Inspired by the James Baldwin essay "The Artist's Struggle", this new evening length work brings to physical life the words of selected poets. The central question focuses on 'what is the role of art in your life/your community?" This is a highly engaging evening of dance, poetry, music, song, audience dialogue, and haiku. I am really interested in involving the audience on multiple levels and for them not to be a passive viewer. The audience is warmly embraced throughout the evening and they willingly engage on deeper levels. At the end, they are asked to consider one concrete action they can take to ensure art in their lives and community. About the residency: The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center partnering with Joe's Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier, Maryland to offer a new incubator series called NextLOOK for both locally-based and touring artists who want to develop new work with input from the community. Vincent E.Thomas/VTDance was one of the NextLOOK artists in the season’s inaugural series and we are thrilled to have been able to support the development of
Rhapsody: A Poetic Movement (January 2015 residency).

Program information
Rhapsody: A Poetic Movement Choreography & Direction: Vincent E. Thomas  Lighting Design: Leigh A. Mumford Collaboration: Maria Bauman and Michelle Antoinette Nelson Music: George Gershwin, Alec Trumble, Margret Bonds Vocals: Adia Evans Scenic Prop: Joe's Movement Emporium Text: Maya Angelou, Joyce Kilmer, James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, Michelle Antoinette Nelson  The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center partnered with Joe's Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier, Maryland to offer a new incubator series called NextLOOK for both locally-based and touring artists who want to develop new work with input from the community. Vincent E.Thomas/VTDance was one of the NextLOOK artists in the season’s inaugural series and we were thrilled to have been able to support the development of Rhapsody: A Poetic Movement.