LaTasha Barnes, a dancer, choreographer, and educator now in residence at The Church in Sag Harbor, will give a work-in-progress performance of her most recent project, "The Jazz Continuum," which will have its premiere at the Joyce Theater in Manhattan in the fall.
"The Jazz Continuum" situates the artistry of jazz music and dance as a cornerstone of Black American dance forms. Reaching back almost 100 years, Ms. Barnes connects the dances that sprang from America's Black jazz music to contemporary house and hip-hop dance vernacular. Her cast of dancers and musicians embody, amplify, and showcase the power of jazz dance and the Lindy Hop.
"Behind the Work: The Jazz Continuum," a panel discussion at The Church to be held in partnership with Guild Hall, will focus on the development of the project. A conversation with Ms. Barnes, Reyna Nunez, a collaborator, and other members of the collective will be moderated by Mary Jane Marcasiano, a costume designer for dance, film, theater, and performing artists. The discussion will happen next Thursday at 6 p.m.
Ms. Barnes received a 2021 New York Dance and Performance Award, or Bessie, for sustained achievement. The selection committee honored her "for her musicality, athleticism, and joyful presence," noting her performance victories in Lindy Hop, house dance, and hip-hop competitions.
Her artistic, competitive, and performative skills have made her a frequent collaborator of Dorrance Dance, a New York City tap dance company, and Ephrat Asherie Dance, a New York company rooted in African-American and Latinx street and social dances.
Ms. Barnes is chairwoman of the board of trustees for the Ladies of Hip-Hop Festival, vice president of marketing and outreach for the International Lindy Hop Championship, co-director of HellaBlackLindyHop, and a board member of the Black Lindy Hoppers Fund. She is also an assistant professor of dance at the Arizona State University School of Music, Dance, and Theater.
The performance is Sunday afternoon at 4. Tickets are $15 for each program. A free open rehearsal will take place tomorrow from noon to 2.
This article has been modified from its original and print versions to reflect a change in the date and time of the performance.
