Freedom Square: The Black Girlhood Altar is an evening-length dance-theater work by choreographer and director Vershawn Sanders-Ward that honors the lives, stories, and enduring legacy of missing and murdered Black women and girls. Inspired by The Black Girlhood Altar, the acclaimed mixed-media installation created by A Long Walk Home artists Scheherazade Tillet and Robert Narcisco, the production incorporates physical elements of the original altar installation into the performance’s scenic environment, transforming the stage into a living sanctuary for remembrance, healing, and collective action. The presence of the altar throughout the performance invites audiences into a shared space of witness, ritual, and reflection.
Performed by the award-winning ensemble of Red Clay Dance Company, the work weaves together Afro-contemporary dance, storytelling, original music, digital media, and immersive theatrical design to create a powerful communal experience that bears witness to loss while celebrating Black girlhood, resilience, and collective care. An original score by acclaimed Chicago artist Jamila Woods, together with costume design by Shaqui Reed and Alyna Michelle, deepens the work’s exploration of memory, sacred ritual, and the enduring power of community.
Following the opening performance on Thursday, October 1, audiences are invited to remain for a 30-minute post-performance conversation featuring Vershawn Sanders-Ward and creative collaborators. Moderated by Northwestern University Professor Thomas F. DeFrantz, Director of SLIPPAGE: PERFORMANCE | CULTURE | TECHNOLOGY, the discussion will explore the artistic process, the cultural significance of the work, and the role of performance in fostering remembrance, justice, and social transformation.
The post-show conversation is presented by the Black Arts Consortium (BAC) in Northwestern University’s School of Communication. BAC cultivates an interdisciplinary approach to Black arts by connecting scholars, artists, students, and community members through research, pedagogy, creative practice, and civic engagement.
Freedom Square: The Black Girlhood Altar is presented in partnership with Northwestern University’s School of Communication. This program is also partially supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
