Casting Call: Temate Institute for Black Dance and Culture

2025 Convening Concert: Ritual: Rhythms of Life and Legacy

Important Dates:

Performance: October 18, 2025

Dress Rehearsal: October 16, 2025

Tech Rehearsal: October 17, 2025

Location: 3000 Fenkell Detroit, MI 48238

Rehearsals Begin: Late Summer 2025, approximately three hours per week

Pay: $15/hour

About Temate Institute for Black Dance and Culture:

Temate Institute is a Detroit-based cultural organization dedicated to the preservation and

presentation of African and African Diasporic dance traditions. Our work centers performance,

education, and advocacy, rooted in the ancestral knowledge and artistic expression of Black

communities across the globe.

About the Show:

The 2025 Temate Institute Convening for Dance and Culture presents Ritual: Rhythms of Life

and Legacy—an exploration of the spiritual connection between humanity and the natural world.

This concert honors African traditions through movement, music, and storytelling. It draws upon

ancestral wisdom, mythology, and ritual to awaken a communal sense of harmony, renewal, and

ecological consciousness.

More than a performance, Ritual is a ceremonial journey—a convergence of tradition and

innovation that invites both reflection and celebration.

Roles Seeking:

Narrator (1) :

We are seeking a grounded presence with a clear, expressive voice to serve as the guide throughout the performance. The narrator will deliver poetic text and help frame each section of the performance with clarity and emotional resonance.

Experience with spoken word, storytelling, or theater preferred.

Community Ensemble (5):

Seeking five individuals to join our ensemble for select scenes that incorporate communal

movement, chanting, and call-and-response singing. These performers will not need to learn full

choreography but should be comfortable with guided movement and open to performance

elements that support the action of the scene on stage.

This is an excellent opportunity for artists with an interest in movement, ceremony, and

community practice.

To Audition:

Please send an email with the subject line “Ritual Audition – [Your Name]” to

[hello@tematedance.com] including:

• A short statement about your interest in the project

• A brief performance summary/resume

• A headshot/photo

• Indicate if you are interested in the narrator role - You can be considered for both narrator and ensemble

• For ensemble applicants: no dance experience required—just a willingness to move, listen, and engage

• General auditions will be held on Wednesday, July 23rd and July 30th, 2025 from 7:30p to 9:30p,and July 30th from 7:30p to 8:30p, additional narrator auditions will be held on July 30th from 8:30 to 9:30p

  • Please indicate if you have a preference on the audition date and time.

Please prepare:

• A one to two-minute monologue/poem or story

• During the audition, you will learn a short movement phrase and a chant/song

Once we have received your materials, we will contact you regarding your audition time.

Join us in creating something sacred.

Together, we will honor legacy, embrace ritual, and bring movement to meaning.

IG: @tematedance | Email:hello@tematedance.com | FB:@tematedance