, therapist and restorative justice facilitator based in the Twin Cities (MN), on the stolen and  occupied Dakota lands of Wahpekute and Anishinabewaki. Taja’s approach integrates improvisation, somatic modalities, text and vocals in contemporary performance. Their aesthetic is one of spontaneity, bold choice making, sonic and kinetic partnership and the ability to move in relationship to risk and intimacy. Will’s work explores visceral connections to current socio-cultural realities through ritual, archetypes and everyday magic.

As an educator Will has been a guest teacher and adjunct faculty at several institutions across the United States. Will also works in healing justice as a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion consultant, conflict mediator and an advocate for artists.