September 11, 2024 | Theatre,

Cultural Context of In the Same Tongue

The second show of ArtsEmerson’s 24/25 Season, In the Same Tongue, is a new work from globally celebrated dance legend Dianne McIntyre that explores artistic legacies, working to reveal to audiences how dance and music “speak” to each other.

This performance is deeply rooted in Black cultural moments, like 1920s Harlem salons and the Black Arts Movement of the 60’s & 70’s. During the Harlem Renaissance — the black social, cultural and intellectual awakening of the 1920s and 1930s — a Harlem salon was a gathering of the nation’s most gifted and creative thinkers. Historians credit businesswoman and arts patron A’Lelia Walker with hosting many of these gatherings for writers, poets, artists, musicians and activists in her apartment in New York City.  

In the Same Tongue also evokes elements of the Black Arts Movement in the 1960s and 1970s, a movement which expanded on the accomplishments of the Harlem Renaissance but existed in the context of Civil Rights Era. The Black Arts Movement spread from coast to coast and helped create new cultural intuitions, including the National Black Theatre, all of which aimed to convey messages of Black artistry and pride. 

This revolutionary new show celebrates these periods in history through inspiring movement pieces by Dianne McIntyre and live music composed by Deidre Murray – creating a performance that truly speaks for itself. Tickets for In the Same Tongue are available for purchase on the ArtsEmerson website, through the phone, or in person at the Box Office. Do not miss your chance to see this history brought to life, running at the Emerson Paramount Center from September 26-29!