Freedom, Culture, Courage: Students Bring their Stories to the Stage
In 1938, the dancer and artist Martha Graham asked, “What is America?” Her original work paired spoken word with movement, drawing on essential American texts to explore identity and democracy. Nearly 90 years later, a group of Project Success students answered that same question through their own stories, languages, histories, and traditions. Their answers were as diverse as America itself.
Over the course of a four-month partnership with Martha Graham Dance Company (MGDC), Project Success students at South High School created and performed their own interpretations of American Document – the groundbreaking 1938 dance-theater piece originally choreographed by Graham. Through dance, they explored a powerful question: What does being an American mean to me? The process culminated in a performance on the stage at Northrop Auditorium, but it was much more than a performance — it was an act of courage and a celebration of culture.
This process followed a key tenant of Project Success: that theater and the arts create a springboard for discussion, inviting risk-taking and possibility. In this program, the students picked their music, choreographed their dances, chose costumes, and rehearsed for their performance onstage at the Northrop Auditorium with professionals from MGDC.
The day of the performance started with the students and directors huddled together in their costumes, going over final notes and buzzing with anticipation. While in the group, the stage manager from MGDC shared how honored they were to be performing with the students. After a final rehearsal, the Northrop filled with school groups, including peers from South High School.
It was showtime.
A Celebration of Culture and Heritage
After an excerpt from Appalachian Spring performed by MGDC, the Project Success students took to the stage to perform their original dance pieces inspired by American Document, which included pre-recorded spoken reflections about what being American means to them which played over the music as they danced, just as Graham’s original work blended speech and movement.
The stage came alive with a traditional Native American Jingle Dress Dance, traditional dances from Ecuador and Colombia, and contemporary pieces performed by students from Yemen, Egypt, East Africa, Togo and Benin, and Mexico.
Each dance was distinct, bringing in elements from their cultures and heritage and uniquely blending it with the students’ own personal lived experiences.
As they danced, their answers to what it means to be American echoed through the auditorium as they performed captivating dances:
“We’re here to show what matters to us.”
“We are East African, but at the same time we are also American.”
“Being American means freedom and building myself step by step.”
“To be an American, to me, means being free.”
“We came here to find freedom, equality, and opportunity.”
One student shared that her outfit and the corresponding dance had been passed down to her, “It was grandma’s — she made the outfit when she was my age in the 70’s or 80’s at our reservation in Red Lake. I performed an old-style jingle. It comes from whatever emotions you are feeling that day. Based on how you’re feeling, it’s healing. The choreography that I did has been [passed down] for generations.”
When asked what it felt like to perform, one student shared, “The whole building up experience was really fun, and then waiting to go [on stage] with everyone watching us, and realizing ‘this is what I practiced for.’ I felt so ready for it.”
Another reflected on the moment she first considered joining the project, “When they presented the project to the students, and offered we could be a part of the Martha Graham program … I sat down and thought about it and asked, ‘what does being an American mean to me?’, I remembered my family, I remember my culture, I remember the parties growing up and I was like, I want that. I want that again. I want everyone to see that kind of experience for me.”
For many of these students, this was their first time performing on a stage for an audience, and the impact was lasting. “This was my first time performing in front of my peers, but I was so excited that I got to share and spread my culture and healing, especially what we need right now.”
When asked what she learned about herself through the process, one student answered, “That I have the courage to actually get out and perform. Instead of just being a bystander and observing everything, that I did have the courage to be in front of my peers and perform is one of the main things that I learned about myself.”
After their performance, the artistic director of MGDC addressed the students and shared how deeply moved she was by their work. She expressed that the students brought so much of themselves into Graham’s original piece, and it was inspiring to see.
Through this experience, we once again see the profound power of the arts – taking our theater experiences to a new level of student engagement and growth. It invites young people to ask big questions and gives them space to think and dream and answer honestly. The performance is a culminating event, inviting the audience to remember that America is not one story, but many. And growth through the experience will stay with these students long after they’ve stepped off the stage at the Northrop.
This project was a special collaboration between Project Success staff, Martha Graham Dance Company, Minneapolis South High School students, teachers, and administrators, and the Northrop. Thank you to everyone involved and congratulations to the students on their meaningful performance!