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ROBENSON MATHURIN
PROJECTS
Robenson Mathurin is a dance artist performing, choreographing, and teaching Haitian folklore, contemporary, modern, jazz, and Afro-based dance styles. The project he develops aim to support better health through dance fitness, build awareness of the connections between classical dance and Afro dance, and merge his creative practice as a dancer-choreographer with his professional experience as a dance educator. Robenson's projects highlight his belief that Haiti’s culture, like dance itself, is expansive and has the capacity to connect us all through its expression.
TRANZISYON
TRANZISYON is a two-part choreographic work that explores the internal mental, emotional, and spiritual processing of a group of young Haitians who choose the unknown of a foreign land over the known instability and insecurity of their home in Haiti.
Part one depicts the challenges this group faces during their journey from Haiti to an undetermined location in the Diaspora. Using modern dance, contemporary dance, and Haitian folklore, part one of TRANZISYON seeks to highlight the reality many new undocumented migrants face while traveling through dangerous and treacherous terrain to arrive at their final destination. Through the dance, accompanied by powerful live traditional song and Haitian drumming, the viewer can imagine this group moving under cover of the night, through thick forests, across ocean waters, in unstable rickety boats, on foot for long distances nearly barefoot, battling fatigue, hunger, and shear desperation. Part one centers this journey while also shaping a nuanced and hopeful inner monologue about what it means to dream about living, surviving, and thriving in a new place.
While this iteration of the project focuses on developing only part one, part two of TRANZISYON depicts life for this group of young Haitian after their arrival and as they adapt to their new home. Despite finally making it, new and different challenges arise.
Part one depicts the challenges this group faces during their journey from Haiti to an undetermined location in the Diaspora. Using modern dance, contemporary dance, and Haitian folklore, part one of TRANZISYON seeks to highlight the reality many new undocumented migrants face while traveling through dangerous and treacherous terrain to arrive at their final destination. Through the dance, accompanied by powerful live traditional song and Haitian drumming, the viewer can imagine this group moving under cover of the night, through thick forests, across ocean waters, in unstable rickety boats, on foot for long distances nearly barefoot, battling fatigue, hunger, and shear desperation. Part one centers this journey while also shaping a nuanced and hopeful inner monologue about what it means to dream about living, surviving, and thriving in a new place.
While this iteration of the project focuses on developing only part one, part two of TRANZISYON depicts life for this group of young Haitian after their arrival and as they adapt to their new home. Despite finally making it, new and different challenges arise.
Eritaj: The Story of the Land and the Voice of the Ancestors
To be Haitian is to know that our freedom is a birthright. To be Black is to know the taste, smell, sound, and depth of this freedom, and to carry it in our blood and bones. To be Black and Haitian, today, is to reconcile this truth with the reality of loss, grief, and chaos, as well as an unwavering sense of hope and desire. Eritaj: The Story of the Land and the Voice of the Ancestors attempts to expose the nature of this duality and the process of such a reconciliation for the self, for the family, and for the community in our day-to-day lives.
Eritaj: The Story of the Land and the Voice of the Ancestors uses dance and embodied storytelling to revisit and reframe common scenarios of displacement, poverty, abuse, and misery often associated with Haiti’s descent to instability and insecurity. Eritaj does this while uniquely highlighting the lived connections between Haitians and other communities of the African Diaspora
Eritaj: The Story of the Land and the Voice of the Ancestors uses dance and embodied storytelling to revisit and reframe common scenarios of displacement, poverty, abuse, and misery often associated with Haiti’s descent to instability and insecurity. Eritaj does this while uniquely highlighting the lived connections between Haitians and other communities of the African Diaspora
Rabòday Fit
Rabòday Fit fuses intense aerobic exercise with dance training and a fun party vibe! Inspired by Haitian roots music and traditional Haitian drum rhythms, Rabòday, the popular electronic sound emerging as the voice of the Haitian youth, connects Haiti to the wider Afro-Diaspora. Movers will be introduced to Haitian culture in this high-energy class with intense cardio and strength-building movement and short-form choreography. The class is open to all levels!
Koulè M Idantite M (My Skin, My Identity)
Koulè M Idantite M (My Skin, My Identity), is a reflection on the complexity of black identity in different societies and, specifically, as part of the immigrant experience. Koulè M Idantite M invites black immigrant Crown Heights community members to engage in dance and choreography workshops that helped express their inner thoughts and helped to prime discussion of the question: what does it mean to live, survive, and thrive in your own black skin? The result of these workshops helped to create new choreography and performance.
Kadans Konpa NYC
This class will teaches Konpa’s basic partner dance technique as well as a few combinations you can add to your toolbox. While you can choose to gouye as much as you like, we will explore other elements of the dance. Konpa is for everyone!
Contemporary Haitian Folklore
This contemporary dance offering prioritizes movers with experience in contemporary, modern, and/or jazz dance language. Created by Robenson Mathurin, this class is heavily influenced by the practice, technique, and philosophy of Haitian folkloric dance. Throughout the course, dancers will be encouraged to not simply execute contemporary dance technique but also express the range of movement styles and emotions they know and hold within them.
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