08 Hora Decubitus.mp3

"creating radical expressiveness in community"

Home

Invest

About Us

Offerings

Residencies Workshops Trainings

Creatives and Artists

Betty's Daughter Arts Collaborative Home

Betty's Daughter Arts Collaborative, LLC is a cultural arts direct action group that inspires, enlivens and incites justice and transformation of individuals and communities through creativity, cultural arts and radical expressiveness.

Our Vision

Betty's Daughter Arts Collaborative envisions and works for a world where cultural and artistic practice envelops and sustains wellness and justice movements for individuals and communities.

BE RingShout Oct. 20
WoW 2011 Logo by Joi M Sears
BE RingShout Oct 2011
BDAC workshop _ Casa Atabex
BDAC's Transformative Praxis

+1 919.283.9032

ebonygolden_bettysdaughterarts.com

Invest

Invest.

Sirius* - "brightest star in the night sky" 1,00.00 and up a yearThis level of support is reserved for new or repeat donors who seek to support the infrastructure and long-term success Betty's Daughter collaborations. Donors at this level recieve free yearly subscription to In The People's Hands, special Sirius donor newsletter, entry to all Betty's Daughter programs, and arts consulting package. Name will also be listed on donor page. Po Tolo*- "smallest seed" of creation"201.00-999.00 a yearThis level of support is reserved for new or repeat donors. Donors at this level enjoy one free service and entry to a Betty's Daughter event. Name will also be listed on donor page. Emme Ya*- "Sun of Women"10.00-199.00 a yearThis level of support is reserved for introductory donors. Donors at this level enjoy one free service or entry to an event and name listed on donor page. note: the names of our levels of support originate with Dogon cosmology; specifically, the names of the three most important stars Sirius, Sirius B (Po Tolo), and Sirius C (Emme Ya).
In Kind Donations frequent flyer milesairplane tickettrain ticketAdobe SuiteMac Book Proprojectordigital video camera "green" folders"green" beauty and wellness productsgift cards to Aveda, Lush, Whole Foods, The Body Shop"green" notebook paper"green" pencils, pens, markers, art paintcatering for Betty's Daughter eventlight snacks for Betty's Daughter event
About Us

Hailing from Houston, TX, Ebony Noelle Golden is a cultural worker, conceptual performance artist, Cave Canem Fellow and creative director of Bettys Daughter Arts Collaborative, LLC. Betty's Daughter Arts Collaborative is a cultural arts direct action group that inspires, enlivens and incites justice and transformation of individuals and communities through creativity, cultural arts and radical expressiveness. As creative director, Ebony leads and supports progressive change and artistic projects in Texas, the southeast, and east coast, primarily. Her work spans creative, academic and community organizing spheres and is rooted in a transformative praxis she developed called Cultural Arts Direct Action. A 2009 Pushcart Poetry Prize nominee, Ebony has taught, published and performed widely. Her work has been supported by a variety of organizations including: New York University, Alternate Roots, We Shall Overcome Fund, Fund for Southern Communities, Soul Mountain Poetry Center, The Highlander Center for Research and Education, Cave Canem Foundation, North Carolina Humanities Council, State of the Nation and Atlantic Center for the Arts. Ebony's current bodies of creative writing and conceptual performance work include: "speculation"/ radical acts for reproductive justice and "again, the watercarriers." Ebony earned degrees from New York University (M.A.-Performance Studies), American University (M.F.A.-Poetry), and Texas A & M University (B.A.-English/Poetry). Please request a CV/artist resume for further credentials and information by visiting bettysdaughterarts.com.

Curriculum Collaborator

Sydette Harry is a writer, singer, blogger, problem, NYC-born by way of the Guyana. Writing as Blackamazon she has started boycotts, wished some _$) would but she is most proud of making her fellow beautiful beautiful girls of every color feel not alone and thankful they have done the same for her by SPEAKing! She continues to blog at Having Read The Fine Print ( http://guyaneseterror.blogspot.com) theorize heavily, write the first play of Salt&Rice Productions, get a PHD as soon she gets a topic, and try to fall in love a little bit more every day.

On Cultural Arts Direct Action...

Cultural Arts Direct Action is as much process as the goal. Art is not just ornamental, it is an epic under taking that begins with an idea, a feeling, a desire. It can express that impulse, but in action it grows the impulse be it love, joy, freedom, pain, and in growing that impulse that feeling provides a safe place to express it. The greatest thing an artist can do is make it safe for others to share that journey and inspire them to take it on their own.

Offerings

Services for Creatives & Artists

Collaborations

208058_10150156672917256_640892255_7225012_4705597_n.jpg

Residencies, Workshops & Trainings

280675_10150256301132256_640892255_8104432_4066132_o.jpg

Body Ecology Performance Ensemble

Strategic Services

Cultural Arts Direct Action

Residencies Workshops Trainings

Workshops
Performance WorkshopsPerformance 101 This workshop introduces students to the basics of performance. The session begins with a short performance to open up a dialogue about contemporary performance. Next, students will receive theoretical and practical instruction including: case studies in contemporary performance theory, fundamentals of storytelling, approaches to performance, finding your voice, collaborative praxis, movement and improvisation. The session ends with collaborative performances by participants.Performance: 15 minWorkshop: 3 hrsResidency: negotiableTheatre of the Oppressed 101 This workshop or residency introduces students to the basics of Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed technique. The session begins with a short performance to open a dialogue about the role of performance in initiating social change. Next, students will receive theoretical and practical instruction including: fundamentals of TO; Freriren theory, theory on forum, image, invisible theatre and cop in the head. The session ends with a forum theatre discussion on a contemporary issue effecting the class.Performance: 15 minWorkshop: 4 hrsResidency: negotiableTheatre for Liberation Building on our Theatre of the Oppressed workshop, Theatre for Liberation is a performance intensive for artists and non-artists who seek to use theatre, writing, visual art, sound and movement for justice and transformation. Building on Theatre of the Oppressed, hip hop, jazz, Adrian Piper, William Pope L., visual & installation arts and Anna Deavere Smiths techniques, participants study freedom practices through the work and legacies of freedom fighters, artists, cultural workers and revolutionaries. We begin with interactive activities to explore expressiveness and the radical potential of the dream for freedom, then move to an intimate meditation on individual freedom. After that, we rehearse and perform diverse approaches to collective liberation.Performance: 15 minResidency: 3-days (minimum)The Body EcologyThis residency builds on our Theatre for Liberation Intensive. Body Ecology is an advanced performance intensive for professional artists-scholars who are preparing to teach performance/workshops in community. Participants should have a base-line understanding of theatre, experimental performance art, writing, movement, visual and installation art. Participants should have a body of work in development as well as ideas for curriculum and instruction. The intensive is comprised of theoretical study, performance and/or visual art development and curriculum design. The session begins short performances from participants and a conversation about the work they are doing. Next, the session delves into a working session on creating educational experiences related to performance. Finally, students will present excerpts of curricula in process and action steps for continuing their work.Residency: One week (minimum)Creative EmpowermentGumbo YaYa: Community Healing Circle for Black Girls and WomenGumbo Yaya is a 3-month artistic and spiritual residency originally conceived by Ebony Noelle Golden, creative director of Bettys Daughter Arts Collaborative, members of the Black Women in Performance Studies Work Group at New York University, and women in Durham, NC. Gumbo Yaya seeks to highlight black womens cultural production in relationship to community, self, legacy, spirituality and womanism. More about this project can be found at www.iamnotaproject.wordpress.com. Participants explore approaches to wellness, holistic knowledge sharing and creativity as members of Gumbo YaYa. Important components of this residency include communal cooking, collaborative teaching, community performance and teach-in. Residency: 3-months (twice a week)What's Eating You? Health & Well-Being in Our Communities What's Eating You is a performance exploring the food industrial complex's effects on community health. The piece is based in a woman's personal relationship with food. As the performance unfolds, spectators experience the cultural and political factors impacting our collective physical and spiritual well-being. The performance is multi-media and involves audience participation. The workshop following the performance involves an exploration of the movement for food justice, food deserts, urban gardening and community wellness.Performance: 30 minWorkshop: 3 hrsResidency (3-day min & negotiable)Sex 2.0 (for high school students and young adults)Sex 2.0 explores contemporary thoughts about sex, sexuality and gender. The performance follows a woman's sexual awakening and her journey towards a healthy and fulfilling life. As the performance unfolds, participant experience the effects of culture, media, entertainment and creativity of sex, sexuality and gender. The performance is multi-media and involved audience participation. The workshop following involves an exploration of body awareness, difference and empowerment. Performance: 30 minWorkshop: 3 hrsResidency (3-day min & negotiable)Creative WritingPoetry for Personal PowerThis workshop engages participants in writing, discussion and readings that explore the relationship between writing poetry and personal empowerment. Students will read the work of June Jordan, Audre Lorde, Sonia Sanchez, Ntozake Shange; among others. Next students will talk about their own relationship to empowerment. Students will then draft poems to share with the group.Workshop: 2 1/2 hrs Spoken Word 101Rhythm, music, hip hop and poetry combine to make the popular art form-spoken word. This multi-media workshop introduces students to the basics of this style of performance poetry and gives them an opportunity to experiment with solo and group writing and performance. Workshop: 2 1/2 hrsWriting About Music 101Writing for Performance 101Are you developing a solo performance? Is there a story inside of you that you want to see on the big stage? This multi-media workshop is designed to introduce budding writers and performers to the craft of writing for the stage. Participants will explore elements of storytelling, play writing, poetry. Participants will have the opportunity to show their works in process and receive feedback from the community of artists. Workshop: 4 hrsResidency: (negotiable)

Body Ecology residency participants. Fall, 2011 _ Casa Atabex Ache

Creatives and Artists

Creatives & Artists

319654_10150344619847256_640892255_8748003_1697920852_n.jpg

Creative Visioning for Performing Artist-ProfessionalsDo you have a performance, play, exhibit, or idea you want the world to experience? Creative Visioning helps you clarify your process for building a creative body of work. Part creative coaching, part project devising, part strategic planning, our visioning session promises to open you to the full potential of your next project and arm you with a workable action plan to get it done! Theatrical & Performance Art DirectingActivating 15 years of experience as a director, choreographer, theatre practitioner, performance artist and creative writer; Bettys Daughter Arts Collaborative offers a unique brand of directing that opens each actor to her or his highest performance potential while conveying compelling texts. Utilizing a special blend Theatre of the Oppressed, ethnography, documentary performance and intuition, each performer will experience an encouraging and nurturing process in preparation for mounting a professional performance.Creative Visioning for Everyday PeopleCreative practice isnt just for folks with Broadway aspirations. When we open up to our creativity, we expand our possibilities to live fuller, bolder lives. Creative play, mindfulness practice and arts exploration comprise our creative visioning sessions. We begin with a creativity assessment to see how you are manifesting creativity in your life and where you want to grow. We then move to an exploration phase that could be anything from a walk through the park, yoga, cooking, painting, dance or a writing and performance workshop. We conclude with a personally crafted creativity map to help you nurture your creativity between sessions.

Happenings wishingonastar.jpg.opt535x357o0,0s535x357.jpg

Happenings

Invest

Learn More About Investing Here!Betty's Daughter collaborates with individuals, artists, groups, change-makers, non-profits, collectives, and CBO's that work from a sound, progressive socio-political platform and seek to activate art as a tool for individual transformation and justice. Betty's Daughter Arts Collaborative is dedicated and committed to practicing social entrepreneurship, which isn't solely about gaining monetary capital but also increasing social capital in our communities. Along with our official slate of services, we offer numerous creative outreach workshops, trainings and performances to facilitate processes for sustained engagement around issues directly affecting the holistic empowerment and transformation of local communities. Some of our collaborators struggle to gather the resources to sustain cultural arts direction action in their communities. In those situations, we offer reduced and free services to organizations that are looking to sustain "radical expressiveness in community". We need your support to continue our work. Become an investor, today!We accept PayPal donations: log in to Paypal and send funds to ebonygolden_bettysdaughterarts.com.
Nov. 1 Spirituality and Power Performance Workshop for Mothers _ Casa Atabex Ache, Bronx, NY5: Body Ecology Reproductive Justice Canvasing, Brooklyn, NY19: RingShout for Reproductive Justice (part 2) _ James Marion Sims Memorial5th Ave & 103rd, Manhattan, NY20: She Leads Radio w/ Piper Anderson, topic- Cultural Arts & Africa30: CAPP/YEEP Partnership Final Performance and Wrap-Up, Baltimore, MDDec.1: Body Ecology _ Re-Writes Theatre Fundraiser, Space on White, Manhattan, NY 2: Body Ecology _ Rivers of Honey/ WoW Cafe Theatre, Manhattan, NY4: BDAC _ TMTC Harlem Nights Presents Wilson ReImagined, Studio Museum in Harlem, Harlem, NY5: Zilphia Horton Residency Project Wrap-up, New Market, TN11: Collective Sun Staged Reading, Durham, NC 17-18: Body Ecology Fall Retreat19: Project Zanzibar Zanzibar, TanzaniaJan.Project Zanzibar Concluding Performance/Block PartyFeb.2nd Annual "Got Creativity Campaign" 3rd Annual Women on Wednesdays Arts and Culture Project _ Brecht Forum, Manhattan, NYMar.9-10: Body Ecology _ WoW Cafe Theatre, full production, Manhattan, NYBody Ecology: Creativity &Transformation Residency in Manhattan, TBDBDAC _ NYU Hemespheric Institute's Encuentro Cities/ Bodies/ Action- The Politics of Passion in the Americas, Mexico City, MexicoApr.RingShout for Reproductive JusticeTeach-In

Gratitude

331263_10150317928077256_640892255_8602281_383347471_o.jpg

"You're incredible!""It has been phenomenal getting to work with you this year.""I'm always undone by your talent, intelligence, and approach to "art"."I look forward to working with you in the future"."We appreciate your input as we emerge during our grant writing process.""Your elegance and wisdom make you shine.""Thank You!""Thank you for moving with us!""Thank you so much for everything.""I so appreciate the time investment you've made in us. It means a lot.""I'll never forget your influence.""Love you sooooo much sister.""You are peace embodied, flying through the air.""Sis, you are an amazing performer, facilitator, mentor, woman, philosopher, goddess.""Your presence is incredibly calming and your courage strengthens.""Thanks for sharing and pushing.""Will you be back in the fall? Our students need you." "Thank you so much for bringing my play to life. Your spirit, energy and creative brilliance is like no other." "I don't know how to put into words the gratitude I have for the opportunity to be in your presence over the past weekend.""The sharing during Gumbo YaYa was powerful.""Gumbo YaYa has caused me to evaluate building relationships with women.""The workshop was great with respect to all of the interactions that embraced movement, silence, speaking, communicating.""Thank you for the space to be creative.""I love the different conversations around the meaning of sisterhood.""I would love to come back for the other sessions.""Awesome!""I greatly appreciate your support and recommendation for my graduate school application. You are an important big sista in my life...""Thank you so much for traveling so far and performing. Everyone was so complimentary of your performance. In fact, my pastor requested a copy. Your gift is precious!""Great session! I appreciated all of the activities.""Ebony did a very good job facilitating but not dominating discussion. It flowed and happened organically and she let it happen."" I enjoyed the physical elements of the workshop."

Gratitude

Testimonials...Collaborator: Casa Atabex AcheInspiration: Make Ritual Theatre AccessibleTime Frame: fall 2011Location: South BronxService Provided: Body Ecology: Creativity and Transformation ResidencyJourney: Casa Atabex Ache is a healing center that utilizes a Human Rights framework to empower women of color to name the sources of oppression, identify how oppression impacts are wholistic health and learn community and organizing skills. Carmen and Ebony met earlier this year when she was a visiting artist with Women on Wednesdays Arts and Culture Project. We have stayed in contact through shared interests and work over the year. When Carmen came into the role of Program Director, she reached out to Betty's Daughter Arts Collaborative to offer programming. Betty's Daughter decided that a rendition of the Body Ecology residency would fit perfectly!Collaborator Quote: "I got a new perspective on how the body can release. The entire performance and experience had a profound impact on the way I see the use of movement and theatre to facilitate a healing process. The tears I cried during the performance felt so good. I have no words of gratitude for you and the women who performed. I know they were going through their own experience but it was a community process. There was no fourth wall! I don't know know how, but I want to continue to support your work. I have never seen anything like that before!" -Carmen Mojica FabianCasa Atabex AcheProgram DirectorCollaborator: PUSH, SUNY-PurchaseInspiration: Make Liberation IrresistibleTime Frame: spring 2011Location: White Plains, NYService Provided: Theatre for Liberation IntensiveJourney: PUSH is a social justice student organization on campus. I met one of the members, Judith Angeles, at Cave Canem-South last year. Weve kept in touch through Facebook for the last year. Judith placed a call to local artists to come to SUNY to facilitate workshops for their Week of Activism. After a few conversations, Judith and PUSH decided the Theatre for Liberation Intensive would work well for their group. We quickly finalized the arrangements for the Intensive to happen after spring break.Collaborator Quote: Ebony was great! I would love to bring her in to do a series of workshops! The one workshop was great, but it made me realize that we need many more, so that we can continue the dialogue of social change in our Purchase community and worldwide. -Judith AngelesCollaborator: Medgar Evers College, Center for Black LiteratureInspiration: Transformation and Activism Through PerformanceTime Frame: Fall 2009Location: Brooklyn, NYService Provided: Body Ecology: Performing Activism Journey: After a few strategy sessions with project director Joi M. Sears, Bettys Daughter Arts Collaborative was hired to teach a community-based performance workshop for the Black Artist as Activist and Transformative Agent project, funded by the Nathan Cummings Foundation. We began teaching in October and completed in December with a community performance and reception. During the course, participants completed the Body Ecology: Performing Activism curriculum- a series of lessons about solo & ensemble performance, social justice, body politics, and community action. The women who completed the course still work together as a performance ensemble performing under the same- the Body Ecology Performance Ensemble. Collaborator Quote: "Ebony Golden integrates an innovative performance methodology into her work which is transformative, creative and collaborative. The work that evolved out of the Black Artist as Activist Program is amazing, and serves as a shining example of how the arts can be used as a tool for community-organizing and social justice."-Joi M. SearsTheatre for the Free PeopleExecutive Director Collaborator: The Saartjie ProjectLocation: Washington, DCInspiration: The Revolutionary Praxis of Nina SimoneTime Frame: Spring 2010Service Provided: Creative Visioning for Performing Artist-ProfessionalsJourney: After a meeting with The Saartjie Project's executive director Jessica Solomon, Bettys Daughter Arts Collaborative was contracted to design and facilitate a creative visioning session for the performance ensemble as they embarked on their new theatre piece- Four Women. The process was comprised of conference calls, process drafts, and session facilitation, and debrief. Saartjie Project will stage Four Women this spring.Collaborator Quote: "Our work with Betty's Daughter Arts Collaborative has been critical to our development as community artists and cultural workers. Being pushed creatively and thoughtfully by a facilitator who not only understands our mission and aesthetic but is connected to it via her own work has been extremely generative. We look forward to more skill-sharing, creating and dreaming with Betty's Daughter!"-Jessica SolomonExecutive DirectorThe Saartjie ProjectCollaborator: Jessica ValorisInspiration: Growing daily creativity for holistic wellness and decision makingTime Frame: winter and spring of 2011Location: Brooklyn, NYService Provided: Creative Visioning for Everyday PeopleJourney: Jessica is a multi-disciplinary artist and educator working in NYC. She reached out to Bettys Daughter Arts Collaborative after the initial launch of our #gotcreativity campaign on twitter.com. Although she is an accomplished artist and educator, she wanted to learn ways to increase creativity in her daily life that could inform her decision making process. Jessica met with Ebony for a day-long session that started with an invitation to a yoga class. After that, we took time to cook a vegan meal, meditate, write, talk, rest, and talk more. Then we created a series of homework assignments to help Jessica further explore creativity in her daily life. The assignments included daily meditation, creative writing and the construction of a vision map. Jessica is still in a creative visioning process with Bettys Daughter Arts Collaborative and is set to have at least two more sessions.Collaborator Quote: Working with Betty's Daughter Arts Collaborative has challenged me to build clarity around my own voice and purpose, and to take actions that hold me accountable to my own vision. BDAC has supported me in this journey of developing a mindfulness practice, and remembering to breathe.-Jessica Valoris

Collaborations

Women on Wednesdays

In The People's Hands

Collaborators & Clients

179827_10150090717337256_640892255_6848625_1458973_n.jpg

336097_10150323128047256_640892255_8628748_1949898529_o.jpg

Women on Wednesdays is an art and culture project dedicated to celebrating the creativity, empowerment, holistic health, and civic engagement of black girls and women. WoWs motto is Engage. Create. Empower. Through our art and culture series, interactive speak outs, workshops, residencies, and street actions Women on Wednesday practices and affirms a world where black girls and women live healthy, creative, liberated lives. http://wowproject.yolasite.com
In the Peoples Hands Arts and Activism Project(IPH) is an online zine and community creativity lab that focuses on social justice and sustainability. The project is a labor of love that began in the late 1980s/early 1990s when a small collaborative of arts activists and cultural workers came together to kitchen table publish a community zine for, by, and about the Durham community. Jereann King, one of founding editors, revealed that during this time the group felt it was important to not only speak the word empowerment, but also practice it by activating the power and voices of the community. More can be found about IPH at http://www.inthepeopleshands.synthasite.com
(current and former)Alternate Roots-Atlanta, GA-Resources For Social Change- Annual Meeting Co-coordinatorHighlander Research and Education Center- Knoxville, TN-Zilphia Horton Cultural Organizers Residency Project-SEEDS of Fire Youth Activist CampSpiritHouse-NC- Durham, NCMedgar Evers College- Brooklyn, NY-Center for Black Literature-Center for Women's DevelopmentBrecht Forum- Manhattan, NYCave Canem Foundation- Brooklyn, NY- Poetry FellowCasa Atabex Ache- Bronx, NYUrban EpiCenter-Nashville, TNBon Secours Foundation of Maryland-Baltimore, MD1+1+1=One/ Hip Hop Mental Health Project-Manhattan, NYSaartjie Project-Washington, DCBroken Beautiful Press-Durham, NCOcean Ana Rising-NY, NY Theatre for the Free People- Manhattan, NY/ AmsterdamMovement Theatre Company- NY, NYIRT- Manhattan, NYNew York University-NY, NY- Department of Multi-Cultural Programs and Education-Black Student Union-Women's History Month CommitteeNorth Carolina A & T University- Greensboro, NC-English Department/ Creative Writing Program-Lyceum SeriesUniversity of North Carolina-Greensboro-Department of Theatre /Performance Studies

Body Ecology Performance Ensemble 314926_10150344617567256_640892255_8747956_1983896745_n.jpg

Up-Coming EventsDecember 17-18Winter RetreatNovember 19: RingShout for Reproductive Justice 3 p.m. _ James Marion Sims Memorial Statue 103rd & 5th Avenue.December1: Re-Writes Theatre Fundraiser _ Space on White2: River of Honey _ WoW Cafe Theatre17-18: Fall Retreat Current Offerings... RingShout for Reproductive Justice Performance/WorkshopThe Ringshout for Reproductive Justice workshop is an integrated arts-based process for exploring the personal, political, spiritual, creative, economic and environmental factors impacting the reproductive health of girls and women of the African diaspora. Bettys Daughter desires to offer this workshop to teens in order to bridge the generational knowledge gap about reproductive health options that exist for young women. Performance: 1 hrWorkshop: 2 1/2 hrsWata' Rituals Performance/WorkshopWater is an infinite life source. We are born into it. We are sustained by it. Internal, spiritual and political movement depends on it. Wata' Rituals is a conceptual workshop/performance that explores the role of water in everyday life and its link to embodied performances of liberation among black women.Performance: 1 hrWorkshop: 2 1/2 hrs.Star/Bones/Body Performance WorkshopWhat resources do you have within you to support your growth and development? What's in your wellness toolkit? Star/ Bones/ Body is a conceptual workshop/performance that explores an individual and collective journey to wholeness and wellness through movement, writing, meditation and improvisational performance.Performance: 1 hrWorkshop: 2 1/2 hrs.

Body Ecology

Who is Body Ecology?Body Ecology is a performance ensemble that honors the creative, spiritual, scholarly and radical lived experiences of women of the African diaspora. Conceived after BDAC's creativity and transformation residency at Medgar Evers College, Body Ecology conceptualizes performance and learning experiences with communities to build a praxis of collective wellness and liberation. Associate ArtistsSydette Harry is a writer, singer, blogger, problem, NYC-born by way of the Guyana. Writing as Blackamazon she has started boycotts, wished some _$) would but she is most proud of making her fellow beautiful beautiful girls of every color feel not alone and thankful they have done the same for her by SPEAKing! She continues to blog at Having Read The Fine Print (guyaneseterror.blogspot.com/) theorize heavily, write the first play of Salt&Rice Productions, get a PHD as soon she gets a topic, and try to fall in love a little bit more every day.Taja Lindley is a self-taught mixed-media artist, full-spectrum doula and reproductive justice activist who is multi-tasking, on the grind, and inspired by the beauty of colored girls in the midst of struggle. As a young woman of color, daughter of a single mother and the eldest of three sisters, Taja is acutely aware of the challenges facing Black women today and is excited about addressing our challenges through creativity, personal transformation and entrepreneurship. She is the founder of Colored Girls Hustle (www.ColoredGirlsHustle.com), an initiative that uses art as a tool to create affirming and celebratory images, messages and adornment for, about and by women of color.Audrey Hailes is a native of Washington DC and a graduate of NYU's Experimental Theatre Wing. She is a dancer, singer, actor, choreographer and theatre-maker.She is more glad than anyhting to finally be apart of a performance group as deep and necessary as Body Ecology and thanks her friends and family for keeping her on a path of love and righteousness.Assistant Artistic Director-Consistently redefining what it means to be a Jersey Girl, director, educator, performer and writer Kelly Thomas was born and raised in the Garden State. A New York City resident for the past 5 years, Kelly has studied directing and acting at New York Universitys Tisch School of the Arts, and is currently completing her Bachelors degree in Educational Theatre at NYUs Steinhardt School with a minor in Africana Studies. As a citizen*artist and student of the global classroom, Kellys studies in theatre for liberation, the Black Atlantic, education policy, feminist theory, holistic health and hip-hop have taken her around the US and across the continents to the most nontraditional of settings.Jessica Valoris is a born doodler, poet, and self-experimenting visual and performing artist. Armed with a passion for words, music, and movement, Jessica embraces art as a way to explore our ancestral, cultural, and personal stories. A proud Black woman of Jewish heritage, Jessica is a community activist and educator, who co-founded Roots Rising and Chainless Voices, two organizations that combine youth and community empowerment with performing arts and entrepreneurship. She continues to collaborate with various individuals and organizations to build with others around creative, empowering and healing endeavors. www.wix.com/javiseed/zebrawings.Heather Lee has been dancing and performing since she was a little girl. She specializes in Modern, Hip-hop and African Dance with some experiance in salsa and bellydance. Heather has studied modern, contemporary and African Dance at the world renowned American Dance Festival in 2006, 2008 and 2009 and returned as a performer with the African American Dance Ensemble in 2010. Heather has been a principle dancer with Bellan Dance Theatre for 3 years, and was recently chosen for a Mark Dendy site specific piece for the re-opening of the North Carolina Museum of art in Raleigh. Heather is passionate about dancing. "Dance," she says, "is where I connect with people, it's when they really hear what I am trying to say." Artistic Director-Hailing from Houston, TX, Ebony Noelle Golden is a cultural worker, conceptual performance artist, Cave Canem Fellow, and creative director of Bettys Daughter Arts Collaborative, LLC. Ebony is the originator of the Body Ecology: Performing Activism took kit. Betty's Daughter Arts Collaborative is a cultural arts direct action group that inspires, enlivens, and incites justice and transformation of individuals and communities through creativity, cultural arts and radical expressiveness. As creative director, Ebony leads and supports progressive change and artistic projects translocally. Ebony's work spans creative, academic, community organizing spheres and is rooted in a transformative praxis she developed called Cultural Arts Direct Action. Kristin Simpson- (hiatus/founding member) aka missTaKe is a writer and an emerging visual performance artist who hopes to extend into a variety of mediums, including dance and film. She is fascinated with the healing and transformative power of art. A Licensed Master Social Worker by training, she has used her clinical background as well as lived experience and lessons from her art practice to consult with organizations around such topics as respectful community engagement and broad based culture change. Past clients include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Organ Donor Network. She is very, very queer. To see what Kristin is up to check out www.wix.com/ms_TaKe/creativerevolutions.Mecca Meyers(hiatus/ founding member) is in motion to speaking of herself in third-person, providing that she is now an entity of importance in the realm of The Universe. A performer and a lover of all things life, liberty and the pursuit of clarity, Mecca focuses [what mind she has] on Media for Social Change. The constant experimenter of self since her involvement in Theatre and Performing Arts since high school, Mecca appreciates building and filling in the holes for the sake of growth internally, externally and exponentially. Allow her inner sense to protect her innocence.

CADA

Cultural Arts Direct Action

Betty's Daughter Arts Collaborative, LLC is a cultural arts direct action group that inspires, enlivens, and incites justice and transformation of individuals and communities through creativity, cultural arts and radical expressiveness.We activate our work through our Cultural Arts Direct Action Methodology.CADA is an arts-based organizing, teaching and creativity praxis fueled by progressive social action that is intimately linked to translocal, communal and individual transformation. Creative Innovation extends beyond artistic innovation. In fact, it is the ability to think outside of the artistic box even when one is engaged in an artistic process. It is the ability to imagine beyond the tangible into the space where the dreaming is radical and a process emerges for actualizing that dream for liberation.Awareness is a practice in asset-mapping and knowledge-sharing. Action is a process of moving theory into a space of experimentation and exploration. Action is the hydration of theory-by those who create the theory. The spect-actors, participants, performers, etc. Community Collaboration is the practice of creating that is based on building trust, shared work, responsibility and accountability.

Current CADA Campaign

RingShout For Reproductive Justice

RingShout for Reproductive Justice

_RS4RJ

Inaugural Cultural Arts Direct Action Campaign RingShout for Reproductive JusticeSeptember 2011-June 2012Body Ecology performance season 2011-2012 is dedicated to utilizing integrated cultural arts-based processes to explore the personal, political, spiritual, creative, economic and environmental factors impacting the reproductive health of black girls and women. What is a Cultural Arts Direct Action Campaign?A campaign is an energetic focus for art-making and cultural transformation. More than a project, a campaign is a process for actualizing tangible change in community.Action StatementThe RingShout for Reproductive Justice cultural arts direct action campaign affirms, works and envisions a world that allows black women to be fearless, informed and supported in making moves to choose when, how and what we want to create.RingShout for Reproductive Justice ManifestaWE are experts in our own livesWE know our creations are assets and resources of possibilityWE know our worthWE know love is our greatest weaponWE embrace our bodies as vital and complex sources of creationWE need support systemsWE own our own decisionsWE desire love and care as necessary parts of our human conditionWE desire beastly fearlessnessWE are relentlessWE demand education and access to wholistic health and reproductive choicesWE demand autonomy over our own creationsAshe.
291851_10150344637142256_640892255_8748089_130027211_n.jpg

291851_10150344637142256_640892255_8748089_130027211_n.jpg

315008_10150344646472256_640892255_8748168_1931358034_n.jpg

297439_10150344637342256_640892255_8748094_1064260809_n.jpg

"Our lives, labor and love BE matters of our own control."

-Body Ecology

Strategic Services01

Imagine

Build

Reflect

329802_10150429422706955_521036954_10519458_1273557174_o.jpg

184802_10150098639172256_640892255_6939019_2158771_n.jpg

Strategic Visioning for OrganizationsDo you have a good idea that could make a large impact in your community, but have no idea how or where to begin? Bettys Daughter Arts Collaborative supports organizations working to clarify mission, vision, goals, priorities, funding streams and next steps. Blending traditional and creative approaches to strategic visioning, you will leave a strategic visioning session as a stronger team with a clearer understanding of how to sustain the transformation you want to see in the world!Project Design and Implementation Do you have a bold vision for a project, but just dont know how to journey from idea to evaluation? Let Bettys Daughter Arts Collaborative help you conceptualize, plan the logistics, and implement your next progressive project. Beginning with a survey of needs and proposed outcomes, we take the time to help you think though every nook and cranny of your project. We then look at some examples of similar work in the field to borrow best practices and avoid common mistakes. After that, we begin to fill in action steps and calendar of duties from project start to evaluation.
Building a Culture of Creativity within Your Team Have you ever attended a conference, plenary, or strategic planning session and thirty-minutes in, you are bored out of your mind? Have you wanted to learn ways to keep team members coming up with fresh and innovative ideas? This workshop is for you! Tailored to groups who repeatedly have to accomplish tasks or have one major task to complete, Bettys Daughter Arts Collaborative offers and facilitates conversations and activities to keep your teams creative juices flowing. We start with an assessment of the current role creativity plays in the culture of your organization or team. Then we identify concrete spaces to push your team to be more creative during your next big task. Finally, we identify action steps to continue growing a culture of creativity within our team. Curriculum DesignWhether you need a lesson plan or a multi-module publication that highlights the best of what you teach, Bettys Daughter Arts Collaborative is there for help. Building on Education for Liberation methodologies, project-based learning, and arts education practices, we help you articulate your pedagogical approach, lesson plan templates, audience, access and the activation of the course.
Project Evaluation and ReflectionA step that is often missed in community-based projects is evaluation and reflection. Bettys Daughter Arts Collaborative provides creative methods for organizations to reflect after a process. We are also able to help you craft an evaluation process that fits the culture of your team while gathering data you need for diverse purposes and funding options.

Archive coming soon....

Coming Soon...

BDAC directs Collective Sun in Durham, NC w/ SpiritHouse

BDAC heads to Zanzibar for Project Zanzibar w/ Creative Solutions School