Drummer, composer, and teacher Allison Miller created Rivers In Our Veins as an exploration of the cultural and ecological life of rivers. This multisensory experience combines original jazz music with tap dance and video projections, all inspired by 5 great American rivers. In collaboration with her band, Boom Tic Boom, tap dancer Claudia Rahardjanoto, and video designer Todd Winkler, Miller constructs a captivating chronicle of the James, Delaware, Potomac, Hudson, and Susquehanna Rivers. Through collaborative performance art and the stories of these natural phenomena, Rivers In Our Veins illustrates the ecosystems that are vital to human life and community.
Miller has been described as a modern jazz icon in the making. Receiving critical acclaim consistently over the years, Miller was the first recipient of the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation’s commissioning grant, through which she completed Rivers In Our Veins. She was a 3-time Jazz Ambassador for the US State Department, and has been the rhythmic force behind such artists as Sara Bareilles, Ani DiFranco, Natalie Merchant, Brandi Carlile, Indigo Girls, Toshi Reagon, and more.
Go deeper: get a behind-the-scenes look into Allison Miller’s inspiration for Rivers in Our Veins and how she drew inspiration from 5 American rivers.
This program is made possible, in part, through the generous support of Kathleen Knepper.
Preconcert Lecture
Join us for a pre-concert panel discussion to learn about the waterways that sustain life in the DMV at 6:30pm in the Education Center. Free with show ticket; registration is strongly recommended. Seats will be available for registrants only until 6:20pm, at which time remaining seats will be released to a standby line.
Learn More & RSVPMeet the Artists
Allison Miller isn't just one of my best friends, she is one of my favorite collaborators. [This] stunning and deep work... continues the conversation many of us are having about where we come from, where we are, and what we are going to do about where we are going.
Check out Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower, Music and Lyrics by Toshi Reagon and Bernice Johnson Reagon, June 28 – July 1
Plan Your Visit
This event is part of Strathmore’s Windows series of performances and accompanying programs. Learn more
Strathmore is Global Biorisk Advisory Council® STAR™ accredited. Learn more.