The three artists created inter-related work that builds community through practice of movement, conversation and personal transformation. This iterative process of creativity and healing will start by embracing questions such as “What does it mean to be BIPOC?” “How can we create a healing practice with music?” and “What is professional development as an artist today?"

Demetrius McClendon, who also goes by ImagineJoy, began dancing hip-hop at the age of 15. They have traveled nationally and internationally as a professional concert dancer/choreographer sharing their love and passion for the arts. Believing wholeheARTedly in the power of loving action, radical imagination, and spiritual practice, they co-create with others to heal and empower Queer & BIPOC communities.

Xiaolu Wang was born a few hours before her favorite author, 三毛 (San Mao), died by suicide. She was raised by her grandparents 王玉明和吕凤英, until the biggest transition of her life, the one she is in now. She remembers loss more than time, senses lies more than her needs. She gets better at escaping growing up, through literature, music and films. Her work deals with the romanticization of guilt, dust and intimate vengeance.

Heather Peebles is an interdisciplinary artist processing intergenerational trauma by reconnecting to their body and spirit. With the intent to heal and a vision toward liberation, they do internal work through a personal practice of writing, movement, music and ancestral research.

“Don’t You Feel It Too? is a work that was created by Marcus Young in 2008, and it’s been expanded on by so many people, including myself and many others who bring our energy, our genius to the practice," says Demetrius. "It’s a movement meditation practice where we put on headphones and have an experience... It’s a movement, healing, artists, activist collective who are really critical and intentional about using art to heal and empower.”

The movement’s work is available to the public now. Visit DYFIT's website for more information.