(May There Be) Good Atmosphere Between Us: The Parables of Now is a dance, theater, and multi-disciplinary ritual performance project responding to the climate crisis. The project utilizes Indigenous sacred myths and Yorubá/Lukumí divination practices through community-building, prayer, and durational movement to activate appropriate responses of ecological and communal care. Development of this project includes interviews and conversations with climate scientists, spiritual/religious practitioners, land stewards, urban farmers and community members to create a performance work grounded in a collection of stories and community narratives intermingled with African and Indigenous mythologies and spiritual texts. Performed as a series of “parables” inspired in part by the Parable series written by Octavia Butler, this ritual performance experience is guided by the question, “How do we activate our collective wisdom to survive, adapt, and heal from environmental catastrophe and climate disaster in the Anthropocene?” This project will develop through community gatherings held throughout the SF bay area, and through visits with communities in Pittsburgh, New Orleans, New York and New Mexico to share and gather stories, myths, and sacred texts that have helped communities negotiate difficult times. Additionally, tabor-smith will engage in research exploring the science of our ecosystems to develop a deeper understanding of the interlocking, interdependent earth systems. During this process, filmmaker, Alisha B. Wormsley (Pittsburgh, PA), will create a poetic documentary film about this project to increase visibility and engagement for the work.
(may there be) Good Atmosphere Between Us: The Parables of Now Project will culminate with performances in Oakland in 2027.
