Shawntay A. Henry's performance of Frederick Douglass by Robert E. Hayden, was one of my favorite performances, and stood out from all the rest. She spoke with very clear articulation, and her powerful pacing emphasized the dramatic tone of the poem. Shawntay's hand gestures helped add structure, without being over dramatic. Her body language helped add to her powerful stage presence, which accurately conveyed the poem's sense of dignity.
This poem is about freedom and inequality, and Shawntay expressed this through her strong physical presence. When Shawntay snaps her fingers after speeding up and growing in intensity, she transitions into a more interpretive section of the poem. Her strong articulation and dramatic pauses inbetween words add to the solemn subject of the poem, and keeps the listeners interested.
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cool. even though i don't like poetry it actually sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteI think it was a good performance too. I like the students who do gestures to convey the meaning of the poem.
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