The Cookout Dance from Spell Number 7

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In the script Shange's stage directions say the following: (when ELI calls for a boogie, the Company does a dance that indicates they have worked & played together for a long time)
This dance is comprised of six popular social dances usually performed and seen at black family gatherings and cookouts. These dances: "The Wobble", "The Electric Slide", "The Cupid Shuffle", "The Hustle", "The Biker Shuffle", A "Soul Train" line, are also accompanied by bursts of old favorites from our generation such as dances moves from Lil Mama's Lip Gloss, and Webstar & Young B's "Chicken Noodle Soup" These dances in black and brown communities are about a celebration of community and have been passed down generations, this dance was an attempt at bringing that familiarity and community to the stage. Even this dance's construction was done with the ensemble of actors, and even our dramaturg contributing not only their favorite dances, but also their favorite memories of doing these dances. This piece is full of nostalgia.

Within the pages of Spell # 7, the late Ntozake Shange magically weaves a story about an ensemble of Black artists, and their experiences in the world. A choreopeom, a genre penned by Shange herself uses choreography and music alongside a series of vignettes, and lengthy monologues, to discuss in detail the ensemble’s stories on the struggles they face not only as Black people, but as Black artists. Taking place in a bar that invokes a kind of sanctuary for the artists, they perform freely and spiritually, or magically as our narrator suggests. Lou, a magician, having learned his craft through generations of practitioners before him, opens the play by addressing the audience. In this moment he reveals his history, who he has learned his magic from, and how he wants to use his magic to help our ensemble come to a point of celebration and pride for their Blackness. This is one vignette, while another criticizes white directors demanding for black women to play their roles “Blacker”, and another criticizes the privilege and ignorance of white women. Further subjects of these vignettes, and monologues include the need for more Black theatre, equity, inclusion, the mistreatment of Black women, sex, sexuality, and oppression perpetrated on Black people, by Black people.

Production Stage Manager Jonathan Castanien*
Assistant Stage Manager TaTyana Smith*
Scenic Design Diggle
Costume Design Kara Branch
Lighting Design Jenn Fok
Sound Design Almeda Beynon
Dramaturg Calley Anderson
Composer Carlos Duràn
Student Assistant Director Bakari Lebby
Assistant Choreographers Sabira Jade, Rebecca Ford

Featuring: Racquel Jean-Louis as Maxine, Carla Maureen Smith as Lily, Jazmyn DeAnna Boone as Bettina, Olivia Battle as Natalie, Jordan Mosley as Eli, Rebecca Ford as Dahlia, Ian Lawrence as Lou, Phil Lopez as Alec, and Kwesiu Jones as Ross.

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