The goal was to create a collaboration between faculty,
professionals and students from UD’s theatre and dance departments and
multiple community partners, both old and new. El-Amin said that
Overby’s wide-ranging connections made that easy to achieve.
“Lynnette is a phenomenal woman and loved by those who have shared a
creative space with her,” said El-Amin. “The dancers, choreographers,
musicians, community artists, and spoken word artists all readily
responded to Dr. Overby’s call to participate.”
Raye Jones Avery, who sang a solo in tribute to Josephine Baker, said
that there was no way she could say no when Overby asked her to get
involved. “Lynnette is such a powerful force in such an understated
way,” said Jones Avery, a vocalist and arts advocate who formerly served
as the executive director of the Christina Cultural Arts Center. “She
is a force of nature.”
The impetus to create “Suite Blackness” originated from a
conversation El-Amin had with Overby last spring, when she noted that
UD’s theatre and dance programs had never partnered on a joint
production. El-Amin reached out to Steve Tague, interim producing
artistic director of the Resident Ensemble Players, to see if the REP
would be willing to host the first-ever joint endeavor between these
programs. El-Amin’s creative juices flowed and he wrote a script for a
theatrical experience that would celebrate the powerful social and
historical aspects of Black Dance in film.
“I thought this idea was pretty dang cool,” Tague said. “As a white
man, I have seen my story on stage and film for years and years. I want
to see other stories, like that of Josephine Baker. I’d heard her name
for years, but sadly knew nothing of the various facets of her life. Now
I am fascinated by her and want to learn more.”
UD’s Office of Institutional Equity supported the production and
purchased a block of tickets for distribution to students and other area
residents.
“I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to live in New Orleans
for a large part of my adult life, and it was there that I realized that
the arts are a great equalizer,” said Fatimah Conley, UD’s vice
president of institutional equity and chief diversity officer. “No
matter the demographic, background or point of view, people tend to be
able to come together around art performances. What better way to
celebrate Black history, Black joy and Black excellence than through a
performance like this one?
“It was important to provide the opportunity for community members,
specifically K-12 students and their families, to come to our campus to
enjoy such a landmark and important event. Community engagement really
is ‘equity in action,’ and the more we can bring Delawareans to UD to
experience all that we have to offer, the more engaged the community is
with our campus.”