Share

Dr. Shamell Bell, Keynote Speaker for HOP Center 2021 MLK Celebration

  • Shamell Bell

Collective Freedom Dreaming. A radical embodied dialogue to imagine shared liberation.

Conversation meets movement in this powerful keynote experience by Dr. Shamell Bell. A mother, community organizer, dancer/choreographer, documentary filmmaker and original member of Black Lives Matter, Dr. Bell introduces us to street dance activism, which deploys dance for grassroots political action. Through discussion and physical exploration, she guides us in a moving exercise of reflecting, breathing, moving our bodies and gathering freedom dreams together.

Monday, January 18 at 7:30 pm ET

This free event is hosted on the Hop's YouTube channel, and it is open to the community.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

About MLK 2021 Celebration

Our local and global communities have faced several hard truths this year. As we come together to advocate for change, overcome a pandemic, protest systemic inequities, and so much more, we should be inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s immortal words: "We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."

As we strive to recognize and emulate Dr. King's legacy, our goal for the annual MLK Celebration is to honor and celebrate his life and work so that members of our community may:

  • Be cognizant of and value his transformational politics and actions, the broader context of his leadership in the civil rights movement, and the ongoing power of this legacy;
  • Be inspired and motivated to apply Dr. King's philosophy and approach to our own lives and work; and 
  • Be called to address the causes and impact of social inequality and injustice — individually, locally, and globally.

This event is part of the 2021 MLK, Jr. Celebration. For a full schedule of events visit www.dartmouth.edu/mlk. 

About Shamell Bell

Dr. Shamell Bell received her PhD in Culture and Performance from UCLA's World Arts and Cultures/Dance department. She is currently a visiting faculty at Dartmouth in the Department of Theater and the African and African American Studies program. Shamell received her M.A. in Ethnic Studies from UC San Diego and B.A. with Honors in American Studies and Ethnicity, with a specialty in African American Studies, at the University of Southern California. She is a core organizer with Black Lives Matter Los Angeles alongside prominent activists Patrisse Cullors and Professor Melina Abdullah. She is also a co-founder of the Black Infinity Complex, a coalition bringing together academics and community members fighting against Black premature death and state-sanctioned violence. Shamell's work on "street dance activism" situates dance as grassroots political action from her perspectives as a scholar, dancer, and choreographer. Shamell has held featured roles in music videos, award shows, and tours with artists such as Will Smith, Christina Aguilera and Ludacris, and in David LaChapelle's acclaimed documentary "Rize."