“To Not Forget Crimea: Uncertain Quiet of Indigenous Crimean Tatars” is a dance piece and a modern civil-rights conversation piece. The provocative multi-media show, inspired by political shifts in Crimea, is being presented 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 as this year’s Fall Faculty Dance Concert at Wesleyan University, and is also connected to a series of performances that span the whole academic year titled “Muslim Women’s Voices at Wesleyan.” The school is known for bracing blending of art and social commentary. Associate Professor of Dance Katja Kolcio created “To Not Forget Crimea” alongside Nariman Asanov, the musical director of the New York Crimean Tatar Ensemble, and Alexander Kuzma, conductor of the Yevshan Ukrainian Vocal Ensemble. Those ensembles are part of the live musical accompaniment for the history- and memory-themed dance, which also feature the Wesleyan vocal group Slavei, student dancers and eight musicians plucking the traditional Ukrainian stringed instrument the bandura.
Talks surround the dance: a 90-minute panel discussion on “Indigenous Ukrainian Perspective of Crimea Post-Russian Invasion,” concerning current indigenous-status recognition struggles for the Tatars, will be held 6 p.m. in Wesleyan’s Fayerweather Beckham Hall. The dance performance, and a post-show talkback and reception, are at the university’s Memorial Hall. $8, $6 students; the pre-show panel talk is free. Other upcoming “Muslim Women’s Voices” events at Wesleyan include “Hkeelee (Talk to Me),” written and performed by Leila Buck 7 p.m. Oct. 29 in CFA Hall and Sufi singer Riffat Sultan 8 p.m. Nov. 7 at Crowell Concert Hall. 860-685-3355, wesleyan.edu/cfa
TO NOT FORGET CRIMEA: UNCERTAIN QUIET OF INDIGENOUS CRIMEAN TATARS is being presented 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Wesleyan University Memorial Hall, Middletown, $8, $6, wesleyan.edu/cfa
