Choreopoem

A choreopoem is a form of dramatic expression that combines poetry, dance, music, and song.[1] The term was first coined in 1975[2] by American writer Ntozake Shange in a description of her work, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf. Shange's attempt to depart from traditional western poetry and storytelling resulted in a new art form that doesn't contain specific plot elements or characters, but instead focuses on creating an emotional response from the audience.[3] In Shange’s work, nontraditional spelling and vernacular are aspects of this genre that differ from traditional American literature.[4] She emphasizes the importance of movement and nonverbal communication throughout the choreopoem so that it is able to function as a theatrical piece rather than being limited to poetry or dance.[5]

The "XX Chromosome Genome Project" by S. Ann Johnson is a contemporary example of a choreopoem. It combines poetry, song and dance to illuminate the commonalities and differences between women of various cultures.[6] In this choreopoem, Johnson writes about eight women in search of self-acceptance and liberation. These colorfully dressed women, who are named after flavors of foods, represent international cultures around the world through music, spoken word, and movement.[7]

History

Influenced by women from the Black Arts Movement, based on Black Nationalism that encouraged black separatism, and the feminist arts movement, which focused on using art of various mediums as acts against war and in favor of civil and homosexual rights,[8] Shange wanted to create a genre that was interdisciplinary and allowed for performers to use all senses of the body. Working closely with choreographer Dianne McIntyre, Shange was able to confront her childhood experiences through movement. McIntyre helped to choreograph for colored girls with Shange, as they wanted to convey awareness and community through dance.[9] The inclusion of movement and dance in a choreopoem was as essential to her as the poetry aspect. Shange described that "with dance (she) discovered (her) body more intimately than (she) had imagined possible."[10] Shange’s emphasis on dance was a result of her experience with African dance and movement classes as well as her exposure to Santeria through dance and music as it relates to African dance.[11]

In her choreopoems, Shange tends to focus on “self-awareness, self-definition, and solidarity”.

Many choreopoems were performed with African-American cultural inspiration but were not focused on black separatism. These choreopoems were focused upon teaching the culture and history of Africans and Americans of African descent to all comers interested in learning. Seattle's Choreopoets held this philosophy. Members of the Choreopoets included Mary Stone Hanley[12] who founded Choreopoets along with Gilda Sheppard.[13] Michael Hureaux, an early board member of Red Sky Poetry Theatre, was an active part of Choreopoets.[14] Other Choreopoets were Gina Miller, Sabria Rahima, Karen Simms, Giovanna Westward, Akele Ayanna, Reyburn Brown, and Calvalita Browning.

Choreopoems by Ntozake Shange
  • for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf (1975)
  • A Photograph: Lovers in Motion (1977)
  • Boogie Woogie Landscapes (1979)
  • Spell #7 (1979)
  • Daddy Says (1989)

Choreopoems by other authors
  • I Am A Black American by Peter Shaffer[15]
  • Langston by Tom Krusinski[16]
  • "Love Soup" by Tom Krusinski[17]
  • XX Chromosome Genome Project by S. Ann Jonhson[18]
  • You're All I Need To Get By written by Sababu Norris and Dr. James Mumford, choreographed by Nina Butts, and performed by Hampton University's Department of Speech Communications and Theatre Arts (1985)[19]

References
  1. Rawson, Christopher (March 7, 2008). ""Layla" is Forceful "Choreopoem"". ProQuest. ProQuest 390693272.
  2. Cox-Cordova, Jill (July 21, 2009). "Shange's 'For Colored Girls' has lasting power". CNN. Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
  3. rorydean (February 22, 2011). "For Colored Girls (2010)". Above the Line. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  4. Waxman, Barbara (Autumn 1994). "Dancing out of Form, Dancing into Self: Genre and Metaphor in Marshall, Shange, and Walker". Melus. 19 (3): 91–106. doi:10.2307/467874. JSTOR 467874.
  5. "Shange, Ntozake". literati. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  6. "The XX Chromosome Genome Project by S. Ann Johnson". 2 Pens & Lint LLC. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  7. Matema, ZSun-Nee. "'XX Chromosome Genome Project' at Hamilton Arts Center". DC Metro Theater Arts. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  8. "Feminist Art Movement". The Art Story Foundation. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  9. Brooks, Kara (February 10, 2012). "Ntozake Shange on Why She Had to Dance". The Oberlin Review. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  10. Collins, Lisa (2006). "Activists Who Yearn for Art That Transforms: Parallels in the Black Arts and Feminist Art Movements in the United States". Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society. 31 (3): 717–752. doi:10.1086/498991.
  11. Effiong, Philip. "Ntozake Shange's Choreopoem: Reinventing a Heritage of Poetry and Dance" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  12. Madeleine R. Grumet, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "School Welcomes Five New Colleagues" Archived 2018-08-22 at the Wayback Machine, Winter 2001. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  13. Mary Stone Hanley, Gilda L. Sheppard, et al., Culturally Relevant Arts Education for Social Justice: A Way Out of No Way (London, GB 2013), p. 5. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  14. Ferdinand M. De Leon, "Wordsmiths Listen, Give Support", Seattle Times, June 14, 1991: "I think people are recovering their voice, picking up where the black arts movement of the 60s left off," Hureaux said." Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  15. Riddick, Sharon (March 12, 1986). "Choreopoem production teachers black history". ProQuest: 13. ProQuest 569411136.
  16. "Dancer From 'The Wiz' Joins Cast Of Singin' & Shoutin'". ProQuest. ProQuest 184480702.
  17. Temin, Christine (October 30, 1980). "The total theater approach: REVIEW DANCE". ProQuest: 45. ProQuest 1009981415.
  18. Matema, ZSun-nee. "'XX Chromosome Genome Project' at Hamilton Arts Center". DC Metro Theater Arts. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  19. "Musical production at Hampton University". ProQuest: 12. March 13, 1985. ProQuest 569402585.
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