This is a completed project produced by Jacqueline Greff and directed by Valerie Henry. We have a tentative agreement with American University that 1/3 of sales would go toward a dance scholarship in honor of Dr. Prevots. However, funding is needed to press the initial 1,000 DVDs. Anyone willing to contribute should contact Jacquie Greff or Valerie Henry. Copies of the DVD are available to potential donors.

Finding Your Own Voice in Dance

Finding Your Own Voice In Dance includes step-by-step instruction that guides students from conception to performance. The hour-long tutelage portion of the DVD – which takes place as part of a live class – includes the following chapters:

• What is Choreography?
• Naima’s Background
• Teaching Technique
• The Chance Assignment
• The Importance of Structure
• Finding Your Own Voice
• Text
• Choreographing for a Group
• A Choreographer’s Tools
• Creating an Environment for Learning

A separate section shows the complete dances from the class by ten of Dr. Prevots’ students demonstrating dance improvisations that incorporate many of her teachings. The students include Robert Bettman, Jillian Clayman, Sarah Hemphill, Valerie Henry, Sherrill M. Lilly, Dana M. Maue, Mary Catherine May, Nobuko Miyahara, Jolyvee Y. Rivera, Emily Schmidt, Kathryn Sparks and Samantha VanSaun.

A bonus section includes rare ~1977 footage of Naima dancing “Day on Earth” choreographed by Doris Humphrey, as well as background on the DVD by Director Valerie Henry.