January 30, 2013

PROPSAL FOR: Artist as Activist: African American Females as Doers of Womanist Justice
Prepared By: Donnalayha Cook and Dr. Glendola Mills-Parker

Norfolk State University Dance Theatre 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, VA 23504 (757) 823-8071 gmills-parker@nsu.edu

Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Need/Problem........................................................................................................................................... 3 Purpose ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 Scope of Work ........................................................................................................................................... 3 1. The lecture/workshop ...................................................................................................................... 3 2. Open Community Audition .............................................................................................................. 4 3. Artists-in-residences......................................................................................................................... 4 Benefits ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 Budget ....................................................................................................................................................... 5

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Introduction
Dance Theatre is a student based dance company with over 50 years of history at Norfolk State University. Its mission is to provide quality dance programming (education and performance) for Norfolk State University and the community. Currently under the direction of associate professor, Dr. Glendola Mills-Parker, Dance Theatre presents modern, jazz, hiphop and contemporary African dance as part of its repertoire. Through Dance Theatres ongoing commitment to the cultural life of the university and community, the company participates in a range of university performances: Mr. and Miss NSU Pageant, Kwanzaa, First View; two annual performances: A Black History Month show and Yai: A Celebration of Soulful Expression; and featured performances for student organization functions. In an effort to continue its momentum, Dance Theatre would like to propose an innovative lecture series titled, Artist as Activist: African American Females as Doers of Womanist Justice. Making use of lectures, workshops, panel discussions and performances throughout the series, this interdisciplinary work integrates knowledge and works from disciplines including but not limited to theatre, political science, literature, visual arts, history, music and dance.

Need/Problem
There is a need to have more intellectually based, culturally relevant artistic engagement between professional dance artist/scholars and students, faculty and staff. As well as to engage the community in a meaningful exchange about the intersection between art, life, and academics.

Purpose
The purpose of the lecture/workshop series is to provide students, faculty, staff and the Hampton Roads community with relevant knowledge related to the project focus. Furthermore, we intend provoke further examination, initiate conversation, eliminate misinformation and offer a hands-on approach to deepen our understanding about African American female artists who use their artistic mediums as a form of activism in the promotion of justice for woman.

Scope of Work
The project entails a multi-dimensional arts-based exploration of how African American females have used individual approaches to civility to achieve justice for themselves and other disenfranchised populations. The project is multi-dimensional including quality experiences that will run throughout the entire spring 2013 semester. Components include audition, lecture/workshop series, and artist-inresidences.
1. The lecture/workshop

The lecture/workshop series is designed to provide lecture and workshop experience for student, faculty, staff and the community to explore project focus in interactive exposure to emerging and prominent artists/scholars in the field of African American
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dance/history/aesthetics. The African Dance workshop series is the culturallyspecific dance activity that will be co-sponsored with the NSU Health and Wellness Initiative for Women. Other workshops will be thematically-based to tie into project focus.
2. Open Community Audition

Dance Theatre will hold a Open Call Community Auditions with the expressed purpose of recruiting additional community performers for the artist-in-residence activity. We welcome the following types of participants: Norfolk States students who are interested in becoming a permanent member of Dance Theatre Company and any individual throughout the NSU campus and community who share a passion for dance and are willing and able to commit their time to all rehearsals and performances pertaining to the lecture series. No prior training or performance in dance is required. However, interested persons must be able to rehearse a minimum of 4 to 8 hours per week and make a commitment for the entire spring 2013 semester. Those who are interested in production opportunities (costume design, make-up, and production crew) will have an opportunity to showcase their talent, but no audition is required for these positions.
3. Artists-in-residences

The artists in-residence component will be the creative performance-based activity of the project in which guest choreographers will each create a ballet on NSU Dance Theatre. In fact, each choreographer will interpret the theme Artists as Activists as they perceive it and create original pieces on the entire dance ensemble. The concert will be very diverse for each guest choreographer has a particular dance style or background of focus. With the developing performance capabilities of the company, there is a need to expand company repertoire to meet the increasing demand for contemporary works that will 1) challenge the companys performance abilities 2) increase the value of the companys work on campus and in the community, and 3) provide Dance Theatre techniques to recruit more highly trained dancers to Norfolk State University. The works created by the choreographers will be performed as works-in-progress for the Black History/Womens History Month Informance and full ballets for YAI, the annual spring concert. To increase the overall visibility of the project, the company will extend its performances to two days instead of the traditional one day. The same cast during the Black History Inforomance will be maintained for YAI. Also those who are a part of the production crew will be involved according to their area of focus.
Performance Dates

Black History/Womens History Month Informance, March 20-21, 2013 Yai (spring performance) April 24-26, 2013

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Potential Artists/Educators/Scholars

1. Dina-Verley Christophe, Emerging Artist/Professional Dancer and Choreographer 2. Mrs. Jackie Stokes-Bey, Professional Artist/Educator/Scholar 3. Mrs. Mama Kariamu Welsh, Scholar/Artist and Creator of Umfundalai African Dance Techniquue 4. Ms. Valerie Winborn, Artist/Educator and former Urban Bush Women Company Member 5. Mr. Elbert Watson, Professional Artist/Educator and former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Company Member

Benefits
1. There will be an increase of intellectually based, culturally relevant artistic engagement between professional artist, students and the community. 2. The project will highlight that dance as an art is a form of education for it clarifies and intensifies the human experience. 3. The relevant knowledge and content that participants will be exposed to will promote self and social awareness. 4. The project will reinforce formal learning, as it relates to other academic areas.

Budget
Expenses Choreographers Moderators Lecturers Workshop Facilitators Per Diem Transportation (flights, rentals, gas reimbursement) Housing (hotel rooms) Grand Total Number 3 3 2 4 3 2 2 200-500 89- 139 Cost Per Person 3000 150 125-500 125 Total 9,000 450 1,000 500 2,000 1,000 834 $14,784

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