ACTNow: Far From The Norm and TL Collective
Dance and Film Activism
Dance Artist Botis Seva
Filmmaker Ben Williams
Composer Torben Lars Sylvest
Far From the Norm: Can’t Kill Us All
TL Collective: Tough Skin

Tuesday, October 27, 2020 . 5:30PM

By: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. Click here.
This event will be archived for future viewing.

Two dance companies present intimate short films followed by a live virtual Q&A moderated by Associate Professor of American Studies La Marr Jurelle Bruce, an interdisciplinary humanities scholar, critical theorist and Afromanticist.

Far From The Norm’s CAN’T KILL US ALL unravels one man’s mental unrest as he navigates the turbulence of dealing with two global pandemics. This theatrical experience combines hip-hop theatre and film, revealing the deterioration of a man’s emotional sanity and physical stability as he confronts life in lockdown. From reflecting on childhood memories, to reliving trauma experienced by Black bodies, CAN’T KILL US ALL pushes through the darkness to find light, humility and peace.

TL Collective’s Tough Skin presents four humans from completely different backgrounds and cultures. The film is a captivating visual representation of what it looks like to stay committed to connection and humanity even in dire circumstances.

From themes of racial violence and cultural appropriation to multiculturalism and gender equality, the work of The Clarice’s 2020-21 visiting artists is complex, provocative and deeply sensitive. Arts Citizenship Talks (ACTnow) are opportunities to hear from these artists about the issues reflected in their works. These conversations are an invitation to act now!

Engagement on Campus and in the Community: Throughout Fall 2020, Botis Seva and members of Far From The Norm will virtually visit students in the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies to discuss their work and choreographic technique. Micaela Taylor and members of TL Collective will also visit students in the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies. In addition, Micaela Taylor is participating in The Clarice’s BlackLight Summit as a member of the summit Career Readiness mentorship team.

Film Credits:

CAN’T KILL US ALL

Produced by Far From The Norm, CAN’T KILL US ALL is a collaboration from 3 original voices working in hip-hop theatre: dance artist Botis Seva, filmmaker Ben Williams and composer Torben Lars Sylvest. CAN’T KILL US ALL is co-commissioned by Arts Council England, BBC and The Space.

This engagement of Far From The Norm is made possible through the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support has been provided by the Maryland State Arts Council and The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation.

Free, No Tickets Required, Online here.

Tags: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park Maryland, Online, Vimeo, Free Performance, ACTNow, Far From The Norm, TL Collective, Can’t Kill Us All, Botis Seva, Ben Williams, Torben Lars Sylvest