Alexandra “ahlay” Blakely SONG CIRCLE

Join us in song and community with Alexandra “ahlay” Blakely on her first visit to Ann Arbor!

Alexandra “ahlay” Blakely (she/her) is a descendent of Ashkenazi, Scandinavian and British folk. She is an artist, singer-songwriter, communal grief tender, community organizer, facilitator and ceramicist walking the path of ancestral healing and the reclaiming of lost cultural memories. Her community singing album, Spells from the Unknown encapsulates songs for the community to transform, ask questions, and seek to lead lives in service to the future ones. Her upcoming 2024 community singing album, WAILS: Songs for Grief was recorded in July 2023 with a choir of 200 voices. The album is completely dedicated to grief, inspired by the Whales of the Sea, the wails of our times, and Francis Weller’s book The Wild Edge of Sorrow and more specifically “the five gates of grief.”

To stay informed about her ongoing offerings, sign up for her .

Doors open, arrive and settle in 6:00-6:30 pm

Song container: 6:30-8:30 pm

Ahlay teaches songs call & echo. Singing is a birthright and all levels of experience are welcome (including no experience). These songs are sung together collectively as invitations to move stagnated emotions in the body and to be in our bodies as we notice what arises for us as we sing together. Ahlay's song container invokes connection that serves as a catalyst to digest topics in our culture, and movements for collective liberation.

No matter your gender, sexual orientation, abilities, race, or housing status, you are welcome here.

This event is indoors! Please come symptom-free. Masking is welcome, but not required.

Ann Arbor Friends Meeting House:1420 Hill Street, Ann Arbor, MI

Two small parking lots (~12 spaces total) are located by the alley at the rear of the property, plus a handicap parking space. Parking is available on Olivia and Lincoln streets. Handicap access is provided via a short ramp at the Meetinghouse front door, which must be opened manually with assistance. An elevator located at the back of the Meetinghouse provides access from the outside to the Meeting room/Corner Room level and to handicap-accessible restrooms in the Meetinghouse basement.

Acknowledgment:

This event is taking place on the unceded territory of the Anishinaabeg – The Three Fire Confederacy of the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations, as well as the Wyandot Nation peoples.

What to bring:

We encourage you to bring a water bottle, and wear comfortable clothes/shoes.

Thank you for finding the sweet spot that's both generous & affordable for you! Your support covers ahlay’s travel and allows this medicine to keep serving the collective.

(( If this range is not accessible, please reach out -- no one will be turned away for lack of funds. ))

Children are welcome to attend (for free) and play on the periphery of circle / join the circle in singing (please be mindful of distractions). Let the event organizers know if you're bringing children so we can get an accurate head count (in the case that we're reaching maximum capacity).

Host or Publisher Anna Lemler and Aubrey Patino (feel free to email us with any questions)