[the listening heart], an original choreopoem.

written & directed by storäe michele, 2017.

[the listening heart] is an Afro-Native, futuristic film about self-love and deep listening. this narrative is grounded in Mayan and Yoruba cosmologies, performed by a cast of black femmes.

this film is also a choreopoem which uplifts the feminine divine. it investigates the ways we communicate the meanings of love through the embodiment of poetry, song, and dance.

our protagonist, Ix Chel, is a child healer who searches for the meaning of love— a concept originating from collaborative conversations with Edyka Chilomé.

here, Ix Chel/Grandmother Moon is [re]indigenized as a healer connected to Mama Earth, midwife of safe passage, and keeper of medicine.

this story follows a common paradigm of femmes who are hurt or dis-empowered when going against social norms, but, in this film, reclaim space through truth-telling by deconstructing mistruths about love through intergenerational folx-talk.

this film features: Jadele McPherson, Shantez Tolbut, Jaguar Mary X, Kevonnie Shelton, Cocoa Sarai, Jaye Watts, Alexandria Johnson, Esperanza Lin, Medina Ouida, Kay Lowry, Tamara Dumay Murad, Jessica Peñaranda and Jazmin Peralta--artists, performers, entrepreneurs, mothers, activists, singers, songwriters, dancers, poets, & educators.

avant garde make-up design by Janis Crespo. captured by cinematographer Chris Guzman. program production by sacred arts activist, Je' Hooper, founder of FrequencyHouse productions. sound production by Ony Irv.

[the listening heart] premiered Thursday, April 6, 2017 at Pratt Institute in Memorial Hall, featuring an opening ritual by Native artist, John Scott-Richardson, and a panel discussion with the director & cast moderated by Yazmine Nichols.

please view [the listening heart] here.

film photography by Chris Guzman.