This Hamilton hip-hop show explores the ‘uncomfortable’ realities of systemic racism, oppression

A Hamilton choreographer is exploring the “uncomfortable realities” of inequality, systemic racism, misogyny, homophobia and other social justice issues — all through the lens of hip-hop and dance. Josh Taylor said he got the idea for The Uncomfortable Project some years ago while talking to his friend and fellow choreographer Janessa Pudwell about his desire to get more people talking about these issues. “Often we avoid these issues because they make us uncomfortable and this is why we don’t want to address these elephants in the room,” he told CBC Hamilton. “But the fact is that for marginalized people, they don’t have a choice. We don’t have a choice of addressing these elephants. They are addressed for you as early as five to six years old,” he said. Taylor developed the show during the COVID-19 pandemic and it debuted in January 2023, having a three-day sold-out run. The show is back at Theatre Aquarius this week, with shows Thursday to Saturday starting at 7:30 p.m. An artist performs during the 2023 staging of The Uncomfortable Project. (Sarah Smith/submitted by Josh Taylor) “It is an inter-arts dance show — inter-arts being poetry, dancing, hip-hop, MCs and rappers,” Taylor said. Taylor said...