I am in utter disbelief at the death of Michael Jackson. In retrospect, he has unselfishly contributed to music, dance and pop culture like no other artist in the world. Having started his career at age 10 to making a comeback this July at age 50 is a commendable effort to his legacy, in a genre of artists who are sampling his music and performance. It is unfortunate that a man of such talents needed to live in exiled seclusion for years in defending his eccentric behaviors and troubled past.
I have had the greatest pleasure in viewing the limited release documentary “Carmen and Geoffrey”, the living legacy of Carmen de Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder. The couple, a pair of extraordinary and exceptional talents of the 1950’s, play a vital part in the Black Dance Vernacular and Broadway Theater.
Director Linda Atkinson, through archival film footage of their illustrious careers, and filming over a three year time span, chronicles the life and times of this dynamic duo as they live life, love, reminisce and dance. Sustained by a 47 year long marriage and creative partnership, this film allows the viewer to look back with Carmen and Geoffrey as they reflect on a journey of two confident humble individuals and their invaluable contributions to black history through the arts.
Today I spent an entire day on YouTube. Well it all started when I received and email with a YouTube attachment. This video of the Charles Moore Dance Theater, of which I am currently in rehearsals, had a full length performance of Katherine Dunham’s “Shango” as performed by the company. I needed to answer many questions pertaining to this post of Ms. Dunham’s signature piece, which CMDT performed just last year. When the remaining postings of this one member appeared, I was forced to delve deeper into my ethnological dance studies. In that one grouping, I found videos supporting my syllabus “Dance and the Civil Rights Era” followed by my topic “Black Broadway revisited”, and lastly the difficult and unfounded subject “Leaders of the New School”, performing artists of the 21st century.
I always thought of YouTube as a social network in fame and celebrity for the not so famous. A method by which one may gain notoriety, on a global scale, of insipid self-aggrandizement. However, many people are taking rather seriously, a stance of self expression and infotainment, by sharing catalogues of personal collections through video, in support of very viable causes and interest. I am so “In to YouTube”, that I created an account for my 82 year old mother who enjoys multi-media nostalgia, in this computer age. With the correct keyword, and the click of the mouse, I have travelled worlds and time zones for information, which would have taken days to find in various public libraries and research facilities. I have organized collection(s) of thought, past and present, which are not only educational and informative, but are visually stunning as well.
If you would like to join me on my pedagogical journey through the “Black Dance Vernacular” , please respond to this blog, or send me an email and I will submit my playlists.
