SOLE Defined

Inspired by HBCU drumlines and homecoming culture, the work reimagines the body as both instrument and site of joy. Tap Dance becomes the snare drum; boots echo bass drums and quads; sand shimmers like cymbals. Through tap, body percussion, sand dance, and social dance, 4Four: The Rhythm Holds Our Stories creates a human drumline rooted in jazz, soul, funk, New Jack Swing, and 1990s hip hop. Exploring African cosmology and time as choreographic structure, the piece layers time signatures to reveal rhythm as lineage and living memory, transforming audiences into participants in a shared exchange of collective joy.

Caretakers of Land/Land Acknowledgement: Piscataway and Nacotchtank

Estimated Artist Fee: $25,000 Artist Fee + Housing + Travel Allowance. In light of the current economic realities facing the performing arts, SOLE Defined is prepared, within reason, to discuss the Artist Fee with presenters. Our goal is to make this work accessible to communities and to build meaningful, sustainable partnerships with presenting organizations.