I Know Exactly What You Mean playfully explores the roles of storytelling and lying in recovering cultural memory, establishing kinship amongst Black folks, and processing personal grief. Devised by Ude in collaboration with performers Selah V. Hampton, Symara Johnson, and Rochelle Jamila Wilbun, this evening-length dance calls on nostalgic Black music and personal narratives to draw the audience into the work. This project is premiering in multiple stages, the first in Spring 2022 as a performance and workshop, inviting audiences into the process, choreography, and improvisatory practices used throughout the work.

Photo by Ian Douglas