Jones~Lythcott~Moqoma What a pleasure it was to be in the audience with two esteemed dance artists: Bill T. Jones and Gregory Vuyani Moqoma. 651 Arts brought Jones and Moqoma together for a conversation on “…the creative process of making a dance work based on biographical and historical narratives.” The conversation, held in Harlem at The National Black Theatre (NBT), was moderated by NBT’s CEO, Sade Lythcott. As is customary for NBT, the event was “opened” with music, in this case, an a cappella song from Complete, singers from Moqoma’s show Exit/Exist. Jones and Moqoma shared their thoughts on many topics and answered questions from the audience on even more. Here’s just a taste: On the term liberation:
Moqoma: Dance became my liberation. Through my dance…I allow others to find liberation.
Jones: I’m still trying to be liberated from my own attitudes… [I was with the]…postmodern dance pioneers…folks asked why I was with them.
This already intimate conversation grew even more intimate when Moqoma told Jones that many years ago, his company, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, and not the famous Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre was the first African American company he saw. Maqoma immediately sent a VHS to Jones via snail mail wanting to join his company. Sadly, Jones admitted, he doesn’t remember receiving it. “I wanted to be in your company,” said Moqoma. Jones later replied, “I needed you then. I’ve been lonely for you…the thing that I looked for in Black dancers were not in my world…I was lonely for people like you.” They both agreed that this was the time that they should meet. “I had to wait for this moment,” Moqoma confirms.
Moqoma: Dance became my liberation. Through my dance…I allow others to find liberation.
Jones: I’m still trying to be liberated from my own attitudes… [I was with the]…postmodern dance pioneers…folks asked why I was with them.
This already intimate conversation grew even more intimate when Moqoma told Jones that many years ago, his company, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, and not the famous Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre was the first African American company he saw. Maqoma immediately sent a VHS to Jones via snail mail wanting to join his company. Sadly, Jones admitted, he doesn’t remember receiving it. “I wanted to be in your company,” said Moqoma. Jones later replied, “I needed you then. I’ve been lonely for you…the thing that I looked for in Black dancers were not in my world…I was lonely for people like you.” They both agreed that this was the time that they should meet. “I had to wait for this moment,” Moqoma confirms.
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