A Mother’s Rite

Genre
Ballet

Pictured
Dancer Courtney Celeste Spears
Photo by Matthew Murphy

Credits
Director & Choreographer: Jeremy McQueen
Playwright: Angelica Chéri
Composer: Igor Stravinsky
Producer: Black Iris Project
Cast: Courtney Celeste Spears

About

Performed to Igor Stravinsky’s iconic composition “Rite of Spring”, A Mother’s Rite is a ballet exploring the stages of grief experienced by a Black mother who loses her young son to police brutality.

Featuring Alvin Ailey dancer Courtney Celeste Spears, A Mother’s Rite was choreographed by the Founder and Artistic Director of the Black Iris Project, Jeremy McQueen and Angelica wrote the libretto.

The ballet premiered on August 16th, 2018 at the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem, presented by NYC Summerstage, and a film adaptation is available for viewing (see link).

A Mother’s Rite was commissioned by the Bronx Museum of the Arts.

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