Congratulations to Jasmine Powell, whose second Durham Independent Dance Artists (DIDA) composition premieres tomorrow night. Powell, who has served as Cary Academy’s dance and movement teacher since 2015, explores the experience of black womanhood, self-worth, power and powerlessness through poetry and four solo dance performances in Approximation of a Woman, on-stage at Durham’s historic Hayti Heritage Center on Friday, May 17 at 8pm (Tickets are available here.)

“Each narrative shares space with the others as these women present the gravitas of their ‘required’ role, holding the thread that binds their thoughts in forms only their eyes can recognize,” Powell says. “Although presented through the lens of black women, this event invites all women and men of any defining identity group to include themselves in the essence of these stories.”

“DIDA fits because I’m taking dance into places where dance isn’t normally seen. I know that Hayti is a historical landmark because I grew up going to it as well,” Powell recently told the Independent Weekly, which features Approximation of a Woman in this week’s issue. “I’m working as a bridge to bring dance to the other side of the tracks; to bring those who follow DIDA to other parts of Durham, and to bring us all together and say that dance can happen anywhere. It’s OK to go out of your comfort zone to see it.”