The colloquium “Mnemonic Cinemas/Performances: Blackness & Embodiment” will be preceded by a two-day (May 23rd-24th) QTPOC dance workshop on embodiment with acclaimed New York based artist Niv Acosta, at Espace Sans Luxe. Additionally, Niv will also perform his recent performance Clapback at articule artist-run centre on May 25th as part of the conference procedures. Niv Acosta’s performance, like his work, troubles the “institution” of time and history and how these modes of control collapse cultures at the margins. The colloquium and accompanying performance, demonstrates the necessity for creating different “temporal” lines of history, specifically one that is driven by memory.

niv Acosta is a dance artist, educator, black Dominican, transexual, queer native New Yorker. He attended the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance (NYC), American Dance Festival (Duke Univ.) and CalArts (Dance BFA). In 2012 niv presented a solo work, “the panther”, at MOMA PS1, and after, began developing the final installment of the “denzel series”, titled, “i shot denzel,” which was presented in various stages at Center for Performance Research (2012), 92nd Street Y, Judson Memorial Church (2013), MOMA PS1, Abrons Arts Center, Human Resources (Los Angeles), and New York Live Arts (2014). Since the close of the “denzel series,” niv has been working on a new project expanding on his interests in sci-fi, astronomy, and disco. He’s presented two solo works titled “cosmic muck” and “inner disco” at Vox Populi in Philadelphia and at The Studio Museum in Harlem. niv has collaborated with artists Malik Gaines, Alexandro Segade, Andrea Geyer, A.K. Burns, and Ralph Lemon. 

For more information, including schedule and dance workshop sign up please visit:
mcgill.ca/igsf/events or e-mail ayanna.dozier@mail.mcgill.ca