From the 2016 Collaborative Studio project
JUST TO GET BY, Have No Fear looks to the leadership of founder and choreographer Adia Tamar Whitaker and her Brooklyn-based performance ensemble, Ase Dance Theatre Collective, as they prepare a piece to elevate the conversation around police brutality.

Have No Fear

Choreographer and activist Adia Whitaker is a mother of two. Too many sons and daughters from her community have been harmed by police brutality. Frustrated by the fleeting media coverage and public attention, Adia creates a performance piece designed to engage people, using her lyrics to teach children how to stay safe during encounters with the police. Rehearsals slowly become a call to action, a form of resistance, and a way to connect with the community.

Adia Tamar Whitaker

Beata Calińska

Sarah Jacobson

Full Credits

Starring
Choreographer, Founder & Artistic Director of Ase Dance Theatre Collective
Adia Tamar Whitaker

Co-Choreographer & Executive Director of Ase Dance Theater Collective
A. Nia Austin-Edwards

Ase Dancers/Vocalists
Brittany Grier, Erin Holmes, Aleijuan King, Wi-Moto Nyoka, Brian Polite, Kendra J. Ross, Rachel Russell, Efeya Sampson & Rashad Wilson

Vocal Soloists
Kendall Johnson Smith, Tendayi Kuumba & Timothy Prolific Veit Jones

Dance Soloists
Sade Adona, Kevin McEwen & Tyrone Bevans

OG Ase Dancers/Vocalists
Coco Killingsworth, Joy Bell & Jovan Clay

Musicians
Orion Gordon, Kojo Odu Roney, Goussy Celestin, Baba Duru Dimitrius & Talu Green
Costumes: Uncle Sene & Adia Tamar Whitaker

Directors
Beata Calińska
Sarah Jacobson

Director of Photography
Tracie Williams

Second Camera
James Nguyen

Sound Mix
Emile Klein & Christopher Allen

Sound Engineering
Joe Morgan

Project Mentor
Lynne Sachs

Àṣẹ Dance Theatre Collective

Àṣẹ Dance Theatre Collective is a brooklyn-based professional, neo-folkloric performance ensemble that specializes in Dance Theater from the African Diaspora since 2000. The company is currently made up of seven female dancer/vocalists, two male freestyle dancer/spoken word artists, two musicians and one vocalist.ASE also performs as a folkloric music ensemble and provides interactive educational performances for children K-12.

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