Rosa Moments

2007 Nationwide

…Jean-Charles uses a juicily physical vocabulary to chart the emotional course of a revolution. The result is simple and unpretentious

The Guardian

Produced by State of Emergency, Rosa Moments is a fluid, energetic piece of dance theatre created on 6 contemporary dancers. Working creatively across dance genres particularly using the edginess of Street Dance and the musicality of Jazz Dance, choreographer Jeanefer Jean-Charles delivers a punchy, non narrative, but rather a symbolic piece taking as inspiration the seminal moment on December 1st, 1955 when a lone woman refused to give up her seat on the bus - the moment that started the American Civil Rights Movement.

Investigating 5 key moments in the life of Rosa Parks that lead to that historic day, the piece runs the gamut of emotions- sensitive and gentle at times, angry, focussed and determined at others. By researching the story of Rosa Parks, Jeanefer aimed to get the sense of standing up for ones’ rights albeit as innocuous a reason as a seat on a bus.

Music arranged by: Danilo (DJ) Walde
Music: An Interview with Rosa Parks, Neville Brothers, Aja Addy, Sam Bell & Dan Brown, Ayub Ogada.

Street Dance Material by: Vicky Igbokwe
Company Dancers: Graham Adey, Darrell Aldridge, Marcia Edwards, Amanda Lewis, Kate Mason, Kate Mummery