July 19, Sets at 6, 7 & 8PM

Arts Brookfield partners with Works & Process for a series of four performances at Manhattan West Plaza in celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. Referencing different styles of street dance, the pieces that will be presented were each originally commissioned by Works & Process for the Guggenheim Museum, and marries the institution’s renowned circular rotunda space with the cypher, an open performance circle prevalent in hip-hop. Originally conceptualized in-the-round, this series therefore adapts naturally to Manhattan West Plaza’s performance circle. Each Wednesday night will spotlight a different artistic group and feature beatboxing, breaking, flexn, krumping, live bands, DJ sets, and MCs. On the final night, the performance morphs into a full-blown dance party with fabled DJ Bravo LaFortune and other club legends.

SpeakMyMind is commissioned by Works & Process and is supported from studio-to-stage in Works & Process Bubble and LaunchPAD “Process as Destination” residencies at Bethany Arts Community (2021, 2022 and 2023), Catskill Mountain Foundation (2022), and Millay Arts (2023). Iterative performances have taken place at Dancers Responding to AIDS Hudson Valley Dance Festival, Guggenheim Museum, Jacob’s Pillow, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. The work will premiere at Works & Process at the Guggenheim during the 2023-2024 season.

Photo: Loreto "Still1" Jamlig