Cherie Hill (2006)
Remembering the Ancestors
Directed and choreographed by Cherie Hill, the work blends modern and Afro-Caribbean dance featuring live percussion by New York artist Taji Maalik. The dance premied in December of 2006 at the Live Oak Theatre in Berkeley.
Remembering the Ancestors expands on Cherie’s senior honors research, which explored how dance could be used to subvert stereotypes associated with black women. Cherie traveled to Jamaica to study ancient Caribbean and Diaspora dances that early European explorers considered overtly sexual. She made these dances the basis for her modern piece, choreographed using postmodern techniques. Cherie also plans to host two creative dance workshops for at-risk children. Her work raises awareness about issues of race and gender and depictions of black women in popular culture.
Video of Remembering the Ancestors
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Biography
Cherie received a Bachelor of Arts in dance and performance studies with honors from UC Berkeley in May 2006, where she also minored in African American Studies. Before transferring to Berkeley in 2003, she choreographed three dance pieces, performed in the American College Dance Festival, and received scholarships in both dance and theater from Riverside Community College. She choreographed and staged her first two dance works while a student at the Orange County High School of the Arts. At Berkeley, she performed in the Bay Area Repertory Dance Company and University Dance Theaters, directed and choreographed the productionIdentity Found, worked as an AileyCamp group leader, and was a scholar in the ArtsBridge, McNair, and Haas programs. Her creative efforts were recognized with the 2005 Eisner Prize in dance. After completing Remembering the Ancestors, Cherie plans to pursue a graduate degree in dance. She and her partner have two children.
