Below is a link that shows: Negro Speaks of Rivers, Strange Fruit, and Hard Time Blues
http://acceleratedmotion.wesleyan.edu/primary_sources/video/identities_stage_fruit/stage_fruit.php?vid=stage_fruit_sm&siz=sm
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
I Care About Pearl!
Pearl Primus is an exquisite piece of African-American history. As an African-American female, I find her story to be extremely inspirational, motivating, and personal to me. Before conducting research on her, I knew nothing about her. Learning about her life's accomplishments is like seeing myself succeeding in accomplishing my own life goals.
Like Pearl, I started formal dance training in my latter years. Seeing how Pearl blossomed in her gift is motivation for me to continue moving forward. Additionally, Pearl was a "jack of all trades" as she was educated in medicine sciences and social sciences. She was trained in Afro-Caribbean dances, as well as ballet and modern. Again, I relate to her as I consider myself well read in many different arenas. Researching her life has given my hope that all things work together for good. She used her life experiences and made them work for her benefit. Pearl's personal stories, beliefs, and values became real life stories on stage through movement.
The life of Pearl Primus should not be ignored because of the great impact her life had in the world of dance. Pearl brought life to African and Caribbean dancing on stage. She was apart of many other black choreographers that helped to show the rich history of movement embedded in the ancestors of African-Americans. Additionally, she meshed that movement with modern and ballet movement, which transcended her dances into another level of passionate dance. Today, more and more dance artists are using different art and movement forms to transform dance. Pearl played a big part in making this transformation come to past by giving dance the gift of African and Caribbean stage influence.
Like Pearl, I started formal dance training in my latter years. Seeing how Pearl blossomed in her gift is motivation for me to continue moving forward. Additionally, Pearl was a "jack of all trades" as she was educated in medicine sciences and social sciences. She was trained in Afro-Caribbean dances, as well as ballet and modern. Again, I relate to her as I consider myself well read in many different arenas. Researching her life has given my hope that all things work together for good. She used her life experiences and made them work for her benefit. Pearl's personal stories, beliefs, and values became real life stories on stage through movement.
The life of Pearl Primus should not be ignored because of the great impact her life had in the world of dance. Pearl brought life to African and Caribbean dancing on stage. She was apart of many other black choreographers that helped to show the rich history of movement embedded in the ancestors of African-Americans. Additionally, she meshed that movement with modern and ballet movement, which transcended her dances into another level of passionate dance. Today, more and more dance artists are using different art and movement forms to transform dance. Pearl played a big part in making this transformation come to past by giving dance the gift of African and Caribbean stage influence.
Monday, April 12, 2010
WHY DID PEARL DO WHAT SHE DID?
The core of Pearl's contribution to the dance world was bringing African-American social issues to the forefront by using the art of dance. She put the voice of African-Americans on the stage in an upfront and personal way. Using poems and images of African-American sufferings in the South became a way of conveying the harsh social and political times.
Pearl also contributed the native dances of African-American's descendants to dance in America. Though Katherine Dunham contributed much to African dance movement coming to America, there lies a richness in what Pearl contributes. As she travelled to Africa and the Carribean islands, she continually brought back the cultural dances and rituals of the people. She presented them not as simply sensual and primitive (or savage like) movements. Pearl brought back rich cultural ideas and presented them as a work of art on stages. The content of her work was what made her work important. Pearl was inspired by the roots of her culture, as well as the liberation of her race in America. Rather than simply protested and marching, she took the route of a using dancing as a way to connect to people. Her dancing connecting people to a culture and a cause.
Pearl also contributed the native dances of African-American's descendants to dance in America. Though Katherine Dunham contributed much to African dance movement coming to America, there lies a richness in what Pearl contributes. As she travelled to Africa and the Carribean islands, she continually brought back the cultural dances and rituals of the people. She presented them not as simply sensual and primitive (or savage like) movements. Pearl brought back rich cultural ideas and presented them as a work of art on stages. The content of her work was what made her work important. Pearl was inspired by the roots of her culture, as well as the liberation of her race in America. Rather than simply protested and marching, she took the route of a using dancing as a way to connect to people. Her dancing connecting people to a culture and a cause.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
