Dedicated to all black women everywhere especially our mothers - Alvin Ailey

First song:
Something about John Coltrane by Alice Coltrane
Second song:
Been on a train by Laura Nyro
Third song:
Right on. Be Free by The voices of Harlem
Section one :
Phrase one
Comes forward on a mid to low level
Chains are heard within music
idea of slavery and the hardships of black women
pride in culture
offering, bowing
sense of a journey
shelter, angular action
finishes with her on the floor downstage, angular arm lines protecting the scarf
low level, shows her lack of power
Phrase two
moves away from the scar
isolation
build up more of a barrier using the material as well as movement
manipulation of the shackles/bound motif
shuffling and adulation of the torso
literal slave-like actions e.g. scrubbing of the floor (short sharp contractions)
vigorous
literal physical 'bound' motif with the fabric
manipulation of material into a traditional 'African' head dress
movement becomes free and less restricted when she wears the head dress
finishes downstage, throwing the material horizontally, sharp contractions
Phrase three
Saxophone enters, blues vibe African American culture. Lighting changes
spirally, symbolic cultural
fluttering hands, femininity, flirtatious e.g holding the skirt
bird motif
music dies down, sharp movements
transition in silence

Section two
Phrase one
Reaching
literal movements according to the lyrics
context- Horton technique, shapes
pushing, pressing actions
experiences of the African American women, what they saw, what they felt
Manipulation of the contraction of the torso
bound hands
Phrase two
Dynamics change
Greater use of space
Female vocals change, more dynamic quality
moving in one direction then getting pushed backward, reinforcing the barrier
flexed hands, bound wrists
Stillness
shuffle across the floor, moving forward
Phrase three
Tempo changes
slower dynamic
low levels
manipulation of the reach for help, trying to escape
more desperate, wanting help
reach to a drop during the silence
Section three:
Electric guitar plays a motif
Different style
Contorted torso still visible
Shouting and reaching for joy
contrast through music and style though some elements from previous sections are
evident- unity throughout the whole piece
External Structure
Formal structure
- Narrative or episodic
sequencing and transitioning