brooklyn’s 651 arts creates out of the box moment

It is important that we see the creativity, light and possibilities that originate from Black minds, bodies and spirits — especially during dark political and social moments. We must remember that our creativity is a form of power, resistance and resilience in times of oppression.

When 651 Arts was founded in Brooklyn in 1988, the organization’s intention was to enrich the lives of artists and intergenerational audiences though culture breaking-experiences that reflect the abundant artistic expressions of the African Diaspora, specifically in the realm of dance, music, film and theater. Over the years, its multi-disciplinary arts platform has featured performances, conversations and multimedia experiences with Black luminaries and legends, 651’s stages and podiums have been graced by Carmen de Lavallade, Hugh Masekela, Betty Carter, Anna Deavere Smith, Ntozake Shange, and Abdel R. Salaam, to name a very few.  Thirty-one years later, under the Creative Direction of Raelle Myrick-Hodges, that mission is still on task and in progress.

In late May of 2019, 651 Arts presented Boxed: A Game of Winning and Losing by Antonio Brown Dance, “a conceptual, vividly fluid work-in-progress exploring the cusp of childhood transforming into adulthood, and examining lessons learned in childhood games as potential tools in negotiating life.” Boxed was lead by Brown, a former dancer with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance who went on to form his own company in 2013. Speaking about his aim for the performance, Brown said: “With Boxed, I wanted to explore the concept of allowing questions to navigate our creative process and to address questions that are universal to our growth as humans. To be able to present and share this work with the world is an indescribable feeling.”

651 Arts

651 Arts