Sunday, Sep 12 / 6pm – 10pm
Calamus Auditorium at Gay City
Suggested donation of $5-20 for entry
No one turned away for lack of funds

Gay City Arts presents “…and god woke up”, a durational movement that Rafael/a is hopeful and humbled to share. The piece is a physical and ceremonial journey of a trans person of color’s dislocation and relocation of spirit. As a student and practitioner of many dance forms, ancestral worship and survivorship as a transperson, Rafael/a weaves together many tongues to retell his unfinished battle of birth, suicide, rebirth, and freedom. From capoeira to rope suspension, he will explore the perceived and real limits of his divine body, marking a sunset ceremony of over 4 hours of movement, fatigue, rest and persistence.

This ceremony is intended for people of color-identified witnesses, participants and community, but all peoples are welcome to participate in a respectful way that prioritizes people of color in this space. Please join Rafael/a by offering energy, prayers, art and presence in a life-sized altar (aka Calamus Auditorium) where everyone is encouraged to become part of the altar in some way. People are welcome to attend this translocation ritual at any point in the evening with song/word, movement of any kind, sketching/drawing, or witness at their own pace and choice, while being aware that an attitude of respect, openness and discomfort is welcomed and affirmed.

This sunset ceremony is in honor of all our transancestors who have gone before us and all our trans youth and elders who still remain on earth, fighting for their life and love everyday.

Art is the voice, spirit and conscience of every community and is a vital tool for community reflection, dialogue and pride. Through Gay City Arts, Gay City collaborates with local LGBTQ artists to galvanize an audience for queer arts, foster the development of LGBTQ artists and works, and facilitate artistic excellence that is accessible. Gay City Arts is committed to presenting challenging, dynamic and excellent queer art across a wide range of disciplines, including theater, music, dance, film, spoken word, literary and visual arts. Learn more at gaycity.org/arts