Shamel Pitts | TRIBE – Marks of RED

Marks of RED, Shamel Pitts' Afrofuturistic dance work exploring Black embodiment and human connection.

“…curiously stylish and sincere, glossily cold and tender. Always visually striking, it’s never dull. But it transpires at a distance.” — The New York Times

A work of magical realism narrated by and featuring the viewpoints of six women, Marks of RED is a continuation of award-winning choreographer Shamel Pitts’ research exploring Black embodiment, aliveness and human connection. 

The piece is an Afrofuturistic meditation on the “womb space,” divining the effect memory has on our experiences, senses, bodies, reality and imaginative possibilities. 

The multidisciplinary work includes scenic designs by Mimi Lien, video mapping projection by Lucca Del Carlo, lighting design by Sarai Frazier and production by TRIBE arts collective. The fourth chapter in the RED Series by Pitts, Marks of RED explores the nuanced multiplicity and deep complexity of self-expression, and the perceived spaces for regeneration, enfoldment, implosion, rupture and potential. 

Support provided by the Royce Center Circle Endowment and the NEA Challenge Grant Endowment.