Santa Cruz-based artists Yayah and Thomas Sage Pedersen premiere a new interdisciplinary work,  'Shapes & Sounds of Freedom,' featuring film, musical performance, and dance by choreographer and dancer Micha Scott. These performances will be the culmination of a month-long residency (August 2024) in Indexical’s space at the Tannery Arts Center.

Embarking on a journey shaped by deep, nocturnal dialogues, Yayah and Thomas Sage Pedersen crafted 'Shapes & Sounds of Freedom,' a project born from a shared quest for liberation. These dialogues, rich in discovery and introspection, consistently circled back to a central motif: the pursuit of freedom. This recurring theme laid the foundation for a project that seeks to dissect and understand the essence of being unbound.

At the heart of 'Shapes & Sounds of Freedom' is an audacious exploration of liberation, brought to life through a compelling short film and a dynamic, genre-defying performance, highlighted by the presence of the acclaimed dancer Micha Scott. This artistic endeavor is a multifaceted examination of freedom, combining projected visuals, genre bending songs, avant-garde soundscapes, and contemporary dance in a celebration of liberation.

Through this immersive experience, Yayah, Thomas Sage Pedersen, and Micha Scott invite both performers and spectators into a shared space of emancipation. This performance is not just an artistic expression; it is a communal act of liberation, aiming to free the soul and inspire a collective release from the constraints that bind us. Join us on this transformative journey into the Shapes & Sounds of Freedom, where art becomes the pathway to unshackling the spirit.

Sarah Cruse aka Yayah, is a being of sound and poetry, of theater and movement. She is an expressionist who has spent her life invoking freedom. She knows poetry as her first language, a healer and a friend. After finding her voice as a spoken word poet with the Poets Of The Round Table, in Los Angeles, in the early 2000’s, Sarah turned towards sound and found her home. The pure tone brought her into song and she taught herself to sing by honoring her emotions…feeling and sounding. Sarah grew as a performer in Santa Cruz taking on roles at the local Actors Studio theater, most notably in the two person production of Mountaintop, and as the lead singer songwriter in Yaya’s Kitchen, a collaboration that gracefully wove together soul, folk, hiphop, jazz and RnB. Healing has been a theme in this sonic poet's path to freedom. Sarah works as an energetic healer, supporting people in clearing trauma and growing more freely into their authentic selves. In honoring her own authentic self, Yayah the avatar is stepping more fully into the embodied artist that she is. She is devoted to the art of co-creative emergence; the channel, the flow, the moment where multiple potentials meet and something greater happens.

Thomas Sage Pedersen is a distinguished figure in the intersection of art, music, and social activism. As the founder of the award-winning Everyone's Music School, he has transformed music education, touching hundreds of lives with the power of music. Pedersen's influence extends to the digital world as the visionary host of the Speak For Change Podcast, where he amplifies BIPOC voices, fostering global dialogue and understanding. His activism has led to pivotal roles in organizations dedicated to racial justice and equity. As a co-founder of Ignite Nexus, Pedersen is at the forefront of creating inclusive, authentic cultural experiences through innovative services in consulting, coaching, and media production. Thomas has been part of numerous bands such as Africo and Sage & The Chemists. Thomas Sage Pedersen is not just a name but a force driving positive change and community empowerment.