Transcendence from the Church to the Dancefloor

WIth Transcendence from the Church to the Dancefloor, Ingrid Jones traces the sonic connections forged through the Transatlantic Slave Trade between ambient African rhythms, Jamaican creolized spiritual traditions, and North American religious practices. In the first half, she reflects upon the embodiment of these rhythms that have electrifying charges: capable of conjuring otherworldly moments of joy, peace, and liberation through historical and autobiographical tracing. Jones later discusses a primary pulse within her research, as she investigates the phenomenon of transcendence on the dancefloor in conversation with Whitney Wei, Berlin-based journalist, critic, visual artist, and Editor-in-Chief of the electronic music magazine Resident Advisor.

The second hour of the session takes us on a sonic journey that weaves African field recordings, Jamaican folklore melodies, and rousing gospel and progressive house tracks – all blended in a mix prepared by Jones’ collaborator, producer and DJ Stephane Vera [aka Teknostep]. 

Transcendence from the Church to the Dancefloor was produced for  SAVVYZΛΛR as part of Ingrid Jones' research residency with SAVVY Contemporary . 

Ingrid Jones  is a Toronto-based independent curator, multidisciplinary artist and creative director. Design and direction are the foundation for her decolonial research practice, utilizing installation, media and collaborative projects to interrogate themes of marginalization and refusal. Past projects include indie magazine Poor But Sexy (2009-2012), collaborative project DEALR (2021), and hybrid on-site and digital exhibition Nostalgia Interrupted (2022), presented in partnership with Doris McCarthy Gallery and Aegis Design, reframing nostalgia within the context of white supremacy. Nostalgia Interrupted was recently shortlisted for Exhibition of the Year 2022 over $20K by Galeries Ontario Galleries. 

Ingrid has developed master classes and lectures for Sheridan College and Toronto Metropolitan University on photographic best practices and design as a tool for innovation and activism. She has also received grants, awards, and recognition from the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, The Reesa Greenberg Fund, the CGS-M, The Design Exchange and The Toronto Short Film Festival. Her work has appeared in Computer Arts Projects UK, Vice Berlin, Globe Style, Photografie, Waddington's and more. Ingrid is currently completing a Master of Visual Studies, Curatorial Studies at the University of Toronto.