Carly Harvey: The Chrysalis – Blues at the Crossroads

Blues at the Crossroads is a multidisciplinary performance that celebrates the meeting points of music, dance, and culture through the lens of the blues. As a Washington, DC–based Afro-Indigenous artist, I carry forward the tradition of honoring roots while innovating for the future. At the heart of my work is the Native Scat, a vocal style I created that blends the improvisational spirit of jazz scat with the timeless vocables of Native American music. This performance expands that idea, presenting the blues as the foundation while crossing into gospel’s soul, jazz’s freedom, rock’s edge, and funk’s groove.

Dance is integral to my storytelling. The show will have a moment to highlight the rhythmic and cultural intersections of fancy dancing, flamenco, and tap—forms that, while distinct, share common threads of percussive expression, improvisation, and deep tradition. Every element—music, movement, and narrative—is chosen to reveal how these worlds connect, speak to each other, and create something vibrant and new.

With a curated ensemble of professional musicians and dancers, the performance invites the audience into an immersive, seamless flow of sound and movement—an exploration of heritage and innovation, connection and transformation, all rooted in the enduring language of the blues.

Runtime: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Ages: Ages 13 and Older

Content Advisory: mild references to grief and sensitive history involving slavery.

Carly Harvey is a dynamic Blues artist based in Washington, DC, known for her unique fusion of Blues, Jazz, Soul, and Indigenous American styles. As a performer and band leader, Carly has captivated audiences with her commanding stage presence and original sound. Her debut album Kamama reflects her dedication to her Afro-Indigenous roots and her belief in the power of music to heal, evolve, and connect us to the earth.