Song Circle: Songs for Grief & the Unknown @ BALLARD HOMESTEAD

Imagine a group 30-100+ folks in a circle, singing… together. The song leader teaches easy to learn songs in an acapella style and the group echoes them back. These songs are sung together collectively as invitations to move stagnated emotions in the body and to be in our bodies as we notice what arises for us as we sing together. Ahlay offers a 2 hour container invoking connection that serves as a catalyst to discuss + sit with taboo topics in our culture and movements for collective liberation.

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More about ALEXANDRA "AHLAY" BLAKELY: healingattheroots.com

"Alexandra "Ahlay" Blakely (she/her) is a song carrier remembering that which was meant to be forgotten in her lineages: song technology as connective tissues of the communal body.

She blends song, body percussion, dance, stillness, breath & silence with the deepest intention to support others in remembering their inherent birthright to singing and rhythm.

Her ancient ancestors of Old Europe (Ashkenazi, Scandinavian, Finnish, English, Scottish, Irish) sang while building, creating, birthing, working & being in reciprocity with the Land. She understands song to be fundamental in the expansion of one's internal capacity to participate in the collective shift towards life-affirming conditions. An underlying prayer in her song offerings is that they may contribute to the shared effort to transform white culture into being more connected with our bodies, emotions, Land & the animate world around us.

These songs are swirls of spells for cracking open, falling humbly to our knees and cultivating more access to the conversations our souls are aching to have with us about their most intimate longings. They are dedicated to the more than human world, the Waters and our Kin in both the seen and unseen realms. We sing to shame, courage, for breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma and for the preparation of being ready for these times we are living in, all while sending these song-beings in ripples through to the ancient and future ones. The songs sung have come directly through Ahlay."

-Artist Bio

Learn songs from Ahlay's upcoming album, WAILS: Songs for Grief

50% of proceeds (after labor costs) will go to Grief to Action

About Grief to Action: Grief to Action was founded to fill the needs of BIPOC in need of a place and community to facilitate healing and hope. We desire to grieve and process trauma at the pace of resistance and revolution and not at the pace of media coverage. Grief to Action is a semi-mobile camp with a land-based community in the Mojave Desert. We hold space on the land and with the land for deep grief and rage that gives birth to the creative solutions we need to resist and end oppressive systems. The land and sanctuary are Black-owned and Black-led centering the needed grief support for African-heritage folks and all People of the Global Majority.

@ Ballard Homestead

6p event, 5:30p doors

All ages, mostly seated

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EVENT & VENUE INFO:

• Check tickets for show times
• Ballard Homestead is ADA accessible
• Service animals as defined by the ADA are allowed. Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.
• Please refrain from talking during songs.
• Please enter quietly if the show has already begun.
• Please leave quietly, it's a very quiet neighborhood. I sense a trend here.
• Quiet Picnics Welcome. Big surprise there right?
• Light snacks & non-alcoholic beverages may be available for purchase, but no other food or bar service at Ballard Homestead shows.
• We have a mix of normal chairs, some tall chairs, and standing room in back.
• Seating is not reserved unless noted.

• Please limit photos during the show so as to not distract other attendees from the experience.
• We are an all ages venue. Kids 10 & under are free at Abbey Arts concerts & arts events unless noted.
• Entering the venue indicates agreement to adhere to the Abbey Respect Policy. All are welcome.

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ABOUT ABBEY ARTS, SEATTLE:

NONPROFIT 501C3, NON-RELIGIOUS, EST. 2005

Presenting welcoming music, arts & cultural experiences for people of all ages & incomes.

• We support low income families, veterans, and humanitarian nonprofit workers with free event tickets. http://www.fremontabbey.org/artsconnect
• Rental info & more: http://www.fremontabbey.org/rent
• Concert & events calendar: http://www.abbeypresents.org
• Respect policy: www.abbeypresents.org/respect
• Check out the Abbey Arts recent & future bands playlist on Spotify

Home Venue: Fremont Abbey, 4272 Fremont Ave North, Seattle, WA 98103 / 206-414-8325 Ballard Homestead: 6541 Jones Ave NW, Seattle | + South Park Hall, Woodlawn Hall Greenlake, UHeights Auditorium (UDistrict), St Mark's Cathedral (Capitol Hill), & more

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See Updated Public Health Safety Info at the bottom of this page under Abbey Arts Presents. All Abbey Arts venues adhere to WA State & King County health guidelines. Thanks for helping keep our community safe!

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