Guest Post by B’Rael Ali Thunder with Introduction by Mabel Lujan

The Future is Fast Approaching: A look at B’Rael Ali Thunder’s Latest Project 

With the support of a Chicago Dancemakers Forum 2021 Digital Dance Grant, B’Rael Ali Thunder is collaborating with local artists to build and present an interactive dance mural enhanced with virtual and augmented reality technologies. Through the use of smartphones, audience members will be able to scan over visual artwork to bring dancers stories and movement to life. Pulling from inspiration such as freedom, resistance, evolution, and the human spirit, B’Rael creates multidisciplinary performances that illustrate dancers overcoming historic and contemporary struggles. In this project, dancers were recently filmed surrounded by the artwork at 21c Museum Hotel Chicago, and now B’Rael is sketching preliminary ideas for the mural, which will premiere this summer/fall. 

Here’s a sneak peak of this work so far: 

[In-Process Sketches by B’Rael Ali Thunder]

Compute Funk

The Future is Fast Approaching. Systems of control cloak the true perpetrators of peace and humanity. The body percolates the spirit, the will, through movement. Restrictions, borders, caste systems–however hidden–cloud our true potential as sentient beings upon this earth. We are, the earth is, organically free. All of our systems should reflect that. We have the resources and capability to make our potential reality.

Compute Funk is a collaboration between the producer of the Chicago Footwork/Juke Instrumental entitled Compute Funk by Traxman, as well as dancers Gold Grrl Popper and Locker, Kolin “Reflex” Smith, and B’Rael Thunder, spoken word artist and dancer. This video centers Zak Ové’s sculpture Umbilical Progenitor (2018), a barefoot African astronaut time-traveller made from recycled material, which was created, he says, “in reverence of the journey I’d been on with my own father through our lifetime together.”

A.L.L.A.H

Watch your weapon. Its Blessing, its your Arm Leg Leg Arm Head. On my momma you were destined for your Arm Leg Leg Arm Head. Live your best life always.

 A.L.L.A.H. was produced by Chicago Footwork DJ Crossfire @ Mike Dub studio featuring Keisha Janae, movement specialist, as well as InLight, BBoy and Original Hip Hop Dancer. The video surrounds Gehard Demetz’s 21 Grams (2018), a sculpture which presents a hybrid figure of a young boy merging with the elephantine form of the Hindu deity, Ganesh, god of good fortune, new beginnings, and the remover of obstacles.

Credits:

@braelalithunder