📸 Top 10 Moments of 2024
12 months, four memorable shows, and so many (SO MANY!) beyond-talented artists on stage.
Take a Look Back With Us
Carly here! As 2024 draws to a close, I’ve been thinking about the past twelve months at Journey Arts. And I’ve been smiling as I keep remembering the surprising, touching, and laugh-out-loud moments of 2024. But I couldn’t narrow my favorites to only 10.
So I enlisted help from Marla, Nia, and Sweet—the Journey Arts team. We tried to pick just 10 moments that were our favorite from the past year—and we had the most delicious failure focusing on all of the moments that added up to this year.
But… we kept hearing from you about how much you loved the multi-sensory ways into the shows this year.
And with that framework. . .we can give you our top 10 favorite sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and sights of 2024.
SOUND
What a year of journeys at Journey Arts. Stylings of the upright bass to sounds of the African diaspora to free jazz to reggae to head banging churchy soul.
#1 0: The Voice from Make Ready Again
Make Ready Again, December 2024. Photos: Mochi Robinson.
The sound of Marguerite Hemmings conversing with their shadow. The voice loomed large for Marguerite, and helped them discover a new way into listening to themselves. From the full band jam session to the full throated storytelling, the sounds of this show loom large.
#9 : The Body Slam from The Re-Emancipation
The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance, June 2024. Photos: Mochi Robinson.
The visceral audience gasps of shock and delight when Mark “Metal” Wong body-slammed the floor as he demonstrated some of his moves.
SMELL
This was a beautifully aromatic year. Dinners, biscuits, tea, dessert—gorgeous scents wafted above so many performances.
Table Sessions: Sattriya Dance Company, May 2024. Photos: Steve Weinik and Shannon Sophy.
#8: The Landscape of Scent from Sattriya Dance Company
Every carefully curated touch beckoned you in to experience the Table Sessions with Sattriya Dance Company. Sisters-in-law and co-leaders Madhusmita Bora and Prerona Bhuyan found ways to incorporate home through perfume, incense, and tea—intertwining the dance and storytelling with these exquisite aromas.
#7: Biscuits Surprise!
Halfway through The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance, we’d notice audience members looking around as they started smelling the warming biscuits in the backstage toaster. Honey, butter, and a warm biscuit became one of our favorite smells of the season.
The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance, June 2024. Photos: Mochi Robinson.
TASTE
Each and every plate of food that paired perfectly with the art on stage. We are a staff who LOVES to eat, so we’ll just leave these here, and hope your taste buds remember these exceptional bites too.
Table Sessions: Sattriya Dance Company, May 2024 and Table Sessions: Water Speaks, March 2024. Photos: Steve Weinik and Shannon Sophy.
#6: Every Single Bite of Food
The jerk chicken. The curried chickpeas. The eggplant pickles. The khar (who knew vegetables could taste like that?!). We could go on, and on, and on…
TOUCH
The dancing. All of the dancing. And the way you showed up to dance, too, during these shows.
#5: The Dance Crew
You formed a dance crew every night for Mark “Metal” Wong, then danced together when Raja Feather Kelly called on you, then helped us party the night away during a heat wave in June.
The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance, June 2024. Photos: Mochi Robinson.
#4: A Love Letter To The Planet
This year, we invited you to write a love letter to the planet—and you touched pen to paper to share your ideas. We were so touched as we read the profound, gorgeous letters throughout the year. Yolanda Wisher transformed your words into a poem, with Yannick Lowery turning that poem into a beautiful collage print.
SIGHT
Table Sessions: Water Speaks, March 2024. Photos: Steve Weinik.
#3: Keisha’s Coat
Swirling to the trio’s layered harmonies and thoughtful lyrics, Keisha Hutchins Hirlinger’s patterned coat reflected the ripples of water, illuminating her gorgeous vocals and the story of the water’s journey during Table Sessions: Water Speaks.
#2: Germaine’s Red Dress
Towards the end of The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance, Philly legend Germaine Ingram emerged in a red dress and stood in a perfect spotlight to dance.
The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance, June 2024. Videography: Aidan Un and Raishad Momar.
#1: Our New Name
And we emerged, too. We talked to so many of you, and together, we visioned together a new name: Journey Arts. You helped us see and then step fully into this new name, seeing the fullest way we can show up for this beautiful community.
We can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store for us. And you’d like to help make some of next year’s moments a reality, join in here!