Black Box Dance Theatre presents
PATRIOT
Friday, August 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Black Box Dance Theatre presents PATRIOT: a multi-year, multi-media dance project exploring complex issues faced by our military and those they serve. This powerful performance is back at the Wortham Center collaborating with Brothers and Sisters Like These and local veterans in presenting an evening length dance work that is a must see.
“The PATRIOT project is simply about supporting veterans and their families and helping them cope with the unique and specific mental health challenges that come with military life. We just happen to be a modern dance company,” says Michelle Pearson, artistic director of Black Box Dance Company.
This performance is part of a national documentary being filmed on the power of the arts. “We want to convey real stories of real places where the arts are enriching communities” says Mara Isaacs, executive director of the documentary.
“Stunning” • “Powerful” • “A Must See”
Act 1 takes place in the Wortham Center Lobby.
Act 2 takes place in Diana Wortham Theatre.
More about PATRIOT below.
ABOUT PATRIOT
In 2019, partnering with North Carolina Arts Council and the USO, Black Box Dance Theatre (BBDT) began the creation of PATRIOT, an evening length work of multimedia dance, theater, and story telling that is a living memorial of emotionally charged, virtuosic dancing examining the service and sacrifice of U.S. veterans, active duty military and their families. In 2021 BBDT premiered PATRIOT in veteran and military communities throughout NC and beyond, including a performance in Diana Wortham Theatre in August 2021.
BBDT has a long history with the USO of NC as part of its nationally recognized Warrior, Spouse and Family Reset Programs. Aimed to build resiliency, Resets support military service members and their families through movement, dance and story telling workshops to help them deal with the ongoing mental wellness challenges of military life, including deployment and reintegration. In addition to the Resets, PATRIOT is an invitation for participants to bring their experiences and stories to a larger platform.
The performance of PATRIOT is inspired by the non-fiction stories collected during Resets and first hand experiences of BBDT dancers. The choreographed framework of PATRIOT allows for the integration of community performers. The lens of hero, veteran, spouse, and protestor are threads that have emerged. Alfredo, a Purple Heart Veteran injured by a 400 lb. bomb in Iraq; Roy, a non-combat veteran who was drafted out of school; Nikki, a military spouse and mother who carries the stress of her husband’s deployments; and Steven, a war protestor who struggles with supporting his brother who recently joined the Army all bring authentic voices to the art making. Moments of pageantry, humor, physicality, and humility have surfaced in the making of PATRIOT. Differing views, differing abilities, differing voices are given stage.
