Photos and review by Kembriel Jackson
Dance is performance art that tells a story. The North Springs Dance Company and the North Springs dancers performed such a dance that tells the story of Black Americans during the annual Black History Month assembly held in two sessions during second period on Tuesday, February 28th. The dances symbolize history, culture, and the historical path of progress for African Americans, and celebrated African Americans all throughout history.
Both dances featured as a significant part the of the Black History Month assembly, relating to black oppression, culture, and history. Both dances were choreographed by the students as part of their classes with dance instructors Monica Noble and Denise Kent. The students were able to put their own ideas and creativity into these performances by devising their own style and movements while also having salient meaning incorporated in the dances. Creating their own choreography brings authenticity into both dances and allowed the dancers to learn about their own history, art, and culture.
The company first performed to “Glory” by Common and John Legend. This song is about black oppression in America, protest, and police brutality. This dance incorporates all of these issues while celebrating the importance of black culture. It’s important that story and culture of black Americans is expressed in different forms that students will understand and learn from. It’s also important that dancers can express the culture with music and movements. A lot of the company dancers expressed how it was important that to share the story of their ancestors so they wouldn’t be forgotten.”
The North Springs dancers next preformed the song “Stand Up” by Cynthia Erivo. This song has a strong theme of freedom, and is mostly known from being featured in the movie Harriet, about the life and hardships of Harriet Tubman. All of the North Springs dancers were included in this dance to celebrate the freedom of African Americans, and created a meaningful impact for all students, teachers, and staff in attendance. The song, its history, and the way it featured allows black students felt a sense of true pride when seeing it. As a black student who feels very proud of my history and culture, I could feel the dance resonate with others as a celebration of African American culture.
Both dances featured as a significant part the of the Black History Month assembly, relating to black oppression, culture, and history. Both dances were choreographed by the students as part of their classes with dance instructors Monica Noble and Denise Kent. The students were able to put their own ideas and creativity into these performances by devising their own style and movements while also having salient meaning incorporated in the dances. Creating their own choreography brings authenticity into both dances and allowed the dancers to learn about their own history, art, and culture.
In addition to the dances, the assembly featured Back history trivia as student presenters went into the audience to ask questions. It also featured original poems written and performed by students. The poems were expressed in the form of letters to black women and their strength throughout history as they struck a path of their own.
The assembly’s dances and poetry were based on the historical progression of Black History in America through slavey up until now, and effectively expressed how black women were marginalized in the past, but are now rising up. The dances in the assembly have rich history and meaning behind them that are being commemorated in the present day, and it’s important that we continue to do this in the future.
