Dance Diaspora Presents “Horace Silver: Song For My Father & Other Matters Pertaining To The Heart"

Dance Diaspora will present its seasonal show Horace Silver: Song For My Father & Other Matters Pertaining To The Heart. The show will return to the traditional combination of jazz music and dance; maintaining the importance of vernacular dance, improvisation, and what comes from Black expressionism when feelings supersede the choreography. The dancers prioritize emoting the feelings.

Adenike Sharpley, artistic director and choreographer, states that “the show focuses on fatherhood. The opening piece is dedicated, with love, to our fathers. The show’s other themes include healing from wounds. We are using jazz music as a soothing salve to treat the gaping wounds caused by the social political system. Horace Silver is known for having a joyful mood in his music. I have juxtaposed the joyful mood of the music with visual representations of harsh realities of society for people of color.”

Horace Silver was a jazz musician who championed his love for black women and political issues in his music. His father was from Cape Verde, and the songs, harmonies and rhythms he taught Silver greatly influenced his style. Horace Silver changed his name from Silva possibly to reflect his love of the Jazz community that he worked closely with. Silver started as a tenor sax player before moving to piano. In his compositions, he often prioritizes the horns sometimes overshadowing the piano.

This show will feature illustrious alumni Kevin Louis '99, trumpet and musical director; Josh Moton ’13, cello; Shea Pierre '14, piano; Malachi Thomas '14, tenor saxophone; and students Lawrence Galloway ‘16, trombone; Daniel Spearman ‘17, trumpet and piano; Gailyn Gabriel '18, bass; Michael Ode ‘18, drums; and Michael Spearman’ 19, trombone. 

This show will also feature dancers Adenike Sharpley ‘00, Sophie Mvurya '16, Donnay Edmund '16, Lindsey Nwabueze '16, Khalid Taylor ‘16, Cassandra Brown '17, Niya Smith-Wilson '17, and Sikora Sikorski '17.

“Horace Silver: Song For My Father & Other Matters Pertaining To The Heart” is part of OA4’s Alumni Reunion weekend.