Today’s episode is with choreographer and dancer Bill T. Jones. Jones is an award winning artist and legendary dancer. His work uses storytelling, movement, and multimedia elements such as spoken narrative and videotape to examine identity, social issues and autobiographical elements of his life. His 43-year long career reminds us on the importance of gratitude and remaining present in your life and artistry. 
In today’s conversation we’re reminded of the power in investigation. We also explore what it means to create amidst a state of grief. And the importance of spending a life in service to others. 
Things mentioned
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4rRsZTdijU (2010 Kennedy Center Honors - Bill T. Jones)
https://www.felaonbroadway.com/ (FELA!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY2epKdtw2M (Arnie Zane: An Introduction)
https://vimeo.com/33288787 (Bill T. Jones: Still / Here with Bill Moyers)


What to read
https://bookshop.org/books/story-time-the-life-of-an-idea/9780691162706 (Story/Time: The Life of an Idea) by Bill T. Jones
https://bookshop.org/books/the-emigrants-9780811226141/9780811226141 (The Emigrants) by W.G. Sebald
https://bookshop.org/books/the-bluest-eye/9780307278449 (The Bluest Eye) by Toni Morrison 
https://bookshop.org/books/the-spirit-in-man-art-and-literature/9780415304399 (The Spirit in Man, Art and Literature) by Carl Gustav Jung
https://bookshop.org/books/body-against-body-the-dance-and-other-collaborations-of-bill-t-jones-arnie-zane/9780882680644 (Body Against Body: The Dance and Other Collaborations of Bill T. Jones & Arnie Zane) by Bill T. Jones, Artie Zane, Elizabeth Zimmer 
https://bookshop.org/books/democracy-moving-bill-t-jones-contemporary-american-performance-and-the-racial-past-9780472075126/9780472055128 (Democracy Moving: Bill T. Jones, Contemporary American Performance, and the Racial Past) By Ariel Nereson 


What to listen to
https://open.spotify.com/album/7nYTU6Yt5pHS2hAsITrQ6g (Fela! (Original Broadway Cast Recording)) - Album by Fela Kuti
https://open.spotify.com/track/77K7ByPJFOJWeCoCnpaiYu?autoplay=true (I Will Move On Up a Little Higher) - by Mahalia Jackson
https://open.spotify.com/track/2grjqo0Frpf2okIBiifQKs (September) by Earth, Wind & Fire


Who to follow
Follow Bill T. Jones on http://btj/AZ%20Company%20(@billtjonesarniezaneco) (IG) https://www.instagram.com/billtjonesarniezaneco/?hl=en (@billtjonesarniezaneco)
You can also find his company https://newyorklivearts.org/btj-az-company/ (here).


This conversation was recorded on July 9th, 2022.
 
Host https://www.instagram.com/dario.studio/ (Dario Calmese) 
Producer: https://www.instagram.com/holly_woodco/ (Coniqua Johnson) 
Visual Art Direction and Designs: 
http://riverwildmen.com/ (River Wildmen), https://www.instagram.com/afrovisualism/ (AfroVisualism)
Director of Digital Content: https://www.instagram.com/vickygcreative/ (@vickygcreative)
Bookings: https://www.instagram.com/itsms.kt/ (@itsms.kt)


Original Music composed by http://www.dariocalmese.com/ (Dario Calmese) 
Visit us at https://www.blackimagination.com/oral-history (blackimagination.com )