Dance Department

As the United States of America once again confronts its centuries long history of anti-black violence, we write to you. Many powerful statements have been issued over the past few days addressing the US’s long history of racial violence and its recent expressions, but we want you to hear from us. Black Lives Matter. Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd's lives matter. Protest matters, and we stand with those putting their bodies on the line in the streets to express outrage at their killings and the continued failings of policing in the US. All of this, of course, is taking place in the context of a global pandemic that has disproportionately affected communities of color due to the same systems of inequality that privilege white bodies over other(ed) bodies.

We know that there is work to be done in the dance field—and at our institution—to systematically confront and dismantle anti-blackness. As a department, we are committed to this ongoing work in our classrooms, creative and scholarly work, programming, and service to the college and the dance field. And as always, we are here to support you in any and all ways that we can.

With love,

The Reed Dance Faculty

June 2020