Michelle L. Smith - The Ebony Quill, LLC

Cautionary Tales: A Reflection on 2025 Through Words and Movement is my latest dance theatre project. It's a collection of thought-provoking performances comprised of poetry, monologues, and short dystopian pieces set to music and dance by award-winning Artistic Director Spencer Powell of Mounarath Powell Dance. The performances premiere next month (June 5-7) in La Mesa, CA. Tickets can be purchased here.

My monologue, "Ode to Jesse," which was performed at Visionary Dance Theatre in La Mesa, CA May 2024, has been accepted into a juried dance festival. According to their website www.smallplatesdance.com, "Small Plates Choreography Festival is a dance performance series advancing the work of dance makers. Small Plates is dedicated to creating a growth environment for artists by producing curated showcase-style performances in several cities each year, and by facilitating guided dialogue between the audience and the choreographers after each performance. The artist/audience interface is what makes Small Plates truly special."

This year's festival takes place on November 2 in Newburgh, New York. My work will be presented under the artistic direction of Spencer John Powell.

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I was incredibly honored to participate in Mounarath Powell Dance's 15th anniversary celebration May 2-4, 2024. Spencer Powell, Artistic Director of MP Dance, presented me with a floral bouquet after the final night's performance. I was deeply moved by the dancers' interpretation of my monologue titled "Ode to Jesse," a story about a Vietnam veteran's dismay with his country's treatment of Black men who return from serving in war. The piece also addresses the downward spiral that often occurs as a consequence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite his downfall, our veteran attempts to instill a sense of responsibility and pride in his son, Jesse. But Jesse has a mind of his own.

The April 12, 2024 newsletter from San Diego Writers, Ink featured an announcement about this upcoming performance: 

"Author and SDWI member Michelle Smith's monologue titled 'Ode to Jesse' will be performed at the Mounarath-Powell Dance's 15th anniversary celebration! The celebration will include several other performances across the dates May 2-4, 2024. Tickets for the event are on sale now! Click here for more information. Congratulations, Michelle!"

My first Open Mic reading took place at the 5th annual San Diego Writers Festival. The poem titled "The Butterfly" will appear in the 2024/25 edition of the San Diego Poetry Annual.

My monologue titled "Ode to Jesse" will be choreographed to music and presented at Mounarath-Powell Dance Studio (formerly Visionary Theatre Dance) next month in La Mesa, CA May 2-4, 2024. This collaborative effort with Artistic Director Spencer Powell came about as an extension of the Creative Alchemy program sponsored by San Diego Writers, Ink in July 2023. Spencer and I branched off on our own to develop this project in which he sets music and choreography to my tale about a Black Vietnam veteran who returns to a country that still treats him as a second-class citizen and who tries to raise his son, Jesse, to be a thoughtful and independent young man, all while struggling with PTSD, substance abuse, and AIDS. This piece is one of several works that will comprise the 15th anniversary celebration for the studio. For more information, click here.

Reading my work at the Creative Alchemy event July 2023. In collaboration with Artistic Director Spencer Powell, we participated in a showcase event along with three other teams of collaborators to demonstrate how writers and dancers can come together to produce a joint work. The grant only allowed for the "process" portion of this endeavor; however, we were then free to see the project through to its completion. Spencer and I will collaborate on a new piece to be presented at a future date through his studio, Visionary Dance Theatre in La Mesa, CA.

A wonderful group of BIPOC creatives came together to showcase their collaborative efforts in a project designed to pair writers and choreographers that was sponsored by San Diego Writers, Ink. Our unique projects were previewed before a nearly sold-out audience in an art gallery setting. It was a magical evening!

Creative Alchemy represents a merging of two creative arts (writing and choreography) into unique performances developed by a diverse group of collaborators, presented in an art gallery setting. Talk about inspiration!

Creative Alchemy: Igniting Collaborations among BIPOC Writers and Choreographers

Join us for an intimate evening of artistic exploration and collaboration at 'Creative Alchemy: A Night of Shared Creations'. This special event brings together a collective of eight exceptional BIPOC writers and choreographers for a captivating showing and discussion of their collaborative journeys thus far. Through this one-night-only presentation, witness their evolving collaborations, filled with poignant words, striking movements, and unspoken connections. 

After the collaborations are shared, we invite you to join us for an insightful Q&A session with the artists. This is your chance to intimately connect with these remarkable BIPOC writers and choreographers and delve deeper into their individual journeys as well as the collaborations. 

Don't miss this exclusive event, where the magic of collaboration meets the stage. Immerse yourself in an evening of artistry, dialogue, and the celebration of new beginnings. Experience the profound impact of BIPOC artists coming together to shape a brighter, more inclusive artistic landscape. 

Creative Alchemy
July 8, 2023 at 7pm
Inspirations Gallery: 2730 Historic Decatur Rd #204, San Diego, CA 92106
Admission: Free. 40 seats are available.

RSVP Link: https://forms.gle/eUzPsE3zuNoFet6G9

Collaborators:

Writers:

Thelma de Castro

Ted Washington

Blanca Lucia Bergman

Michelle Smith

Choreographers:

Trixi Agiao

Margaret Moreno (Dancers: Tanya Lewis and Ileana Lim)

Laray Egea-Saez

Spencer Powell

February 17. 2021. San Diego Public Library Local Author Program-video promotion of local authors of color aired.

June 15, 2020. Participated in the Mills College Alumnae Association's Writers' Salon. I read my personal essay titled "Gatsey's Blues," a personal reflection on racism in this country and its historical ties to the legacies of African Americans. The YouTube video link (I'm the second reader) is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgs1nyggcyc&feature=youtu.be

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

October 27, 2007. Keynote speaker at the Coalition of Scholarship Organizations' second annual high school and college information forum. Theme: Motivating Students to Reach Their Goals.

The Oldemeyer Center, Seaside, California.

CONFERENCES

2008 San Francisco Writers Conference held at the Mark Hopkins hotel in February.

Author Michelle Smith receives advice from Teresa LeYung Ryan, Author and Manuscript Consultant/Career Coach for Writers.

Conference attendees listen in earnest at one of several guest speaker sessions held at the hotel.

Michelle Smith dines at the Nob Hill Cafe with guest lecturers and members of the publishing industry, along with the famous San Francisco Twins.