Collaboration with Nora Chipaumire

Since I mentioned this collaboration before, I wanted to give you at least one visual from the rough draft performance. I'm off to London soon so I'll be thinking about her choreography constantly while I'm away. Nora divided her movements into four sections, reflecting four ways that Africa is branded (I'm quoting from my memory of the dance, not from Nora directly)—1) the tourism brand, the violent brand, the real brand (that is rarely heard), and the exotic brand. Dearest expats, especially who have lived in Africa, I'd love to hear your thoughts on these ideas. I'm still developing the imagery and need all of the stories I can gather.

More about Nora is at http://www.pentacle.org/default.asp?page=14. I love this section of her biography. She has such a fascinating history.

Nora won a 2007 Bessie Performer Award for her performances during Urban Bush Women's Joyce season. In Dance Magazine's May 2008 issue, Eva Yaa Asantewaa writes, "Nora Chipaumire is a lioness--a regal, iconic presence hailed for her performances with Urban Bush Women as well as her own solo creations." The article continues to comment on Nora's law school degree and her decision to switch to contemporary dance so that she can take charge of how Africans are seen. Nora says, "Art can be transformative, reach a higher place in humanity without being dogmatic...for Africans, dance is a fundamental, democratic way to communicate."

Nora Chipaumire on NPR

My collaboration with Nora Chipaumire is now in full swing. She loves my animations projected both on the back of the stage and a huge scrim placed downstage. I have to admit I myself am awestruck by them as they are projected to monumental sizes, perhaps 20 feet tall. Thomas Mapfumo and his band arrive Monday to practice and perform the piece at FSU Black Box next Thursday, June 5. I feel so lucky. I don't know how all of this happened...

You can find a video of Nora dancing here. Hopefully I can post an image from Thursday's performance soon.

The collaboration's interest for the expat community lies in the impetus for project, namely in our investigations into transnational moves and the impact on the individual. More details to come...