KaJe Movement Collective

www.KaJeMovement.com 

 

ÌYÁguration by Kara Jenelle & KaJe Movement Collective

Dance film premiere: 2021 

Watch: ÌYÁguration the film

Concert dance premiere: 2025 at Jacob’s Pillow

 

KaJe Movement Collective, founded by Kara Jenelle is a performance ensemble of radiant artistic Sistas embodying cultural legacy, creativity, and powerful presence. Our choreographies honor the impact of Black histories, the vibrancy of Black joy, and the urgency of liberation. Rooted in rhythms of the African diaspora, social dance, and contemporary expression, KaJe MC integrates spoken word, musical composition, and cinematic visuals to evoke, educate, and represent our culture as the global majority. Carrying our crowns, preserving our practices, and sharing our stories through movement, KaJe MC ignites stages worldwide—dancing abundantly, unapologetically, and freely in the spirit. 

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ÌYÁguration Performance Works:

 

OmiKan

Djembefola: Mizan Willis 

Poetess: Kara Jenelle

Dance Artists: Ashé Blanchard, Nirine S. Brown, Dionne Eleby, Kara Jenelle, Kashana Sharif, Toyin Sogunro and Tulani S. Weeks

WATCH: "Her Backstory" excerpt from ÌYÁguration

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Wade in the Water

Dance Artists: Ashé Blanchard (soloist),

Nirine S. Brown, Dionne Eleby, Kara Jenelle, Kashana Sharif, Toyin Sogunro and Tulani S. Weeks

Poetess: Kara Jenelle 

Musical Track (2021 recording cover): Aminata Diop, re-written by Kara Jenelle

Original Wade in the Water (1925 Recording) by The Sunset Four Jubilee Singers

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WATCH: "Wade in the Water" excerpt from ÌYÁguration

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Rooted Permanence

Dance Artists: Ashé Blanchard, Nirine S. Brown, Dionne Eleby, Kara Jenelle, Kashana Sharif and Tulani S. Weeks

Musical Track: Forgive our Trespasses by Nandipha808 ft. Ceeka RSA, Demola, 2023 Stena Academy. 

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ÌYÁs Reign 

Dance Artists: Toyin Sogunro (soloist), Ashé Blanchard, Nirine S. Brown, Dionne Eleby,

Kara Jenelle, Kashana Sharif and Tulani S. Weeks

Musical  instrumentalists:

Tanee Osborne (Kora, Tama & Doundouns),

Tula B. Strong (Banjo),

Mizan Willis (Djembe)

Musical Track: Naamusoo by Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba, Routes 2018. 

Musical Compilation: If I Ruled The World by Nas ft. Lauryn Hill,

cover sung by Aminata Diop & audio compilation engineered by Alexis Tongue. 

Traditional West African Rhythm: Guinea Fare/Yoqui

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Proverb Prayer​

Dance Artist: Toyin Sogunro

Musicians: 

Tanee Osborne (Kora, Tama & Doundouns), Tula B. Strong (Banjo), Mizan Willis (Djembe)

Spoken Word: Dionne Eleby

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Pericon Praise

Dance Artists: Ashé Blanchard, Nirine S. Brown, Dionne Eleby, Kara Jenelle, Kashana Sharif, Toyin Sogunro and Tulani S. Weeks 

Musical Track: The Hosanna Dance! (Kelly G. Afro Morning Mix)

· @AuntMandasHouse. Sounds From 4603-36th Ave (Vol. 1) 2019.

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Bantaba (closing bow)

Dance Artists:  Ashé Blanchard, Nirine S. Brown, Dionne Eleby, Kara Jenelle, Kashana Sharif, Toyin Sogunro and Tulani S. Weeks

Musicians: Tanee Osborne, Tula B. Strong and Mizan Willis

 

The development and funding of this work has been supported by the following:

Jacob’s Pillow

UCLA World Arts & Cultures/Dance

Randal Fippinger & Williams College Dance

and The National Center of Choreography Akron.