- Hello everybody, I'm Satori Shakoor.

Welcome to "Detroit Performs: Live From Marygrove", where Detroit's talented artists, take the stage and share insights into their performances.

This episode is curated by DEYAs, Rick Sperling and Nafeesah Symonette.

They have brought us two organizations dedicated to youth arts.

The Detroit-Windsor Dance Academy, and InsideOut Literary Arts.

So sit back, relax and enjoy right here on "Detroit Performs: Live From Marygrove".

(upbeat music) - [Narrator] Funding for Detroit Performs is provided by the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation.

The Kresge Foundation, the A. Paul and Carol.

C Schaap Foundation, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts.

The DeRoy Testamentary Foundation, and by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you, thank you.

(upbeat music) (logo whooshing) (light whooshing) - Hello everybody, and welcome to "Detroit Performs: Live From Marygrove".

I'm your host Satori Shakoor.

And I am sitting here and thrilled to be so with Nafeesah Symonette from DEYA.

Hi, Nafeesah?

- Hi, Satori.

- Oh, well tell us about DEYA.

'Cause I understand it's young, it's new, it's fresh.

- It is, it is, so DEYA stands for Detroit Excellence in Youth Arts.

And its mission really is to support the development of Detroit youth through three things, racial equity, collective impact, and sustainability.

And we want to do that within and through the arts.

- Okay, and how's it going?

- It's going really well.

We were started as a fund through the children's foundation, and Rick Sperling, the founder of Mosaic Youth Theater, Detroit.

This is his brain child.

This, he came up with this idea that Detroit really is in need of an organization, that has the ability to bring together all the arts organizations and entities that support youth arts, for the purpose of us elevating and lifting the goals that all of those organizations have.

So DEYA is really trying to position itself to, you know, not as another arts organization, but in support of the organizations that already exist.

We wanna bring those organizations to a national stage, really international stage.

- It seems so obvious and it seems so simple, but in the face of it not being available, it becomes genius and brilliant.

- We hope so, you know, it's a revolutionary concept, I think, because nonprofit organizations work in isolation and really in a silo, where they have their own partnerships and they do their own work.

And they are, you know, supporting their endeavor which of course, you know, they should be.

But what about what happens if we all work together?

- I'm so excited to have you in the world and in Detroit.

And who did you bring for us?

- Yes, well, we brought the Detroit-Windsor Dance Academy who has really been just a staple in Detroit for a good part of 30 years, at least 30 years.

And they have done phenomenal work with bringing dance as a tool, as a resource, as an outlet for young people in the city of Detroit.

And then also InsideOut Literary Arts.

It is just an incredible organization in allowing students to find their voice, to become really creative writers, to be performers.

And both of those organizations, they, you know students are on stage and so it really lifts them and it provides that sense of confidence.

And I think self-worth that students really thrive on when they are introduced to the arts.

So, we are super excited for Detroit-Windsor Dance Academy and InsideOut Literary Arts.

- Thank you so much, Nafeesah, you're inspiring.

- Thank you.

- And what you're doing is phenomenal.

- Thank you.

- So let's head to the stage to see the Detroit-Windsor Dance Academy.

(light whooshing) ♪ How much better can I show my love for you ♪ ♪ And say, I do, I do, I do ♪ ♪ I do, I do, I do ♪ ♪ You may not know right where you're going ♪ ♪ But, I do, I do, I do ♪ ♪ And all the times you wasn't chosen ♪ ♪ Well, I'll make it up to you ♪ ♪ All of the feelings you're not showing ♪ ♪ When your river's overflowing, mmm ♪ ♪ It's the truth, swear to you ♪ ♪ I do, I do, I do, I do, I do ♪ ♪ And all that you are, I do ♪ ♪ My single line of stars in noon ♪ ♪ Reflection of the very moon, I do ♪ ♪ I do, I do, I do ♪ ♪ Show my love for you ♪ ♪ Can I show my love for you?

♪ ♪ Can I show my love for you?

♪ (light whooshing) (slow music) ♪ You could buy me diamonds ♪ ♪ You could buy me pearls ♪ ♪ Take me on a cruise around the world ♪ ♪ Baby you know I'm worth it ♪ ♪ Dinner lit, not just dough but to show that you know ♪ ♪ She is worth your time ♪ ♪ You will lose if you chose to refuse to put her first ♪ ♪ She will if she can find a man who knows her worth, ♪ ♪ Mmm ♪ ♪ 'Cause a real man, knows a real woman when he sees her ♪ ♪ When he sees her ♪ ♪ And a real woman knows a real man ♪ ♪ Ain't afraid to please her, please her ♪ ♪ And a real woman knows a real man always comes first ♪ ♪ First ♪ ♪ And a real man just can't deny a woman's worth ♪ ♪ A woman's worth, mm-hh ♪ ♪ Oh, 'cause a real man knows a real woman when he sees her ♪ ♪ When he sees her ♪ ♪ And a real woman knows a real man ♪ ♪ Ain't afraid to please her, please me ♪ ♪ And a real woman knows a real man always comes first ♪ ♪ First baby, and a real man ♪ ♪ Just can't deny a woman's worth ♪ - [Maya] You may write me down in history with your bitter, twisted lies.

You may trod me in the very dirt but still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

Just 'cause I walk as if I have oil wells pumping in my living room, just like suns and like moons with the certainty of tides.

Just like hopes springing high, still I rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my sassiness upset you?

(laughs) Don't you take it so hard just 'cause I laugh, (laughs).

As if I have gold mines digging in my own backyard.

You can shoot me with your words, you can cut me with your lies, you may kill me with your hatefulness but just like life, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness offend you?

Oh, does it come as a surprise that I dance as if I have diamonds at the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame, I rise.

Up from a past rooted in pain, I rise.

A black ocean leaping and wide, welling and swelling, I bear in the tide leaving behind nights of terror and fear, I rise.

Into a daybreak miraculously clear, I rise bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave.

I am the hope and the dream of the slave, and so, naturally.

- I rise.

- [Both] I rise.

- [All] I rise.

- [Maya] There I go, rising.

(upbeat music) ♪ 'Cause as a black woman ♪ ♪ I am deep black soil ♪ ♪ They have tried to pollute me ♪ ♪ With a poison called America ♪ ♪ They have tried to scorch my roots with dope ♪ ♪ They have tried to drown my dreams with alcohol ♪ ♪ With too many men who spit their foam on top of my fruit ♪ ♪ Till it drops rotten in America's paws ♪ ♪ But I am deep blue, black soil ♪ ♪ And you can hear the sound of my walking ♪ ♪ As I bring forth green songs from a seasoned breast ♪ ♪ As I burn on our evening bed of revolution ♪ ♪ I, being black woman, know only the way of the wound ♪ ♪ For I am deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep ♪ ♪ Deep, deep, deep red soil ♪ ♪ For our emerging black nation ♪ ♪ And so, as I say again, and I probably can't say too often ♪ ♪ That we do be about that ♪ ♪ Because in the past we've been other things ♪ ♪ In the past, black women, black children ♪ ♪ Black people in general have not, ♪ ♪ As I say to you again, love themselves ♪ ♪ Black women especially have been many themes ♪ ♪ In this country ♪ ♪ And quite often when I talk to people ♪ ♪ I always tell young sisters ♪ ♪ That you have to be more than your mama's was ♪ ♪ You have to be more than people think you be ♪ ♪ You have to be ♪ ♪ Because in the past we have been this ♪ ♪ We are songs, shape and song ♪ ♪ We are music yet unplayed ♪ ♪ We be black women ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Singing in the night ♪ ♪ We be lovers yet unloved ♪ ♪ We be wives, yet unwed ♪ ♪ We be black women ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Singing in the night ♪ ♪ Ooh, aah ♪ (light whooshing) - You just saw the Detroit-Windsor Dance Academy on stage.

Weren't they fabulous?

And I'm sitting here and have the pleasure and honor to sit here, with Debra White-Hunt.

Hi, Debra?

- Hi, Satori, how are you?

- Very well, very well.

How long have you been inspiring youth to dance?

- I've been in the Detroit-Windsor Dance Academy business since for 38 years, this is our 38 season.

But before Detroit-Windsor, I was a teacher in the Detroit public schools at Marygrove here, at Wayne County Community College and different parts of the world.

So I've been teaching and dancing a long time.

- And what is your personal mission for dance?

- I believe dance can really change a person's life and change it for the better.

One of my best sayings is, "Dance is movement, "movement is life."

And so it's like as long as we're alive, we're moving.

And then when the final breath goes, we're no longer moving.

So I think that part of dancing is part of moving through life, in a way that it's just amazing.

- [Satori] And where are you located?

- We're currently located, teaching our classes at this Detroit School of Arts, DSA.

- What kind of impact would you say that the Detroit-Windsor Dance Academy has had on this city and on the young people and the audiences that attend?

- I like to say a tremendous impact.

And I say that because we're in our fifth generation of dancers, we have grandmothers who brought their daughters that are now bringing their daughters and sons.

And we've been able to raise up various generations that are throughout the entire world, doing what they love.

Some, which is in the arts, some, they tell me that because they took dance it has helped them do what they do outside of dance.

- What were the performances and who was the choreography and how was it inspired?

- One piece is called "Broken/Unbroken".

And the dancers kinda created this on their own.

And it's five of them that created it.

And they were the pre-professional students this season.

And it's all about really expressing themselves and where they are at this time in their lives, and this COVID pandemic.

And then we have this, "Suite", that we were working on and it's three dances, it's two soloists.

For the three different dances that are in that, we have the center that holds it together, "Still, I Rise", with Maya Angelo's words.

And the dancers got a chance to really hear her voice.

And then there's a solo on either and both ending.

- Thank you so much for your contribution to the city of Detroit and beyond.

You are the great, Debra White-Hunt, for me.

- (laughs) Oh, Satori.

- Yes, and we're going down to the stage to witness InsideOut Literary Arts.

(light whooshing) - A poet's introduction.

My name is Cassidy Rose Howard.

You can call me Cass.

Most people do, except for when they don't.

See, some friends call me bubbles, family only calls me roses and he calls me sunshine.

But Cass is fine.

People always seem to think that I'm older than I am.

And I wonder if it's because I had to grow up so fast because I'm only 5'6", and barely 110 pounds.

I don't look like much.

Most of that is in muscle anyways.

I volunteer as much as I can because I want to make the world better.

Because I've seen the news and I hate what the world is painted as and I refuse to watch the black and white movie, and I'll just try to paint it myself.

Maybe, maybe it's from dance too.

I've always tried to make people feel things, try to make words and music an extension of myself, try to move people, leave them with some feeling to hold onto after the curtain closes or the poetry book slams shut.

I love the feeling when the music moves you itself, or the words just push themselves out and take me as if I am the tide rolling smoothly off of my tongue.

I love words, though, I'm not always sure how to use them and I'm usually not all that good with them.

Because vulnerability used to be the scariest thing in the world, because letting people in comes with giving them the ability to leave you.

But I put so much trust in a pinky promise.

I put so much trust in a world that I have no proof even exists.

I've seen people claim to be in love and yet their loud voices don't leave a trace of it.

And I convince myself that I can be better but I'm not really sure what better looks like.

Growing up like the marigolds I'd plant with my grandpa, pushing through growing roots through cold dark soil, a yellow flower, which drops its seeds hoping to spread brightness, however it can.

And, wow, I ramble a lot.

You should just call me Cass.

Thank you.

(light whooshing) - I couldn't sleep.

Thoughts racing at the speed of light, sleep seemingly indestructible.

Closing my eyes without making a dent, I felt heavy.

A day's worth of saving my own butt weighing me down.

Wishing I could snap all my worries away.

Why should I worry about others when I can barely take care of myself?

That's why I was surprised when Mr. Superman, so and so came knocking on my door.

Like, sir, don't you see, I'm trying to rest.

Don't save me from nightmares when I'm hoping on dreams, I'm not those damsels in distress you always seem to gravitate towards.

So Mr. Supermarket, I don't need to be saved.

Mind you, I mitigate microaggressions every day.

My regenerative healing helps me, move piercing bullets aim at my skin, and glares cut through my flesh, butter to knife, smooth.

So Clark Kent, (laughs) you think that you can do what I do?

Glasses and a cheap tie can masquerade what is known as my life.

So Mr. S on my chest, Super Mario, what can you do to save me?

'Cause these monsters, I know all too well.

And my villains reside in my reality.

While I appreciate your work, don't none of that work around here.

So let me sleep, and then now come and save the day.

I understand your urgency, 'cause I ain't got no kryptonite, but my powers go beyond DC, because Superman, you do know I'm black, right?

(light whooshing) - Well we're back from the stage after having witnessed two very powerful performances from InsideOut Literary Arts.

And I'm thrilled to be here today with Justin Rogers from the organization, welcome.

- Thank you for having me.

- Yes, how many years has InsideOut been in existence?

- We were established in 1997.

We just recently celebrate our 25th anniversary.

So it's been a very, very long time coming.

- And what's the purpose, and the mission of InsideOut?

- InsideOut Literary Arts is here to encourage students to think broadly and create bravely and share their voices with the world.

We really want to see students engaged not just with poetry, but with themselves in new ways and the world in new ways.

We wanna think of poetry as a avenue to get to a multitude of different career paths and ways of life.

- And how does that lead to different career paths?

How does poetry lead one there?

- Well, it's important to know that writing is really important in all career paths, no matter what, all walks of life.

Poetry is really unique because you're really smashing as much information as you possibly can into these smaller lines.

And that gives you the opportunity to think differently about how you're communicating it, use those literary devices, imagery, metaphors, so on and so forth, to really tell a story.

And all those small mechanics, you know, those are present here in just this conversation.

So being able to develop them young if you will, is really important.

- And who are the young poets that we witnessed this evening?

- Today, we saw Cassidy Howard and Ife Martin.

They are both former performance troop members in our program, and current youth advisory board members in our program.

- When you see these young people on stage having found their voice, finding their voice, how does that make you feel?

- I'm proud.

Of course, you know, the parents are proud.

The teachers are proud, everybody's really proud.

But you know, it reminds me one, of my younger self.

I was really the shy one who didn't wanna get on stage, but once I got on the stage and figured out how much I enjoyed being there, how liberated I felt, I became anew.

And you can see that happen with some of our students that are really reserved.

And even the ones who aren't really reserved, the ones who are like, you know, I know I'm really, really out there but I'm really nervous to do it in front of other people.

But then they do that.

And that public speaking confidence that comes about.

That student really changes how they interact not just with the stage, not just in the artistic spaces but in their classrooms, with their friends, out in society.

That boost is what makes me the happiest to see them be able to begin the next phase of their lives.

- Do you still have those slam teens that tour?

- So we shifted over to what we call our performance troop, where students submit their work and we have a board of judges that still do judge the poems.

But we're trying to bring together students and help them grow their performance potential, rather than trying to get the very best performers from this poetry slam, and then putting together this super team.

So what this allows us to do is instead of sending poets out to compete, we are able to connect with opportunities like this where poets can just share their words on stage, and have opportunities to be leaders, share their work in panels.

It really broadens what we're able to do with a group of poets instead of just the competition.

- Thank you so much, Justin Rogers.

- Thank you so much for having me.

- And that is it for "Detroit Performs: Live from Marygrove", this week.

I'm your host Satori Shakoor, and I can't wait to see you again.

(upbeat music) - [Narrator] Funding for Detroit Performs is provided by the Fred A. and Barbara.

Erb Family Foundation.

The Kresge Foundation.

The A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Foundation.

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts.

The DeRoy Testamentary Foundation.

And by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you.

Thank you.

(upbeat band music) (slow music)