'Sister Moses'

A child is ripped from a mother's arms and held up for scrutiny and bidding. There is a powerful difference between reading about slave auctions in books and seeing one physicalized before you. Desert Dance Theatre's Sister Moses: The Story of Harriet Tubman expresses a painful and courageous history in just such an immediate way, and audiences have responded to its power. The dance drama has been performed in Arizona annually for the last 17 years. According to the company's associate artistic director, Renee Davis, it became "the Nutcracker of Black History Month" there. This year the dance will be performed in Austin for the second time in a production designed to involve local artists. Davis describes sharing the work with the community members who will participate in its performance: "Part of us teaching the movement is telling the history. The strength is in their understanding of what we're trying to portray. We're trying to bring history to life."

Davis moved to Austin in 1998, but she returns to Arizona whenever Desert Dance Theatre performs Sister Moses since, in addition to her ongoing duties as associate artistic director, Davis has danced the role of Harriet Tubman since the work premiered. Over 17 years, the character has sunk deep into her bones. When she speaks of Tubman, it's as if she is speaking of a dear friend. "Harriet Tubman was one of those people who, even from birth, was destined to do something great," she says. "In her heart, she yearned for freedom."

Davis and Desert Dance Theatre hope that eventually Sister Moses will become an annual event in Austin. This year's production bodes well for that goal. Almost all of the roles have been filled with local dancers, and the Huston-Tillotson University Concert Choir will perform the spirituals that score the dance. Foods based on the foods that slaves ate, along with explanations of their cultural significance, will be prepared for the reception by Travis High School's Institute of Hospitality & Culinary Arts. "That's what I love, and that's what I shoot for!" exclaims Davis. "To involve as much of the community as possible. So you're not just telling the story; you're not just creating an arts event; you're creating an experience."

After 17 years, is Renee Davis tired of playing Harriet Tubman? Not in the slightest. In fact, other work now pales in comparison. She says, "It's an honor to keep doing it." And Davis draws courage from the very woman she is portraying. Of her tireless efforts, Tubman once said, "The Lord who told me to take care of my people meant me to do it just so long as I live, and so I do what he told me to." Davis is struck by Tubman's clarity. "All of her words, in such simple language, are so inspirational," she says. "If each person could find their purpose in life, think what a better world we'd be in." Listening to her passion, one gets the sense that Davis has found her clear purpose in life: to share the story of Harriet Tubman and to dance that story as strong and as long as possible.

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Sister Moses: The Story of Harriet Tubman will be performed Friday, Feb. 6, 7:30pm, at Shoreline Center, 15201 Burnet Rd. For more information, call 297-7410 or visit www.sistermoses.org.