Strange Fruit is a dance of humanity and conformity in the South. When Pearl Primus performed at Jacobs Pillow for the first time on August 16, 1947, she was in the early stages of establishing her career as an important theatrical concert dancer on the American contemporary dance scene. All of the works except Statementhad been restaged two decades earlier as a part of an American Dance Festival project, The Black Tradition in Modern Dance, that had been initiated to preserve important works by black choreographers. Another connection between the two artists was their unswerving commitment to use their creative endeavors in the name of social and political change. CloseThe New Dance Group Gala Concert: An historic retrospective of the New Dance Group presentations, 1930s 1970s (New York, NY: The American Dance Guild, 1993) pp. Also by this point her dance school, the Pearl Primus Dance Language Institute, was well known throughout the world. She developed a growing awareness that people of different cultures performed dances that were deeply rooted in many aspects of their lives.Primuss early experiences as a student of dance and as a young black woman with an evolving political and social consciousness resulted in her having several intertwined objectives. She also taught students the philosophy of learning these dance forms, anthropology, and language. "Black American Modern Dance Choreographers." As she moved Primus carried intensity and displayed passion while simultaneously bringing awareness to social issues. Hard Times Blues| Numeridanse tv Her first international tour took her to England in January 1952; from there, she traveled on to Liberia for the second time; and then she continued to Israel and to France. After her field research, Primus was able to establish new choreography while continuously developing some of her former innovative works. "[22] She has been unselfish in sharing the knowledge she has gained with others. Pearl Eileen Primus (November 29, 1919 - October 29, 1994) was an American dancer, choreographer and anthropologist. How conformity plays a part in their words and actions. It also laid the foundation for her relationship with Borde, who would follow her back to New York, marry her, and become her partner in all aspects of her life. She also appeared at the Chicago Theatre in the 1947 revival of the Emperor Jones in the "Witch Doctor" role that Hemsley Winfield made famous. She also choreographed Broadway musicals and the dances in O'Neill's play The Emperor Jones (1947). Comment on the irony of Americans fighting to liberate Europeans during World War II, while racism continued in America. Many viewers wondered about the race of the anguished woman, but Primus declared that the woman was a member of the lynch mob. American dancer, choreographer and anthropologist (19191994), Pioneer of African dance in the United States, Primus, from the Schomburg Library: Primus File, 1949, "New York, New York City Marriage Licenses Index, 1950-1995," database, FamilySearch (, "(Up)Staging the Primitive: Pearl Primus and 'the Negro Problem' in American Dance", "The New Dance Group: Transforming Individuals and Community", "THE DANCE: FIVE ARTISTS; Second Annual Joint Recital Project of the Y.M.H.A. Primus work continued to push boundaries as she re-developed another one of her debut pieces, Hard Time Blues (1945). Pearl Primus continued to teach, choreograph, and perform dances that spoke of the human struggle and of the African American struggle in a world of racism. Primus would choreograph based on imagining the movement of something she observed, such as an African sculpture. She is not ready to face changing the world on her own, to go against everyone and everything she knows. The choreography for this piece, which was made in protest of sharecropping, truly represented Primus movement style. Access a series of multimediaessaysoffering pathways to hundreds of rare videos, photos, programs, and more! "The dance begins as the last person begins to leave the lynching ground and the horror of what she has seen grips her, and she has to do a smooth, fast roll away from that burning flesh. CloseProgram, Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival. All Rights Reserved. The most famous and memorable song from New York pre-WWII political cabaret scene was Lewis Allans anti-lynching anthem, Strange Fruit, which has been recognized as one of the most influential American song. However, her goal of working as a medical researcher was unrealized due to the racial discrimination of the time. In 1940, at a point when Shawn was thinking of selling the property because of financial difficulties, Ball, a dance teacher from New York, leased the Pillow with an option to buy, and she produced The Berkshire Hills Dance Festival, showcasing ballet, modern, Oriental, and Spanish dance. But instead she decided to conduct an 18-month research and study tour of the Gold Coast, Angola, Cameroons, Liberia, Senegal and the Belgian Congo. In 1943, Primus performed Strange Fruit. Zollars first project involving the legacy of Pearl Primus inspired her to continue in that direction, and she choreographed a lengthier work using the same title, Walking with Pearl. Hard Time Blueswas a dance that focused on the plight of southern sharecroppers. In 1952, she led a group of female students on a research trip to her home island of Trinidad, where she met Percival Borde, a talented dancer and drummer who was performing with Beryl McBurnies Little Caribe Theatre. Explore a growing selection of specially themed Playlists, curated by Director of Preservation NortonOwen. Black American modern dance employs various aspects of modern dance while infusing elements of African and Caribbean movements into choreography. This is likely the first time she ever witnessed a lynching, and at this moment, her views are being challenged by this drastic event. If anything, thats the opposite. This dance was based on the poem by Lewis Allan about a lynching. But that is still no excuse for her behavior, and for ignoring what has happened because its easier. Pearl Primus's Strange Fruit and Hard Time Blues After six months of thorough research, she completed her first major composition entitled African Ceremonial. Moreover, to honor the original work was part of her objective. Considered a pioneer in Black American styles of dance, Katherine Dunham used her talent as an artist and academic to show the beauty of Black American forms of dance. Primus was joined by Lillian Moore, who performed her own choreography and that of Agnes de Mille; Lucas Hoving and Betty Jones, performed their own work; and Jos Limn, Letitia Ide, and Ellen Love, performed Doris Humphreys Lament for Ignacio Sanchez Mejias, a work based on the poetry of Federico Garcia Lorca. Explore a growing selection of specially themed Playlists, curated by Director of Preservation NortonOwen. Test your dance knowledge with our Guess Game, then challenge your friends! Pearl Primus was a member of the New Dance Group where she was encouraged by its socially and politically active members to develop her early solo dances dealing with the plight of African Americans in the face of racism. The point of this character, this southern white woman, is not to display only a sympathetic character. Her travels were clearly connected to her overarching interests mentioned above, and they also informed the type of protest dances that grew out of the New Dance Groups objectives: The New Dance Group aimed to make dance a viable weapon for the struggles of the working class. Primus was raised in New York City, and in 1940 received her bachelors degree in biology and pre-medical science from Hunter College. Over the decades, Primuss involvement with Jacobs Pillow continued, but instead of focusing on her own performance abilities that had stunned audiences during earlier years, she turned her attention to others. For her, Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival was a place where all of those paths and visions intersected. She died in 2006 in New York City. The repeal of Prohibition brought new or re-opened spaces where audiences could enjoy theater, dance or music while purchasing legal drinks for those who, in the Depression,could afford them. Her interest in world cultures had led her to enroll in the Anthropology Department at Columbia University in 1945.Primuss 1947 concert followed a format that Ted Shawn adopted at the time of his festivals opening in 1943. Pearl Primus | Essay - Jacob's Pillow Dance Interactive Zollars project involving Primuss work revealed a number of remarkable connections between the artists. II, p. 5 One of the dances Primus performed on the program was Hard Time Blues, a work that she would reprise at Jacobs Pillow four years later. [13] These similarities show that Primus style, themes, and body type promoted the display of Black culture within the dance community. [25], Pearl fused spirituals, jazz and blues and then coupling these music forms with the literacy works of black writers, Primus' choreographic voice though strong resonated primarily for and to the black community. endstream endobj 490 0 obj <>/Metadata 59 0 R/OCProperties<>/OCGs[501 0 R]>>/Outlines 81 0 R/PageLayout/SinglePage/Pages 485 0 R/StructTreeRoot 108 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 491 0 obj <>/Font<>/Properties<>/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 492 0 obj <>stream Soon after her Pillow debut in 1947, Primus spent a year in Africa documenting dances. She based the dance on a legend from the Belgian Congo, about a priest who performed a fertility ritual until he collapsed and vanished. Primus intent was to show the humanity behind those deemed too awful to be human. This is why she is not an entirely sympathetic character. Under the direction of Samuel Pott, the New Jersey-based Nimbus Dance Works focuses on the intersection between high-level dance and innovative ways of involving communities and audiences. She began her formal study of dance in 1941 at the New Dance Group, where she studied with that organizations founders, Jane Dudley, Sophie Maslow, and William Bales. She also choreographed dances that contained messages about racism and discrimination. 0 Two importantvenues from those years were the TAC Cabaret (at the Firehouse) and Barney Josephson's Cafe Society. Primus' work was a reaction to myths of savagery and the lack of knowledge about African people. On July 7, 2011 University Dancers with Something Positive, Inc. presented several of her works on the Inside/Out Stage. Nimbus Dance Works: Strange Fruit - Jacob's Pillow Dance Interactive Poetry is a good choice to focus on since that is the literary form Primus drew upon to inspire several of her dances. endstream endobj startxref Your donation is fully tax-deductible. Watch: ViewStrange Fruit and Hard Time Blues. Aileys most popular choreography is Revelations. The dance performance, Strange Fruit, choreographed by Pearl Primus, depicts a white woman reacting in horror at the lynching which she both participated in and watched. Ailey was born on January 5, 1931, in Texas. Their dignity and beauty bespeak an elegant past. CloseProgram, Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival, Season 1947.Another program note for Dance of Strengthstated, The dancer beats his muscles to show power. [13] With an enlarged range of interest, Primus began to conduct some field studies. This solo was transmitted to the company James Carles, by Mary Whaite, assistant of Pearl Primus. Removing the body from her sight signifies her inability to face reality, and the ease with which she could fall back into familiar comfort after something so horrible. Primus' strong belief that rich choreographic material lay in abundance in the root experiences of a people has been picked up and echoed in the rhythm and themes of Alvin Ailey, Donald McKayle, Talley Beatty, Dianne McIntyre, Elo Pomare and others. He described her as a remarkable and distinguished artist. This piece served as an introduction to her swelling interest in Black heritage. Primuss extensive travels took her to nine different countries, where she was able to observe, study, and learn an encyclopedic array of dances with their deep cultural connections to the people. She had not yet undertaken fieldwork on the continent of Africa, but based on information she could gather from books, photographs, and films, and on her consultations with native African students in New York City, she had begun to explore the dance language of African cultures. Primus chose to create the abstract, modern dance in the character of a white woman, part of the crowd that had watched the lynching. In 1965, for example, she choreographed four out of the five works performed by Percival Borde and CompanyBeaded Mask, Earth Magician, War Dance,and Impinyuza. Strange Fruit Choreographed by Pearl Primus, this solo piece portrays a woman's reaction to a lynching. Dr. Pearl Primus - Choreography: Physical Design for the Stage Over time Primus developed an interest in the way dance represented the lives of people in a culture. She made sure to preserve the traditional forms of expression that she observed. During the early 20th Century, Black dancers such as Katherine Dunham and Pearl Primus used their backgrounds as dancers and their interest in learning their cultural heritage to create modern dance techniques. In 1978 she founded the Pearl Primus Dance Language Institute in New Rochelle. Music by Billie Holiday Choreography by Pearl PrimusEditing by Brian LeungUW Dance 101 Ailey began his career as a dancer at the age of 22 when he became a dancer with the Lester HortonCompany. Compare: Can you isolate and describe the differences between Primuss and Grahams dance expressions of social commentary and protest themes? In 1953 Primus returned to Trinidad to study dance there, and met her husband, Percival Borde. Black American Modern Dance Choreographers - ThoughtCo This cannon of Negro spirituals, also referred to as "sorrow songs" branched from slave culture, which at the time was a prominent source of inspiration for many contemporary dance artists. The Wedding [extract 1]| Numeridanse tv The New Dance Groups mottoDance is a weaponencapsulated the idea that dance performance should be much more than art-for-arts-sake. Dance artists should be acutely aware of the political and social realities of their time, and they should use that awareness to create work that had an impact on the consciousness of the individuals who saw it. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Receive a monthly email with new and featured Jacobs Pillow Dance Interactive videos, curated by Director of Preservation Norton Owen. After gaining much praise, Primus next performances began in April 1943, as an entertainer at the famous racially integrated night club, Cafe Society Downtown. Although born in Trinidad, she made an impact in many sections of the world. Throughout her career, Primus used her craft to express social ills in United States society. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/african-american-modern-dance-choreographers-45330. At the Pillow, she performed Dance of Beauty, with a program note stating, In the hills of the Belgian Congo lives a tribe of seven foot people. 508 0 obj <>stream She went on to study for a Ph.D. and did research on dance in Africa, spending three years on the continent learning dances. [citation needed] On December 5, 1948, dancer Pearl Primus closed a successful return engagement at the Caf Society nightclub in New York City before heading off to Africa.[18]. Primus' 1943 work 'Strange Fruit' leaped over the boundaries of what was then considered 'black dance', "The Borzoi Book of Modern Dance - PDF Free Download", https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLSR-V3TM, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLS5-YS1P, "Pearl Primus Is Dead at 74; A Pioneer of Modern Dance", Picture of Pearl Primus in Folk Dance (1945), Archive footage of Primus performing Spirituals in 1950 at Jacob's Pillow, "Pearl Primus rejoices in the Black tradition", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pearl_Primus&oldid=1151870198, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development alumni, United States National Medal of Arts recipients, Trinidad and Tobago people of Ghanaian descent, Trinidad and Tobago emigrants to the United States, Trinidad and Tobago people of Ashanti descent, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2012, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 April 2023, at 19:27. "Black American Modern Dance Choreographers." Receive a monthly email with new and featured Jacobs Pillow Dance Interactive videos, curated by Director of Preservation Norton Owen. In Strange Fruit (1945), the solo dancer reflects on witnessing a lynching. She also opened a dance school in Harlem to train younger performers. For more on their The House I Live In, please see my Sinatra exhibition blog. Pearl Primus " Watch: "Strange Fruit" About "Stange Fruit": Dr. Primus created socially and politically solo dances dealing with the plight of Black Americans in the face of racism. Dunham made her debut as a performer in 1934 in the Broadway musical Le Jazz Hot and Tropics. An extended interview with Primus,Evening 3 of Five Evenings with American Dance Pioneerscan be viewed or streamed at The Library for the Performing Arts. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. They were artistic innovators against poverty, fascism, hunger, racism and the manifold injustices of their time. CloseThe New Dance Group Gala Concert, p. 6.
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