Dance

A) Interpretation.
‘Cry’ is a contemporary piece choreographed by Alvin Ailey. Cry is dedicated to “all black women everywhere especially our mothers.” The crowd wouldn’t stop cheering when Judith Jamison dance Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece ‘Cry’ at its premiere on May 4th 1971. “They went crazy” said Ms Jamison. Through the use of dramatic movements, space, time and dynamics Ailey is able to connect the experiences of African American women to the audience.
Slavery has occurred for thousands of years.  Its originally existed  in  the  earliest civilisations  of  the  ancient  world  such  as  ancient  Greece,  Egypt  and  Rome.  When men went to war in search of power of land and its resources he took as prisoners slaves became the force of growing empires.  Slaves came from two main sources: men and women who were captured as a result of war and citizens who fell to the status of slaves      due to unpaid debt. The slaves were branded with hot irons and restrained with handcuffs. Their ‘living quarters’ was often a deck within the ship that has less than five feet of headroom. With nightmare conditions of the voyage and the unknown future that lays ahead many Africans preferred to die.
The Three parts of work was set to the popular and gospel music by Alice Coltrane, Laura Nyro and Chuck Griffin, it portrays a woman’s journey through the agonies of slavery to a thrilled state of grace. Knowing what Ms Jamison is capable of Ailey had made the dance for her and a dedication present for his mother’s birthday.
Ailey’s “cry” is also a celebration of black women and mother’s beauty, dignity, strength, faith and journey towards freedom. There are 3 sections in the dance, each section experience different intents. Section 1; Alice Coltrane’s “Something about John Coltrane portrays slavery, hardships, struggle, labour, restraint. Throughout section 1 the only prop that was shown was the white cloth. It acts as a barrier for Jamison and most of all it symbolizes her...