Our Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak

As a precaution to help limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and care for our community, Just Buffalo Literary Center has postponed a number of events, and we will follow the guidance of Buffalo Public Schools in terms of Just Buffalo Writing Center programming.

Learn More

Thursday, April 22, 2021 Naila Ansari & Marquis “Ten Thousand” Burton: Creating Space for Joy Categories: Other Local Events Timelines: 1b: Past Events (Unseen Archive), 2: Civil Writes Project Archive

Posted at 17:22h in by


Where: The Space Between, 431 Ellicott St.
Dates & Times: Saturday, April 3 & 10, 12-4pm; Saturday, April 17 & 24 and May 1, 5-9pm; Saturday, May 8, 12-9pm
Host: The Space Between/UB Arts Collaboratory

Creating Space for Joy builds upon an improvisational practice deriving from African American experiences that connects the virtual and physical world to explore joy. Artists Naila Ansari (@naila_moves_joy) and Marquis “Ten Thousand” Burton (@tenthousandpoetry) develop a multidisciplinary work in process that imagines the performance of joy. They combine artist interviews, community discussions, and multimedia art to create an interactive archivable documentation of joy. In addition to live-performance and workshops, the space will build community through visual art by Tara Sasiadek who is a muralist, painter and installation artist. (@tarasasart)

Now let’s learn about the two featured artists. Naila Ansari (she/her) is an award-winning choreographer, director, and performing artist. She is a distinguished MFA graduate from the University at Buffalo in Dance and a Cum Laude undergraduate of Point Park’s Conservatory of Performing Arts Program. An Assistant Professor in Theatre and Africana Studies at SUNY Buffalo State College, Ansari has merged artistry and scholarship to build and create works through community and collaborative processes that facilitate conversations on race and Black performance. Ansari serves on the Arts and Culture advisory committee for the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) under MacArthur Genius Rami Nashashibi, Awards Director of New York State Dance Educators Association, working group for Interfaith Youth Core, and the Dance Director for Ujima Company, inc. selected by the late Lorna C. Hill. Her most recent project and a forthcoming book, The Movement of Joy focuses on the performance of joy through the creative archiving of oral histories, movement histories, live-performance, and films of Black women stories.

Marquis “Ten Thousand” Burton is a(n) visual artist, decorate spoken word, writer and educator. He has partnered with Shea’s Performing Arts and other non-profit and educational institutions to teach young adults and children to not only discover their voices but also the power within to use it for over a decade. He has coached the Buffalo poetry teams at the National Poetry Slams to Top 10 finishes in the 2 out of 4 years. Marquis has also held the position of curator of poetry talent for the Music Is Art Festival for the past 6 years. Since 2016, he has partnered with artist Tara Sasiadeck to create visual art installations for events such as Music Is Art Festival. Since 2019, he has partnered with Naila Ansari to create immersive interactive dance and poetry experiences that explore joy in play, resistance, community and self.

The performances and interviews will be taking place from 12-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 3 and 10, and 5-9 p.m. on Saturday, April 17 and 24, and Saturday, May 1. Come for inspiration and entertainment—or jump in and take part in the action. To experience this “Joy” you can book now via the website at www.TheBuffaloSpace.com so be sure to log on now to participate in the performance work.