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Two Tears in the Dirt -- Video

Two tears in the dirt, he died in his own child-grave.

Scroll down for story behind the dance.

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Choreography

Kista Tucker

Performed by Students from the Sam Houston State University Dance Program

Dancers
Innocents

April Hoyt, Rebecca Lane, Jessalyn Pratka, Julie Wood

Rule Makers

Rebecca Arana, Lauren Cook, Audra Millican, Stephanie Taylor, Aaron Thacker, Rae Wingett

Workers

David Arevalo, Jessica Arrizola, Laine Charpentier, Genelle Higgins, Mallory Horn, Vanessa Martinez, Alexis Shannon

Music

Divid Bedford, Mike Oldfield, Maurice Ravel

Costume Design

Kista Tucker
(Costume Assistant, Charles Williams)

Lighting Design

Amy Wright assisted by Kista Tucker

This dance was originally choreographed in 1992 in upstate New York. What you see in this performance is a totally reworked work—new dancers, new movement. The concept is well worth exploring.

The Story Behind the Dance

Two Tears in the Dirt was conceived because of a reporter’s comments after having returned from Somalia, Africa in the early 1990’s. When asked what the most memorable thing she witnessed while on assignment in this country of total devastation was, she did not hesitate to reply. She said that one day while walking out among the people she saw more and more men, women, and children being buried—their deaths due to genocide, primarily starvation. There were bodies and graves everywhere. At one point she looked down and saw a little boy, around four years of age, in his shallow grave—his family beginning to shovel dirt over his tiny body. As the first few scoops of dust contacted his body, she saw tears appear from his very young eyes. Nearly dead, but still capable of feeling. The reporter said she would never forget that little boy and what had caused his plight.

Her story touched me deeply. I wrote the two-line poem above knowing that it exemplified the human factor. This desolation can occur anywhere; who knows where it will happen next. Why?

This dance was originally choreographed in 1992 in upstate New York. What you see in this performance is a totally reworked concept—new dancers, new movement. The concept is well worth exploring.