Ogemdi Ude: MAJOR
MAJOR, choreographed by Ogemdi Ude and presented as part of the Clarice Presents series, is a dance-theater work exploring majorette dance, an electrifying Black femme form that developed alongside HBCU marching bands in the American South. Six Black femmes perform with precise rhythmic counts, deep groove, undulation, and bold showmanship, using majorette vocabulary—a foundational part of Black girlhood—to reclaim bodies they felt they had lost. The production weaves in an original score by DMV-born musician Lambkin that blends Southern rap, horns, drumlines, melodic R&B, and soul. Alongside the stage work, The Chord Archive is presented as a physical and digital documentation of the creative process, including personal histories from former majorette dancers. The full work is a rigorous examination of physical memory, sexuality, sensuality, and community, and reads as a nuanced love letter to the people who taught the dancers to be proudly Black and proudly femme.
When: The performances take place on Friday, March 5, and Saturday, March 6, 2027, at 8:00 pm each night.
Tickets: Regular admission is $35 plus a $5 booking fee, and student and youth tickets are $15. Seating is general admission.
Venue: The event will be held in the Dance Theatre at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland.
Lineup: The cast features six Black femmes, with a musical score by DMV-born musician Lambkin. The Chord Archive is also showcased alongside the performances.
Accessibility: ASL interpretation is provided for the Friday, March 5 performance. The Clarice offers wheelchair-accessible seating, size-inclusive seating, large print programs, assisted listening devices, adult and child-friendly sensory packs, and quiet spaces upon request. ASL interpretation, audio description, and captioning are available for select events or by patron request made at least six weeks in advance.
Note: A Post-Performance Conversation, also presented with ASL interpretation, follows the Friday, March 5 performance. This event will not be livestreamed.
Ages: No age restriction is specified on the page.
Run time: The page does not list a run time.