About
An internationally recognized hip-hop dancer, choreographer, and teacher, Amirah Sackett explores and embodies her Muslim American identity through combining hip-hop movement and Islamic themes. She is widely known for her creation of the choreography and performance group known as, “We’re Muslim, Don’t Panic”, which reached viral video fame after being featured on POPSUGAR Celebrity, The Huffington Post, AJ+, and Upworthy. Sackett was honored to be a TEDx speaker, guest lecturer at Harvard University, and a cultural diplomat with the U.S. State Department in Bangladesh and Malaysia.
See me in action
Performances
Qadr performed at Shangri La in Honolulu
Qadar (Arabic: قدر, transliterated qadar, meaning “fate”) is the concept of divine destiny in Islam. This concept applies to many situations in life including that of romantic love. Often we stay at a closed door knocking, when another one is open for us. This solo uses the vocals of Denver artist, Aja Black (The Reminders), and her cover of Bob Marley’s “Waiting in Vain”, poetry of 13th century Islamic scholar and poet, Rumi, and the sound design abilities of Chicago DJ and musician, Nevin Hersch.
Love Embraces All
“Love Embraces All” was inspired by the poem “The Alchemy of Love” by Rumi. Through the poetry of the 13th-century Sufi mystic Rumi, interpreted by Aja Black (The Reminders) and with original sound design by Chicago DJ Nevin Hersch, Amirah’s solo work explores the barriers we create within ourselves and the walls that others build around us.
Features
music video feature
Creative Collaboration
My Fingers Feed the Fire. In collaboration with Modeltown.
TED x AmoskeagMillyard
Finding Peace Through Islam and Hip-Hop
In 2016, Amirah was honored to be selected to give a Tedx talk in New Hampshire.
“In your light, I learn how to love. In your beauty, how to make poems. You dance inside my chest where no-one sees you, but sometimes I do, and that sight becomes this art.”
