We Are

This dance presents poetry written during 2014 by incarcerated girls at Genesee County Juvenile Justice Center in Flint, formerly called Genesee Valley Regional Center. The choreography follows themes presented in five poems and explores the notions of being a “statistic,” spending time in the detention center, and hopes for a future beyond incarceration. This piece does not intend to speak for the girls, but seeks to propel their words while inspiring positivity. The poems in this dance are published in the book of girls’ poetry, I Am Me, by the Buckham/GVRC Share Art Project, now known as the non-profit organization, Youth Arts: Unlocked.

Choreography by Emma Davis with poetry by detained youth at Genesee Valley Regional Center in Flint, MI. Premiere: University of Michigan-Flint Spring Dance Concert 2015.

2015. “Voices of detained female youth in Genesee County break through walls with dance.” The Flint Journal.

2015. “‘We Are’ A Dance Inspired by the Poetry of Youth in Detention.” University of Michigan-Flint News.