How a ballet born in San Quentin found its voice at The Met
In short: Choreographer Silas Farley transformed the raw, vulnerable music of incarcerated men into a profound dance pilgrimage. Originally staged for live audiences, the work evolved into a digital premiere that resonates with themes of systemic injustice, spiritual longing, and the irrepressible human drive to create beauty from within the darkness.
In 2019, choreographer and New York City Ballet dancer Silas Farley began developing a work titled Songs from the Spirit. The project was rooted in a collaboration with musicians currently or recently incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison in California. Farley and his wife traveled to San Francisco to meet these men, finding a deep sense of brotherhood while listening to their music. These songs, which speak to divine justice and mercy, became the foundation for a ballet that explores the meaning of freedom, the pain of separation from community, and the search for grace.
The choreography was designed for seven dancers and structured as a journey through The Met’s galleries. The movement transitions from the somber, staid atmosphere of the Assyrian Court, representing darkness, to the meditative tranquility of the Chinese Garden Court, and finally to the lightness of a bright court within the American Wing. This spatial progression mirrors the thematic arc of the piece, which Farley describes as a pilgrimage moving from bondage to freedom and from exile to home.
While the work was initially intended for live performance at The Met, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic made large gatherings impossible. By June 2020, the digital premiere of the ballet took on a new, urgent significance. Amidst international protests against systemic racism in the United States following the death of George Floyd, the themes of the piece—specifically the struggle for justice and the experience of an exiled population—felt newly relevant. Through a partnership with PRX Radiotopia's Ear Hustle, the project highlights the voices of artists including Amador 'AJ' Gonzales, Calvin Johnson, Le'Mar 'Maverick' Harrison, Quincy A. Peoples, and Charlie Spencer, alongside the band Quentin Blue. Supported by various foundations, including the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Jerome Robbins Foundation, the work stands as a testament to the power of art to bridge divides and offer strength during times of collective crisis.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Digital Premiere—Silas Farley: Songs from the Spirit | MetLiveArts
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/ideas-digital-premiere-silas-farley-songs-from-the-spirit-metlivea.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
