JOURNEY’S PRELUDE

Artistic Director/Choreographer: Michele Byrd-McPhee
Music credits:  “Journey’s Prelude” by Louie Vega featuring Ursula Rucker

Journey’s Prelude explores the complex reality and the often overwhelming myth of the 'strong Black woman.' This piece dives in the multiple roles that Black women are expected to play within their families and communities—caring for others, nurturing children (both their own and others'), and bearing the weight of responsibility with grace and resilience. The work explores the exhaustion that accompanies these expectations, providing a poignant commentary on the emotional and physical toll of constantly giving of oneself. Journey’s Prelude is set against the powerful, evocative poetry of Ursula Rucker, whose words encapsulate the essence of this lived experience. Her verses, paired with the house beats of NYC House music legend Louie, this piece serves as the opening of a full-evening length work that celebrates Black girl magic while also confronting the relentless pressures and expectations placed on Black women.