Reviews

Hear what students and faculty are saying...

Informative & Impactful

CATHERINE FROST

I don't think I ever learned this much in school about early American entertainment and how it has a global history predicated on the debasement of Black peo...

I don't think I ever learned this much in school about early American entertainment and how it has a global history predicated on the debasement of Black people. And it was all in two hours at my own pace over a few days on my laptop and phone! The complimentary relationship between the course's primary texts, images, and video clips and the play's acting, costuming, and projections made for a really rich, yet not overwhelming experience. I wish this was available as a unit for any of my theater, literature, or Africana Studies courses when I was in college at a small, predominantly white liberal arts college. I wish I were kidding but there were multiple times when I was referred to as a slave or suggested for a role as a prostitute or singer/performer, mostly by adults in theatre and movement learning environments, not even my peers. I think those adults and students alike would've benefitted from this rigorous yet quick and engaging course. It certainly would've pointed me towards the historical references and changemakers that would've let me know I wasn't bugging and that certain professors were simply keeping true to American traditions of the theater and were more focused on the technique of racist stereotypes than the technique of authentic storytelling. I highly recommend this course and play!

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Enlightening and transformative educational opportunity

Elise Kieffer

"See the Dance" was exceptional. It is highly researched and well executed. It provides an impactful education that should be experienced by all educators w...

"See the Dance" was exceptional. It is highly researched and well executed. It provides an impactful education that should be experienced by all educators who have to discuss, confront, or correct these concepts in their classes. It should be promoted especially for educators in the arts and culture, marketing, journalism, and history. I can't imagine that it wouldn't be beneficial for anyone. It's a valuable history that we need to understand.

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Very informative!

Kathleen Goodyear

I found "See the Dance" very informative. Thank you!

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This was awesome

Michiko Singh

OK I cried at the end

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Excellent

Tricia Xavier (she/her)

I wish all lessons were this engaging, interesting, and meaningful. A truly moving experience. Bravo to all involved. Please do more!

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Additional Reviews

"This play pulled strings on my emotions and juggled my mind. I felt uncomfortable, and I felt entertained. I felt this play was extremely educational through the actual facts that were conveyed in the messages, as well as through the art of acting and entertainment. See the Dance: The History of American Minstrelsy felt inclusive and life changing, as well as an experience I could never relive. To be a part of that room on August 30th, 2018 was one I will never forget. That is how you know something is effective and good, when it is memorable. I was left with a lot to process and I am thankful for that.”

- Meghan Smith, Undergraduate Student at College of Charleston

"This is the kind of education that can't be contained in a classroom and is the kind of transformative experience that students (hopefully) come to college to have. I wish it was required for every student who sets foot on campus, and it's maddening that anyone would consider that controversial or problematic. I hope the students that attended are telling everyone about it, and my guess is that they are.”

- Heather McDonald, Lecturer in Arts Management at College of Charleston

"I was deeply touched by the journey on which your performance took me. Experiencing our shared history was both enlightening and provoking.”

- Todd J. McNerney, Associate Dean at College of Charleston

"See The Dance tackles truisms from history, then pivots from the past to present in addressing the unfortunate consequences of bias.”

- Joy Young, Program Director at the South Carolina Arts Commission

"I found the program to be both interesting and informative. Hopefully, you will have much success in exposing your project to the broader, national, college community.”

- Dr. Clarence V. Spicer, Associate Professor of Psychology at College of Charleston

Words aren't able to match the enlightening and heartfelt message that was given in this blended cocktail of comedic wisdom.”

- Chris Bond, Assistant Director of Student Life at College of Charleston

It was shocking yet fascinating to learn how biased societal norms from the past connect with today’s cultural stereotypes and racist incidents. The production left an indelible mark on my memory.”

-Nandi McCauley, Director of Marketing and Communications at College of Charleston

"I was extremely impressed by the performance, which was so complex and graceful, extremely professional and artful on every possible level. Rare is the presentation that can fearlessly confront the horror of decades of systematic, culturally ingrained racist abuse while simultaneously comforting its audience with an ennobling sense of the creativity and resilience of the human spirit, reaching deep into their hearts and minds with the same power of wit and laughter previously used to humiliate the victims of those ghastly caricature.”

- Dr. Nathaniel R. Walker, Assistant Professor of Architectural History at College of Charleston