“I like to think of myself as a professional fan,” says Tarik Omir. “So I want people to love what I love too, and it’s really exciting to put them together.”
More than just a fan, O’Meally, a dancer, choreographer, educator, and Dance Place artistic director since June, has been bringing the community together for the Blacklight Summit. The first culture since 2021.
“It started [as] It is a platform for presenting early careers, emerging BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA+ artists, providing a platform for sharing their work,” he recalls. “I didn’t have much resources to nurture what I believe in. [are] The next generation of dance artists. So I used my position as a guest curator, then Clarice’s Art Planning Coordinator [Smith Center] To start it. ”
The event took a break in 2024, in the midst of Omeary’s journey from the University of Maryland’s Smith Center to Dance Place, but this year featured New York-based artist MX OOPS and the group. The black light is back [NONFATAL_ERROR]Presenting “unfinished animals,” multimedia performances and party experiences “capturing the essence of a strange nightlife culture.”
Omeel caught the work in New York a few seasons ago. “MX is truly an incredibly lively performer, academic and professor, meaning both practical and theoretical work,” he says.
The Summit also welcomes the “glitter-filled, wig crushed, lip sink, lip sink” drag Extravaganza Afterglow in its third year, produced by Bambi House. “One of the things about Black Light was about stripping dignity and situations around performance,” says O’Meally.
“And some of the best performances I’ve seen around town came from really, really incredible nightlife performers everywhere. So, Christopher K. Morgan. [Dance Place] The executive artistic director at the time supported it and carried it around.
While it sounds like he’s excited about this year’s Afterglow lineup, O’Meally said: And then he comes back, and he is an incredible drug performer and also eats Beyoncé’s set. Miss Grace David, who was actually a black light artist in 2022, will perform and return to Baltimore drug artist Stealya-Manz.
Hennessey and Qing Blaze, first-time performers with Anterglow Party, will also be joining the lineup. The Blacklight Summit continues to grow its community. “Home is an experience of connection and belonging,” says O’Mearly.
“It’s something I really want to promote in my work,” he continues. “It’s difficult for yourself here. So think about how we can gather together and share the heat of our bodies so that winter appears to be flowing. Not networks, but even grating pieces of care, the village And building a tight network is really important. That has always been really important to me.”
Black Light Summit 2025: MX OOPS [NONFATAL_ERROR] Presenting “Unfinished Animals” Dance Place, 3225 8th St. Ne, Saturday, February 8th, at 8pm. Tickets are $30 and offer discounts for seniors, students, artists and ages 3-17. Tickets are $30 and offer a discount. Or you’ve bought tickets for both programs and have only paid $25 in total. Call 202-269-1600 or visit www.danceplace.org.
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Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
