🪩Dance in American Cultures Unit 12 – Civil Rights Movement in Dance

Historical Context

• The Civil Rights Movement in the United States took place primarily during the 1950s and 1960s, a period marked by widespread protests, demonstrations, and legal challenges aimed at ending racial discrimination and segregation
• Rooted in the long history of African American struggle for equality, the movement gained momentum following World War II, as returning Black veterans and a growing Black middle class demanded an end to the racial injustices they faced
• Key events that catalyzed the movement included the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956), the Greensboro sit-ins (1960), and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (1963), where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech
• The movement achieved significant legislative victories, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which banned racial discrimination in voting
• Dance played a vital role in the Civil Rights Movement, serving as a means of cultural expression, resistance, and empowerment for African Americans
  • Artists and activists used dance to celebrate Black identity, challenge stereotypes, and advocate for social change
  • Dance performances often incorporated themes of freedom, equality, and justice, reflecting the goals and aspirations of the movement

Key Figures and Pioneers

• Katherine Dunham, an anthropologist, dancer, and choreographer, was a pioneering figure in the development of African American dance
  • She founded the Katherine Dunham Dance Company in the 1930s, which showcased the rich cultural heritage of the African diaspora and challenged prevailing stereotypes about Black dance
  • Dunham's technique, which blended African and Caribbean dance styles with ballet and modern dance, influenced generations of dancers and choreographers
• Pearl Primus, a dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist, was known for her powerful and politically charged performances that addressed issues of racial injustice and social inequality
  • Her works, such as "Strange Fruit" (1943) and "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" (1944), drew on African and African American cultural traditions to convey messages of resistance and resilience
• Alvin Ailey, a dancer and choreographer, founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958, which became one of the most influential and celebrated dance companies of the 20th century
  • Ailey's works, such as "Revelations" (1960), celebrated the African American experience and brought Black dance to mainstream audiences
  • His company provided a platform for Black dancers and choreographers to showcase their talents and tell their stories
• Talley Beatty, a dancer and choreographer, created works that addressed the struggles and triumphs of African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement
  • His piece "The Road of the Phoebe Snow" (1959) depicted the journey of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North, highlighting the challenges they faced along the way
• Donald McKayle, a dancer, choreographer, and teacher, created socially conscious works that explored themes of racial injustice, poverty, and human rights
  • His piece "Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder" (1959) portrayed the experiences of chain gang prisoners, drawing attention to the inhumane treatment of African American men in the criminal justice system

Dance Styles and Techniques

• African American dance during the Civil Rights Movement drew on a rich tapestry of cultural traditions, including African dance, Caribbean dance, jazz, tap, and modern dance
• The Black dance aesthetic emphasized expressive movement, polyrhythmic patterns, and improvisation, reflecting the resilience, creativity, and adaptability of African American communities
• Katherine Dunham's technique, which she developed in the 1930s and 1940s, incorporated elements of African and Caribbean dance, as well as ballet and modern dance
  • Her approach emphasized the importance of cultural context and authenticity in dance, and sought to challenge prevailing stereotypes about Black dance
• Pearl Primus's technique drew on her anthropological research into African dance traditions, as well as her training in modern dance and ballet
  • She emphasized the spiritual and communal aspects of dance, and sought to use movement as a means of social and political expression
• Alvin Ailey's technique, which he developed in the 1950s and 1960s, blended elements of modern dance, ballet, and African American vernacular dance
  • His approach emphasized the importance of individual expression and storytelling through movement, and sought to create a uniquely American style of dance that celebrated the diversity of the nation's cultural heritage
• The Horton technique, developed by Lester Horton in the 1930s and 1940s, was an important influence on many Black dancers and choreographers during the Civil Rights Movement
  • The technique emphasized strength, flexibility, and control, and incorporated elements of Native American dance, Japanese theater, and modern dance
  • Alvin Ailey and many other prominent Black dancers studied with Horton and incorporated his techniques into their own work

Influential Performances and Works

• "Revelations" (1960) by Alvin Ailey is one of the most iconic and enduring works of the Civil Rights Movement era
  • The piece, set to traditional spirituals and gospel music, celebrates the African American experience and explores themes of faith, hope, and resilience in the face of adversity
  • "Revelations" has been performed by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for over 60 years, and has been seen by millions of people around the world
• "Blues Suite" (1958) by Alvin Ailey is another influential work from the Civil Rights Movement era
  • The piece, set to blues music, portrays the joys and sorrows of African American life, and celebrates the resilience and creativity of Black communities
• "The Road of the Phoebe Snow" (1959) by Talley Beatty depicts the journey of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North during the Great Migration
  • The piece highlights the challenges and hardships faced by Black migrants, as well as their hopes and dreams for a better life
• "Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder" (1959) by Donald McKayle portrays the experiences of chain gang prisoners, drawing attention to the inhumane treatment of African American men in the criminal justice system
  • The piece uses powerful, expressive movement to convey the prisoners' pain, despair, and resilience in the face of oppression
• "Southland" (1951) by Katherine Dunham is a searing indictment of racial violence and lynching in the American South
  • The piece, which features a scene of a Black man being lynched, was highly controversial and rarely performed during Dunham's lifetime
  • "Southland" reflects Dunham's commitment to using dance as a means of social and political commentary, and her willingness to take risks in order to speak truth to power

Social Impact and Cultural Significance

• Dance played a vital role in the Civil Rights Movement, serving as a means of cultural expression, resistance, and empowerment for African Americans
• Black dancers and choreographers used their art to celebrate African American culture and identity, challenge stereotypes and prejudices, and advocate for social and political change
• Dance performances often incorporated themes of freedom, equality, and justice, reflecting the goals and aspirations of the Civil Rights Movement
• Black dance companies, such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Katherine Dunham Dance Company, provided a platform for African American dancers and choreographers to showcase their talents and tell their stories
  • These companies helped to break down racial barriers in the dance world and bring African American dance to mainstream audiences
• Dance also played a role in building community and solidarity among African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement
  • Dance performances and gatherings provided a space for people to come together, share their experiences, and support one another in the struggle for equality
• The influence of African American dance during the Civil Rights Movement extended beyond the dance world, shaping popular culture and social attitudes more broadly
  • The success of Black dancers and choreographers challenged prevailing stereotypes about African Americans and helped to promote a more positive and nuanced understanding of Black culture and identity
• The legacy of African American dance during the Civil Rights Movement continues to inspire and influence contemporary dancers and choreographers, who draw on the rich cultural heritage and social consciousness of their predecessors

Challenges and Controversies

• Despite the significant contributions of African American dancers and choreographers during the Civil Rights Movement, they often faced discrimination, marginalization, and limited opportunities in the mainstream dance world
• Many Black dancers and choreographers struggled to find funding and support for their work, and were often excluded from major dance institutions and performance venues
• Some African American dancers and choreographers faced criticism and backlash for their political and social activism, particularly when their work addressed controversial issues such as racism, violence, and inequality
  • Katherine Dunham's "Southland" (1951), which depicted a lynching, was met with strong opposition and rarely performed during her lifetime
• There were also debates and tensions within the African American dance community about the role and purpose of dance in the Civil Rights Movement
  • Some dancers and choreographers believed that dance should be used primarily as a means of cultural expression and celebration, while others saw it as a tool for social and political activism
• The appropriation and commodification of African American dance by white choreographers and dance companies was also a source of controversy and concern
  • Some African American dancers and choreographers felt that their cultural heritage and artistic innovations were being exploited and misrepresented by white artists and institutions
• Despite these challenges and controversies, African American dancers and choreographers persevered in their efforts to create meaningful and impactful work, and to use dance as a means of social and political change

Legacy and Contemporary Influence

• The legacy of African American dance during the Civil Rights Movement continues to inspire and influence contemporary dancers and choreographers
• Many of the techniques, styles, and themes developed by pioneering Black dancers and choreographers, such as Katherine Dunham, Pearl Primus, and Alvin Ailey, have become integral to the language and practice of modern dance
• The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, founded in 1958, remains one of the most influential and celebrated dance companies in the world, known for its commitment to celebrating African American culture and promoting social justice through dance
• Contemporary Black dancers and choreographers, such as Ronald K. Brown, Camille A. Brown, and Kyle Abraham, continue to draw on the rich cultural heritage and social consciousness of their predecessors, while also pushing the boundaries of the art form in new and innovative ways
• The legacy of African American dance during the Civil Rights Movement has also had a significant impact on popular culture and social attitudes more broadly
  • The success and visibility of Black dancers and choreographers has helped to challenge stereotypes and promote a more positive and nuanced understanding of African American culture and identity
• The themes and values of the Civil Rights Movement, such as freedom, equality, and justice, continue to resonate in the work of contemporary dancers and choreographers, who use their art to address pressing social and political issues of our time
• The ongoing struggle for racial justice and equity in the United States has also brought renewed attention to the contributions and legacy of African American dancers and choreographers during the Civil Rights Movement era
  • Many contemporary dancers and choreographers see their work as part of a long and ongoing tradition of using dance as a means of resistance, empowerment, and social change

Further Reading and Resources

• "Dancing Many Drums: Excavations in African American Dance" edited by Thomas F. DeFrantz (2002) - a collection of essays exploring the history and cultural significance of African American dance
• "Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy" by Barbara Ehrenreich (2007) - a book examining the role of dance in social and political movements throughout history, including the Civil Rights Movement
• "Dance and the Civil Rights Movement" by Carla Blank (2016) - an article exploring the contributions of African American dancers and choreographers to the Civil Rights Movement, published in the "Dance Magazine"
• "Dance in the Civil Rights Movement" by Candace Thompson (2020) - a blog post on the Dance/USA website discussing the role of dance in the Civil Rights Movement and its ongoing legacy
• "Free to Dance: The African American Presence in Modern Dance" (2001) - a PBS documentary exploring the contributions of African American dancers and choreographers to the development of modern dance in the United States
• "The Black Dancing Body: A Geography from Coon to Cool" by Brenda Dixon Gottschild (2003) - a book examining the cultural and political significance of the Black dancing body in American society
• "The Dance Claimed Me: A Biography of Pearl Primus" by Peggy and Murray Schwartz (2011) - a biography of the pioneering African American dancer and choreographer Pearl Primus, exploring her life, work, and legacy
• The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater website (www.alvinailey.org) - a resource for information about the company's history, repertoire, and ongoing work, as well as educational materials and videos