Photo Credit: Allie Mullin Photography
Duke Homestead is usually known as the birthplace of the future American Tobacco Company, but three Duke children were born there also. Connect with this universal human experience during "Born at Duke Homestead featuring Birthing Bodies," an unprecedented event combining arts and history April 29 and 30.
Through performances and special guided tours, visitors will be able to imagine Duke Homestead in 1856, the year James B. Duke, the youngest child, was born. What did the new baby mean for the people here? What was the best medical practice of the time? What was it like for Artelia Roney Duke to be a pregnant woman and mother, or to be Caroline, a young enslaved girl with her owner's health in her hands? Come explore this fascinating part of Duke Homestead history in a spotlight on women's stories.
Visitors will learn from staff and also will enjoy an interdisciplinary site performance by Murmurations Dance, under artistic director Nicole Dagesse. The company will perform Birthing Bodies, a collage of dance, music and poetry based on the rich history of pregnancy, midwifery and home birth in North Carolina. The performance is part of the 2015-16 Durham Independent Dance Artist season.
"So often we speak of the women of Duke Homestead in a series of dates - the years they were born, married, had children and died," notes Site Manager Jessica Shillingsford. "Their significance and their experiences were so much more than that. I'm thrilled to offer this unique event that will bring their stories to life and offer a new way to connect with them."
"Born at Duke Homestead featuring Birthing Bodies" will offer four ticketed performances. Each performance includes the Birthing Bodies performance and the special tour at $15 per person. Ages 12 and under are free. Performances are at 7 p.m. April 29; and 8 a.m., noon, and 7 p.m. April 30. May 1 is reserved as a rain date. Tickets can be purchased via http://bit.ly/BornAtDuke.
For more information about "Born at Duke Homestead featuring Birthing Bodies", please call (919) 477-5498, email duke@ncdcr.gov or visit dukehomestead.org.
Duke Homestead is the historic home, farm and factory buildings of Washington Duke and his family. The site interprets the lives of the Dukes as they lived in the historic home from 1852 until 1874. Duke Homestead is located at 2828 Duke Homestead Road, Durham. It is within the Division of State Historic Sites of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.