Monday, April 22, 2024
The Wiz revival’s choreographer: JaQuel Knight talks the Tin Man, the Poppy Girls, and Black excellence.
slate.com/culture: When it was announced that JaQuel Knight would choreograph the stage revival of The Wiz, a particular cross-section of the internet emerged to express a lot of excitement. These fans were not only those deeply familiar with the 1978 Sidney Lumet film or the 1974 Broadway production upon which the film was based, but also followers of today’s top-tier pop stars, female rappers, and R&B singers.
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This makes me very happy to see a Black choreographer getting the recognition he deserves. In my Anti-Racist Theater class, we were discussing how often times white choreographers often take ownership of their Black assistants' work and receive all of the recognition for it. This can be especially upsetting when white choreographers use traditional Black styles of dance. It’s great that JaQuel Knight was asked to work on The Wiz and celebrate his own culture and background with his choreography. Because they hired a black choreographer, there was this great inclusion of Afrobeats that really highlights the way in which this production connects to how Black people relate to different art forms. It’s really exciting that Knight has been known to work on so many other incredibly popular pieces, and I’m really glad that there are articles writing about him and recognizing his work. It’s really important that we recognize artists of color and lift them up so that more can continue to be a part of this industry and so that we change the conversation that is happening.
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