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Produced by Sozo Creative, Carnival of the Animals is a whimsical story of our shifting societal values told through the lens of the classic work, is a new evening length piece by spoken word artist & activist Marc Bamuthi Joseph (VP/Artistic Director of ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵÃâ·Ñ°æapp), legendary dancer Wendy Whelan (Associate Artistic Director, New York City Ballet), and acclaimed choreographer Francesca Harper (Artistic Director, Ailey II).

Rooted in the iconic Saint-Saëns composition dating back to 1886, this contemporary vision comes to life with poignant spoken word and transcendent movement, creating a multidisciplinary mixtape sampled with the creators' own personal journeys to reframe their relationships to gender, race, and a perpetually evolving understanding of the world. Carnival of the Animals reaches across genres and generations to unite and energize audiences with a breathtaking performance of body, voice, and sound.

A recipient of 2021 MAP Fund, Carnival of the Animals is currently in development with plans to premiere the work during the 2023-2024 season. The poetry by Marc Bamuthi Joseph for Carnival of the Animals was originally commissioned by National Gallery of Art.