An Note from Chanel DaSilva

“Each and every day, I want you to push play.
Feel every word I say, this is what my heart prays.”
— Cameron Poles, Black Alley

Though I am a dancer, not a musician, I find something universal in these words. To me, “push play” is an invitation that extends beyond music. It speaks to the heart of what it means to create, to share, and to be received. Whether through movement, sound, image, or word, artists are constantly offering pieces of ourselves to the world, hoping that someone will pause long enough to take them in. Not simply to see or hear, but to feel.

As a choreographer, I, too, want my audience to push play. To watch intently. To listen with their eyes. To be moved by what unfolds before them. To feel the joy, history, questions, and humanity embedded in every gesture. Dance, like music, is more than what happens onstage. It is the connection between artist and audience when something resonates, shifts our perspective, or finds its way into our hearts.

As we celebrate the 50th anniversaries of The Washington Ballet and DC Go-Go, this collaboration explores the possibilities that emerge when distinct artistic traditions come together. When the precision of ballet meets the driving rhythms of Go-Go, a new language begins to take shape. This work honors the histories and communities that brought us here while inviting us to imagine what we can create together.

May we continue to push play, listen deeply, and allow ourselves to be moved.

My deepest gratitude to Edwaard Liang for his bold vision for Go-Go 50. It has been an honor and thank you for inviting me to be a part of it!

To my collaborators Cameron Poles and the members of Black Alley; thank you for saying YES to working with me and for the gift of your incredible music. I am a forever fan!

To the dancers of The Washington Ballet; thank you all for being such incredible muses and collaborators. Your openness and generosity of spirit have made this process unforgettable!

Thank you to Ronald Moten, Natalie Hopkinson, Sundiata Ramin, the Go-Go Museum, Porche “Queen P” Anthony and the Beat Ya Feet Academy for sharing so generously with us for this collaboration and for keeping the legacy of Go-Go and Beat Ya Feet alive!