VocalEssence – Philip Brunelle, artistic director

Roxane Wallace is active in the arts as a performer, teacher, dancer and choreographer. A native of California, she relocated to Minnesota in 1993 after graduating from the University of California at Berkeley with a B.A. in Philosophy and an Ethnic Studies minor. Currently, Roxane is a teaching artist for the VocalEssence WITNESS School
Program and the Children's Theater Company. Her range and experience includes Modern, Jazz, West African, Hip-Hop and Improvisation. In 2004, Roxane was named "Best Dancer" in the City Pages annual "Best of the Twin Cities" edition. In 2006 she
wrote, choreographed and produced the original ensemble production Evolution of a Soul Sista and recently, her newest work Revolutionary Soul Sistas was presented by the Red Eye Theater as a part of their 2007 Isolated Acts series.

Workshop Description
Students will explore how music influences the development and performance of both structured and improvised movement with the life and word of Dr. Martin Luther King serving as inspiration for movement. Roxane will use choreographed phrases, student-generated ideas, experiment with rhythm, time and energy using different musical expressions, including excerpts from the music of Billy Taylor.

To Prepare Your Students

• Read the age-appropriate background information on Dr. King (see pages 23-35 of the WITNESS Teacher's Guide)
• Do the I Hear the Warrior Walking activity on page 44 of the Teacher's Guide

Please Note
Students should wear clothing that is comfortable and appropriate for movement including sturdy shoes. Roxane will need a CD player as well as a clean, open, level space for this workshop.