sis.tem | gateways to safehouses

Overview

sis.tem | gateways to safehouses is a duet of dance, confronting the public scrutiny that black femmes face now and in our not-so-distant past. Dancers expose the weight of societal objectification on the spiritual body and carefully landscape the uneasy terrain. The lifting and enlivening of movement and melodic rituals call into question, how can we ignite century-long spells cast upon us as protection in eras of refinement and reformation? What systems can invigorate strength in these times of peril and guide us back to the safehouses our ancestors inhabited?

Community and sisterhood have tenderly woven secrets of rhizomatic wisdom, beckoning the facilitation of grounding, resilience, and humility to see us through the lowest to highest tides. Venture depths to unearth the necessary tools to carry on with renewed freedom while the world continues with business as usual.

About the Artist

Cierra Woods is a Philadelphia-based dancer, choreographer, and DJ born on the unceded land of the Susquehannock people, now Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She refined her craft at Temple University, earning a BFA in Dance and was honored with the Rose Vernick Choreography Award in 2020. Her artistry has been showcased on prominent stages, including the Kennedy Center, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Harrisburg Fringe Festival, Judson Memorial Church, and the Brooklyn Museum. Currently, Cierra serves as a 2024-25 Mascher Space BIPOC Artist in Residence to further develop her prolific performance works. Her mission under C. Woods Work is to foster nurturing environments for artistic and diasporic communities to thrive.

Credits