Sunday Cypher (2025)
Sunday Cypher is rooted in the lineage of Jazz and driven by the pulse of Hip-Hop and House. This piece recognizes the deep histories that live inside these forms, tracing their energy back to Congo Square—a sacred site in New Orleans where enslaved Africans gathered on Sundays to dance, sing, drum, worship, and keep their cultural practices alive. The communal expressions born in that space laid the foundation for some of the greatest musical traditions in the United States, including ragtime and jazz. Sunday Cypher honors this lineage through movement, groove, and improvisation, celebrating the continuum of African diasporic creativity. The original soundscape, composed by Jake Meginsky, merges Hip-Hop and House textures with samples from John Coltrane and Ella Fitzgerald, creating a sonic world that holds the past and present in the same breath.
This work was brought to life by dancers from across the Five Colleges. Their commitment to this process was clear as they danced with intention, joy, and care. This deepened the piece’s connection to community and history. Together, we honored the legacy of Jazz while showcasing the richness of Funk styles, Hip-Hop, and House movement. The dancers poured their hearts into this choreography, uplifting the room with their energy and reminding us of the brilliance and resilience we come from.
