BARE SOLES BARE SOUL, a film by Delina Patrice Brooks & Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi, is a mini-documentary series that reveals intimate experiences of women who have practiced traditional African dances for more than 15 years. These "Intimate Portraits" not only affirm that their lives matter, but reveal the essential matter of their lives.

This series is a heart-centered offering to the Malonga Center community, the nation's traditional African and diasporic dance community, and the culture keepers, teachers, and drummers who help sustain us.

In addition, we are making this a double-feature engagement! We'll present never-before seen footage from the upcoming feature documentary, "Alice Street", an Endangered Ideas Film capturing some of the rich history of the Malonga Center. Together, these films are sure to open your hearts and touch your soul!

Our post-screening discussion will be led by Dr. Halifu Osumare, author of Dancing in Blackness, in conversation with filmmaker Delina Patrice Brooks. This discussion will highlight the role of the Malonga Center - and dance - in creating community and wellness in Oakland.

‍Halifu Osumare, Ph.D. has been involved with dance and black popular culture internationally for over forty years as a dancer, choreographer, teacher, administrator and scholar. She is Professor Emerita of African American & African Studies at University of California, Davis, and has published two previous books on hip-hop.

‍Delina Patrice Brooks, Founder & Director of DelinaDream Productions, is a producing artist, writer, director, and diasporic dancer. Highlighted performances: Marc Bamuthi Joseph’s Scourge and Peh-lo-tah (understudy), Campo Santo’s Superheroes and Babylon is Burning, Willow Theater’s Hair: The Musical, City Circus’ And If We Shadows, Cheri Moraga’s A New Fire, African American Shakespeare Company’s Cinderella and more.

Commissioned by AfroSolo, YBCA, Dance Brigade’s D.I.R.T. Festival, CounterPulse, Kendra Kimbrough Dance Ensemble and more. In addition to her work with Bay Area theater and dance companies, she has produced her own works including “Bare Soles Bare Soul”, a series of short films, and Izzie-awarded An Open Love Letter to Black Fathers: A Choreopoem.

Delina is co-producer and curator of Life is Living’s “Africa in Oakland’ Dance Zone and was the Project & Production Manager of the inaugural SF Aerial Dance Festival. She is also a grant-writer and facilitates healing-based writing workshops throughout San Francisco and Oakland. Visit her at www.delinadream.com