SpellING
MARSAE LYNETTE AND SHAWN ANTOINE II
I offer her this dance at dawn
this cinnamon
this broom
Mopeo Ase Yeye Osun
SpellING is a dance short film by Shawn Antoine II and Marsae Lynette that explores themes of ritual, intention, and ancestral connection through movement. The film opens with the sound of Lake Michigan’s waves, paired with Alice Smith’s haunting rendition of “I Put a Spell on You.” The dance becomes a ceremonial act, sweeping away what no longer serves and calling forth that which is meant.
The movement is improvisational, reflecting the Black dance aesthetic of fugitivity, freedom and resistance, inviting spirit and ancestral presence into the creative process, allowing space for the unexpected and the unseen. According to filmmaker and scholar Bree Gant, art is a way of accessing alternate forms of knowledge. Thus, SpellING becomes a site of knowledge production, archiving the embodied memories of those who came before me and an archival offering of embodied memories to future generations (BG). Filmmaking is therefore an inter-generational inter-dimensional art form; a temporal crossroad (giving honor to Elegua) and creative collaboration with the past, present, and future.
Marsae Lynette is an interdisciplinary artist, activist, and scholar from Flint, Michigan. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Performance Studies at Northwestern University, where her research and creative practice center on Afro-diasporic and Indigenous ecological performance practices, ritual, cultural memory, environmental justice, and the choreopoem form. Marsae holds an MFA from the University of Michigan and a BFA from Marygrove College.
As an interdisciplinary creator, Marsae’s choreography and movement cinema have been featured in academic conferences, festivals, and theaters, including Hastings Street at the Detroit Music Hall, Magnolia Ballet at Williamston Theatre, and Reflect. Black. Times in IABD’s Time Keepers Magazine. Her dance films, including SpellING and Catch A Train, explore themes of ancestry, time, and resistance. She has choreographed and taught for institutions such as Interlochen Center for the Arts, the Detroit Public School District, and the University of Michigan, where she developed innovative courses like “Manifesto & Movement.”
A committed advocate for social change, Marsae’s work bridges performance, pedagogy, and activism. She is the current graduate assistant for the Black Arts Consortium in Chicago, a member of the NU Abolitionist Lab, and founding member of the Aarc (Artist Activist Revolutionary Creative) Collective. Marsae has received numerous accolades, including the Kresge Gilda Snowden Award, Rackham Merit Fellowship, and Saltwater Road Artist Residency. Through her artistry, scholarship, and community engagement Marsae Lynette aims to cultivate ecological empathy, empower marginalized communities, and inspire collective action for a sustainable and just future; making “the revolution irresistible” - word to Bambara.
Shawn Antoine II is a filmmaker and photographer from Harlem, NY, whose work celebrates the resilience and beauty of the Black diaspora. Currently pursuing his MFA in Documentary Media at Northwestern University, Shawn combines a passion for storytelling with a deep commitment to uplifting underrepresented voices. His films have screened at prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, Doc NYC, and The Schomburg Center, as well as at numerous national and international film festivals.
Shawn’s filmmaking journey began in 2015, using the medium to inspire dialogue around social justice. His notable works include KINGDOME (2024), which honors community leaders through the lens of Harlem’s iconic basketball culture, and SHOWTIME (2020), a portrait of street performers that gained acclaim on the festival circuit. Shawn’s latest project, For Those That Lived There, is an experimental documentary exploring gentrification and displacement in Chicago’s Cabrini Green neighborhood, shot entirely on 16mm film.
With a background as a collegiate athlete and a degree in Public Relations and Film Production from the University of Rhode Island, Shawn brings discipline, creativity, and a unique perspective to his work. His storytelling extends beyond film, aiming to empower underprivileged youth as storytellers through initiatives like his proposed nonprofit in New York City.
Through his creative practice, Shawn seeks to foster understanding, spark conversation, and honor the cultural legacies of his communities. Whether behind the camera or in the edit room, his goal is to craft stories that inform, inspire, and endure.