Esie Mensah

Esie Mensah is a Ghanaian-Canadian choreographer, director, dancer, movement director, educator and orator. Quotes All of who I am informs my work and my process How I show up in the room and the care I center while I am creating is integral to who I am and who I am committed to becoming I center intention in my work so I’m constantly looking at the relationship of audience and art IN CONVERSATION WITH ESIE MENSAH n.d keep looking to the horizon where it feels safe for everybody people place a commodity over dark skin and for whatever reason, they don’t think it’s the same value as somebody with lighter skin I had people bluntly tell me that, yes, they think you’re too dark for this music video space for conversation may not always be there for everybody I can’t be sitting here waiting for the next job. I want to be in charge of my own life Some people are scared to step forward with an ignorance to say I don’t know; I didn’t know about your experience; I didn’t know what it was like what you went through People needed the space to talk, to chat and knowing people are feeling the same thing I’m feeling and understood my experience If we’re going to take steps to change, we really need to be more attuned to those conversations and open to hearing the truth of those conversations there is a commonality of everyone’s experiences of pain Talking about racism is never easy Talking is important, but also the listening is far more important I hope my work inspires growth and that the seeds I plant within my work that I hope it continues to flourish in people’s lives 'Looking Ahead' Theatre Talk with Esie Mensah 20 May When Black and BIPOC people accept the principle of shadeism, they are contributing to racism The message out there is that darker skinned people are not as valuable, and we have to stop playing into this Wanting lighter skin is a bi-product of colonialism I now believe that darker people are the purist form of the Black race Shadeism has to become a public conversation Shadeism is a poison We have to continue to chisel at the iceberg. We have to make conscious choices that lead to betterment, that make us more inclusive Quality was the standard bearer, not shape, size or colour I want to create a safe space, and often, creation becomes a process of therapy as well I always knew that rest would be the end We have to listen differently to people’s truths I hope Blacks will feel that they are being seen and heard, that they will feel connected to each other, and not contribute to racism through shadeism I want unspoken truths addressed I want to have continuing conversations about truth, honesty, courage and vulnerability within the Black experience, and what it means to be an artist For people of colour, we have to expose the seeds of racism that lie within shadeism. It means opening up a Pandora’s box, but it will lead to a different, but more important and progressive conversation INTERVIEW | Esie Mensah Talks About Creating ‘Tessel’ — A Dance Film With A Healing Message 31 May 2021