CADD | Conferences

Collegium for African Diaspora Dance Conference, 2018

2018 CADD poster

CADD Presents

Dance Black Joy: Global Affirmations and Defiance

The third Collegium for African Diaspora Dance (CADD) conference centered African diaspora dance as a resource and method of aesthetic possibility. The event carried forward enlivening discussions on the power and politics of global Black Dance as scholars, practitioners, educators, and other stakeholders came together for three days of intellectual and artistic inspiration.

Anchored by critical dialogue and provocative research presentations, the conference featured breakout sessions, movement workshops, film screenings, and a performance of CANE: a responsive environment dancework, conceived by Thomas F. DeFrantz and SLIPPAGE: Performance|Culture|Technology in collaboration with Wideman/Davis Dance.

Watch the CANE Performance

CADD 2018

Keynote Speakers

Brenda Dixon Gottschild

Brenda Dixon Gottschild

American cultural historian, performer, choreographer, anti-racism cultural worker.

Melissa Borelli

Melissa Blanco Borelli

Dance studies scholar, conjurer of words, ideas and moves.

Marianna Monteiro

Marianna Francisca Martins Monteiro

Brazilian dance and theater scholar.

CADD Feature and Panel Discussion

A Tribute to Baba Chuck Davis

Dr. Charles “Baba Chuck” Davis was a central presence at previous conferences and we along with dance communities all over world deeply feel Davis’ absence.

To create energy around Davis’ mission to preserve, perpetuate, and extend African Diasporan dance traditions, our 2018 conference devoted intentional focus to his legacy through extended processional and panel discussion offering an opportunity for artists who were close to Chuck Davis’ work to talk about his vision and openly strategize about ways to keep his work alive in concert performance, the academy, and community development.

Two panels were convened at the opening of the conference: “Sipping from the Chalice: Chuck Davis’ Vision and the future of African Dance Performance” moderated by C. Kemal Nance and “Drumming The Dance: Reflections and Experiences from percussionists in the time of Baba Chuck” moderated by Andrea E.

Baba Chuck stands in a colorful robe that says "World Peace."

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