Micropolis: Double Dutch, Beats and Play

Join WNYC’s Arun Venugopal for a look at the vibrant tradition of black girls’ play: there will be Double Dutch, clapping games and plenty of rhythm (from Michael Jackson to Nelly). And you will help us pull it all off!

As a society, we’ve been spending more and more time in front of our screens. So let’s break out the jump ropes and have a night of lively participation, discussion and maybe even a bit of nostalgia, featuring a live performance by the National Champion Double Dutch Team, the Honey Bees.

With the help of Dr. Kyra Gaunt, an authority on the benefits of embodied musical play, we’ll take a deep dive into what play does for us, why it’s necessary and how the creative risks and challenges in physical games like Double Dutch and “Mary Mack” can serve us well into adulthood. You’re never too old for a little playtime.

Guest panelists include Emmy- and Tony-Award winning choreographer Camille A. Brown, a prolific Black female choreographer reclaiming the cultural narrative of African-American identity. Her company, Camille A. Brown & Dancers, tours nationally and internationally. Her TED-Ed talk, A Visual History of Social Dance in 25 Moves, has over 15 million views on Facebook.

This event is part of The NEXT New York Conversation series which brings together changemakers, newsmakers and tastemakers to illuminate relevant topics that are redefining and reshaping our 21st century.