Alkhemy Of Sound: ((((((Plant ing DIRT(((((((
Turning towards the natural world for inspiration, solace and empowerment.
In 2023, The Colour of Transformation project expanded to incorporate the experiences of women activists working in the Trinidad and Tobago. Supported by British Council’s Circular Culture Programme, a live performance led by artist A K U Z U R U and a series of women-centred discussions around activism in nature took place as part of Trinidad’s international COCO Dance Festival.
This collaboration involved R&D between Bryony Ella and A k u z u r u, leading to a Caribbean-specific performance in honour of the Haitian priestess Mambo, who offers healing and guidance as part of African diasporic religious ceremonies. Mambo’s presence emerged for A k u z u r u while meditating on the The Colour of Transformation as a representation of the collective female voice. The resulting performance, Alkhemy Of Sound ((((((Plant ing DIRT(((((((, extended this experience into the public realm through masquerade, music and movement; costumes were made out of raw calico, bamboo, paper, mahogany leaves and seeds, royal palm fronds and stalks, and part of the original film’s cocoon-inspired costume designed by Ingrid Hu was integrated into the masquerade.
The performance opened the international COCO Dance Festival at the National Academy for the Performing Arts, Port of Spain, in 2023.
Read more about the project here.
Image credits: Brendan Delzin, Karen Johnson
Creative Team
A k u z u r u: Creative lead and lead performer
Bryony Ella: Creative collaborator and performer
Sonja Dumas: Director of COCO Dance Festival
Alkhemy Of Sound: ((((((Plant ing DIRT(((((((
Turning towards the natural world for inspiration, solace and empowerment.
In 2023, The Colour of Transformation project expanded to incorporate the experiences of women activists working in the Trinidad and Tobago. Supported by British Council’s Circular Culture Programme, a live performance led by artist A K U Z U R U and a series of women-centred discussions around activism in nature took place as part of Trinidad’s international COCO Dance Festival.
This collaboration involved R&D between Bryony Ella and A k u z u r u, leading to a Caribbean-specific performance in honour of the Haitian priestess Mambo, who offers healing and guidance as part of African diasporic religious ceremonies. Mambo’s presence emerged for A k u z u r u while meditating on the The Colour of Transformation as a representation of the collective female voice. The resulting performance, Alkhemy Of Sound ((((((Plant ing DIRT(((((((, extended this experience into the public realm through masquerade, music and movement; costumes were made out of raw calico, bamboo, paper, mahogany leaves and seeds, royal palm fronds and stalks, and part of the original film’s cocoon-inspired costume designed by Ingrid Hu was integrated into the masquerade.
The performance opened the international COCO Dance Festival at the National Academy for the Performing Arts, Port of Spain, in 2023.
Read more about the project here.
Image credits: Brendan Delzin, Karen Johnson
Creative Team
A k u z u r u: Creative lead and lead performer
Bryony Ella: Creative collaborator and performer
Sonja Dumas: Director of COCO Dance Festival
