Meet Brother General Gabriel | Best Collaboration | 2020
Meet Brother General Gabriel
Best Collaboration
Dancers of RVA
We are the Roots Cast and Choreographer of Brother General Gabriel (BGG). We are Ms. Julinda, Mena, Christine, Karlito, Monte, and MK. We come from diverse movement vocabularies and a strong collective of Richmond-based dance communities. We began dancing together in the late summer of 2019, and from the creative bonds built, plan to continue building together in future versions of BGG and beyond.
MK Abadoo (aka Shore to Shore Bell Ringer) is a choreographer, educator, organizer born and raised in the South. I am made up of and blossom from collective.
Julinda D. Lewis (aka MommaJ) is a dancer, teacher, and writer who was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. “I don’t know but I’ve been told, if you keep on dancin’ you’ll never grow old.”
Mena (they/them) is a mover, creator, transcender of time, a vessel for their ancestors, abolitionist, anti-institutionalist, educator, liberator for all black and indigenous people, lover, carer and truth seeker.
Christine Wyatt (tine tine) is an anti-racist/anti-Institutional artist- mover, choreographer, curator, director, organizer, teacher, nurturer etc..- continuing legacies of resistance, love, equity & care.
(Karl R. Richardson Jr.) Karlito (Lito Raymondo) is a RVA native. Liberator, fighter, and healer. Boundless in energy. Limitless in possibility. Shattering norms and shaping a new world with groundbreaking compassion and expression.
(Monte Jones) Meoleaeke Arebreane Jones (Monte), (Dancer/Choreographer), received a BFA in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). He studied Capoeira under Mestre Cobra Mansa and worked in New York City with Ron K. Brown, Marleas Yearby and Niles Ford.
We are very excited to be nominated as a collaborative group, which honors the deep community-centered value of this work, and liberation-focused collective organizing of General Gabriel.
(Group) We’ve been dancing in Richmond for as short as 3 years and as long as 25!
(MommaJ) Once, as a teen-aged student of the wonderful choreographer Eleo Pomare (who offered free classes!) a friend paying a visit to his studio decided to teach his class. And that’s how I acquired the spirit of Ms. Eartha Kitt!
(Christine/Mena) Literally, a day after Christine and Mena performed this piece, they left for New York to apprentice, train, and explore the NYC dance scene.
(Lito) Still young to the dance world, Lito began his journey learning Latin Ballroom and Krump. Inspired by the many cultures and influences of his childhood, he looks to continue to expand his knowledge, versatility and love for dance.
We are so excited to introduce our featured dancers for the upcoming 2nd annual RVA Dance Awards. The 2020 RVA Dance Awards is a live show that celebrates creativity, leadership and innovation by recognizing excellence within our Central Virginia dance community. This event will be held December 2nd virtually.