Through (2020)

ADF Creative Healing Parade

Durham, NC

Photo & Video Excerpt by Alexander Lieberman

The summer of 2020 was one of the most challenging times that we have experienced in recent history of the United States of America. Far from united, an uncivil war permeates in every region of the nation. Levels of heartache, despair, and fear have been heightened and elongated beyond any previous notion of such emotional states. And yet, simultaneously, we have witnessed our individual and our collective resiliency beyond our wildest imagination. 

It was July when American Dance Festival (ADF) director Jodee Nimerichter approached a group of about a dozen individuals from the Durham dance community to hear what some folks were needing -- was dance needed? Was safe congregation needed? Could it be something different than virtual? Between the two pandemics of Covid-19 and systemic racism -- Weise among this committee -- it was clear that a safe space for healing, dare we say palpable joy, was on many people’s minds. 

The group met a few times over the course of the summer and early fall, eventually landing on the idea to create an inverted parade through a neighborhood in Durham where performers were stationary and cars drove by to view the artworks. So much of what we were hearing from our own communities was the need for a safe space to just move. To not only move as an individual, but to somehow safely dance together as a communtiy. From there ADF hustled to identify funding, secured permissions from homeowners and city leaders, and connected with dancers across many disciplines / styles to bring to life the ADF Creative Healing Parade. 

“Over 70 North Carolina artists performed in 24 driveways and lawns of Durham’s Trinity Ridge neighborhood on October 3, 2020, in an effort to provide artistic healing during these difficult times. The artists were masked and socially distanced. The performances were viewed by the public while in their automobiles [over 200 cars filled with 500 people throughout the event] following the route on Rolling Hill Road and Pathwood Lane. Participating artists staggered their performances in 15 minute intervals so that there was always something to view throughout the parade.”

-The American Dance Festival

The Parade was a remarkable moment for Weise in that it was the first time in nearly a decade that she stepped back into the performance side of the program. Tapping back into a creative practice from a place of mental and emotional health this past year has been a necessity. And in leaning into her own vulnerabilities, perhaps those viewing may find inspiration to give liberation to their own.