The Respect Project is a performing arts based youth empowerment and performance project created by George Faison, the first African American choreographer to win the Tony award (The Wiz, 1976). After attending a workshop conducted by Professor Sara Lawrence Lightfoot in Cambridge, MA, based on her book “RESPECT”, George decided to apply the tenets and philosophy of Dr. Lawrence Lightfoot to the experiences of urban youth. Through writing, dance, music and theatre workshops led by Faison, Rhonda “Akanke’ McLean-Nur and other professionals, the participants mine their personal histories to create monologues, poems, dance, songs and spoken word pieces. The result is an entertaining theatrical production that tours New York City schools, juvenile detention centers, shelters, and community centers where it has been enthusiastically received and cited for its power, positive impact, relevance and artistic excellence.
The Respect Project weaves together such pertinent issues as teenage pregnancy, absentee parents, date rape, racism, poverty, peer pressure, illiteracy, cultural identity, community, gang crime and violence, in a way that allows youth audiences to see their own lives reflected in a moving theatrical, intellectually stimulating, thought-provoking production which leads to further exploration of the issues and desired discourse and discussion. Young performers and audience members discover their ability and responsibility to choose a positive life course and realize new approaches to coping with daily challenges. Follow-up workshops and online material help reinforce the lessons portrayed onstage.
Originally Posted March 13th 2008
