She not only hopes to keep the archive on YouTube, but hopes to find a black-run institution to put it in an official capacity. She also dreams of the next chapter of the show (still in the planning phase): a personal version in which the guests of the online series pull together on stage.
“Stop talking,” she said. “Let’s dance! We miss it.”
Curator, performer, dance historian and author Warren – known to many as Mama Charmaine – began imagining Black Dance Stories in the early days of the pandemic, when so many in the dance world were stuck at home without work, breaking routine and social circles as usual. The murder of George Floyd, she said, increased her desire to bring black dance artists together to share their stories.
“When George Floyd was murdered, I was so empty,” she said. “My heart was hurt. And then I felt even more the urge to do something for our community. “As exhausting as this moment was, she added:” I also wanted to find some kind of ointment, and this ointment is community. “
The clear but open structure of the show enables both solo storytelling and intimate dialogues. Most episodes couple two guests, each invited to speak for 20 minutes to tell a story; in between they overlap in conversation. Perhaps they already know each other well or, as with Battle and Pittman, are just getting to know each other. The pairings, Warren said, were based primarily on when guests were available, which resulted in some surprising games.
“Introducing people is so much part of the mind,” said Battle, who has known Warren for over a decade, “that notion, ‘Oh, you two need to know each other’ and then step back to allow room for whatever comes out of it . “
“It only works because of her,” said Pittman, reflecting on the uncertain moments when guests start talking. “She has an incredibly supportive way of being that lends itself so well to a show like this. It is driven by their enthusiasm for people. “
