Inside Giovanni’s Room – Black author James Baldwin’s 100th anniversary celebrated in dance
Phoenix Dance Theatre presents Inside Giovanni’s Room at Sadler’s Wells East in London as part of a UK tour. The show is inspired by James Baldwin’s 1956 novel of the same name, which is set in 1950s Paris, and “tackles themes of love, sexuality, guilt and self-acceptance”. The full-length dance production premiered earlier this year in Leeds, where the company is based.
Artistic Director and choreographer Marcus Jarrell Willis said,
I first read the book in my early 20s and what inspired me then, as it does now, is the fact that it’s a story that is still present in today’s world.
When I came into this role, I went back and forth and realised this was the perfect opportunity to unpack this work. I felt like it was the right time in my life and career, to dive into such an important piece of literature, and I knew that the current dancers at Phoenix were the right group of artists to work with on this production.
Phoenix Dance Theatre was founded over 40 years ago by three young Black British men, and Willis became the company’s ninth artistic director in October 2023, so it was serendipity that last year marked the 100th anniversary of Black author Baldwin’s birth, and the ideal moment to translate his most well-known novel into dance.
Willis adds,
I really relate to James Baldwin’s choices in his life, being a black American who left the States to find a space for himself where his voice could be heard. I think there’s something interesting about navigating different cultures and I have felt a connection to Baldwin because of this. He was unapologetic about who he was and what he had to say, and I continue to try to move forward through this world reminding myself of the same. I think it’s important to use my platform to inform people about great black artists that they might not know of and celebrate their unrecognised contributions to the world.
Baldwin’s protagonists were often African American, gay and bisexual men, as in Giovanni’s Room. He was warned by his publishers that his depiction of same-sex relationships could alienate his audience and potentially end his career. Today the novel is celebrated as one of the most important literary works of the 20th century.
My relationship with the work – says Willis – has unlocked a lot of things within me personally. While it isn’t my exact story, I can relate to so many of the themes. To have the space to be brave enough to unapologetically put myself into this work has been a journey, and it continues to evolve as we present it to audiences.
Inside Giovanni’s Room runs from Wednesday 11 to Saturday 14 June at Sadler’s Wells East, London.
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
