1.6 Naila Ansari: Amplifying Black Voices through Performance and Pedagogy

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S1.E6.
In this episode, Thembi is joined by award-winning choreographer, director and performing artist, Naila Ansari, who shares her journey from the world of dance to her work as an academic and archivist.
We talk about some of her groundbreaking projects including The Movement of Joy, in which she archives the Joy of Black women, challenging dominant narratives and celebrating resilience.
Naila also discusses her innovative work in exploring the subversion of gender norms and interrogating the near absence of Black women in academia.
Naila Ansari is a SUNY Buffalo State University Assistant Professor in Theater and Africana Studies. She recently served as a choreographer for Black Roots Summer, recognized for "Best Theater" by The New York Times, and was praised by Broadway World for her directing and choreography of her adaptation of Shea’s Performing Arts Center's first produced show, Once On This Island.
KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan.
Theme music by Sycho Sid.

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Chapter

1. 1.6 Naila Ansari: Amplifying Black Voices through Performance and Pedagogy (00:00:00)

2. Guest Biography (00:00:24)

3. The Artist's Relationship with Dance (00:01:58)

4. Archiving Black Dance and its Enduring Legacy (00:05:32)

5. Teaching Students about the Archiving Process (00:10:41)

6. How Buffalo Culture Informs her Artistry (00:11:41)

7. The Movement of Joy (00:17:18)

8. Breaking Identities in Hip Hop through the Queering of the Stud (00:22:54)

9. A Bold Artist Making People Uncomfortable (00:26:32)

10. Where are all the Black women in Academe? (00:28:46)

11. Envisioning a Place where Black Women Academics can Thrive (00:33:47)

12. Improvisation in the Workplace and on the Stage (00:37:53)

13. Recurring Themes in the Artist's Body of Work (00:40:46)

14. A Process for Choosing Collaborators (00:42:35)

15. How the Archival Focus Shapes Students' Perspectives (00:44:39)

16. The Roles of Art and Artists in Society (00:47:32)

17. Exciting Upcoming Projects (00:50:29)