Artist Shaneeka Harrell takes on the role of Cassius Clay (a.k.a. Muhammad Ali) in a new dance theater work that is currently under development at Inkub8 (a Knight Arts grantee) as part of Thought Loom’s Synapse Performance Project (also a Knight Arts grantee).

Shaneeka Harrell embodying Clay as part of the Weird Miami Bus Tour. Photo by Naomi Fisher

The idea for Harrell’s portrayal of Clay came from the Muhammad Ali: Made in Miami documentary. Harrell says: “The first thing I saw were his movements; the way he leaned, circled, filled the ring.” From there, she became obsessed with Clay and his connection to Miami–the culture that had a major influence on his physical training and social outlook.

During her research, Harrell was inspired by the music of the era; her collaborator, DJ Le Spam, will be central to Harrell’s production. Her vision of Clay collages images of the boxer with The Boondocks, a provocative comic strip turned into an adult animated sitcom on the Cartoon Network by Aaron McCruder. For more than a year, Harrell has been conducting research and spent a month training with Matt Baiamonte, a protege of Clay’s trainer, Angelo Dundee.

With the support of Synapse Performance Project, Harrell’s work comes to life this week at Inkub8. “Through the Synapse, it has been energizing to catch glimpses of the creative process as Shaneeka and her collaborators develop a performance inspired by this iconic figure,” says Letty Bassart, artistic director of Thought Loom. “Among the elements being braided are movements born from hours of studying Clay video footage; boxing trainer Matt Baiamonte’s first-hand accounts of the relationship between fighter and coach; and DJ Le Spam’s melding of the music of Miami soulsters with the concepts driving the dance piece. The showings at Inkub8 will be a portal into some of the results of Shaneeka’s choreographic process; a chance to experience and contribute to this work still in the making.”

There will be an open showing of Harrell’s work at 8 p.m. on December 19-20 at Inkub8, 2021 NW 1st Place, Miami; inkub8.org. The showing on Saturday, December 20th will include a panel discussion with Harrell and her collaborators, DJ Le Spam and Josieu Jean. For more information, visit harrellinspiredbycassius.squarespace.com.