Summon

Jamaican-American performance artist Shamar Watt incorporates investigates the spirit of resistance embodied by the Maroon people of Jamaica and its timely relevance to fight for geo-socio-economic autonomy for the global south. Watt proudly traces his heritage back to the Maroons, formerly enslaved Africans who escaped and rebelled against British colonialists on the island in the 18th century. “Summon” seeks to give form to this spirited lineage through live performance featuring multiple dancers and percussionist Austin Williamson.

Through Summon, Watt reimagines his Maroon roots as a cosmic garden and delves into philosophical ideas around cosmic phenomenon such as black holes and dark matter as a way to perceive the black body, the maroon verse, and the unseen (spirit). The performance features an exciting amalgamation and abstraction of heavenly noises, utterances and movement information: from maroon, krump, and rave aesthetics to scientific theories around behaviors of the invisible matter/energy that governs life.