Moving Spirits II tells the deeper story of Rowan Oak, interpreting the lives of the souls enslaved by Robert Sheegog and the relationship between Caroline Barr Clark and William Faulkner, using historical narration, dance movement, and song. The program will take place Sunday, April 14, from 5–6 pm at Rowan Oak (916 Old Taylor Road). In the event of rain, the program will take place Sunday, April 28 at the same time and location.
Moving Spirits II: A Deeper History of Rowan Oak Through Movement, Dance and Song, is a site-specific dance movement performance on the grounds of Rowan Oak that uses specific locations on the property to tell the stories of the peoples and the place.
Director/choreographer Jennifer Mizenko and historian Rhondalyn Peairs have teamed up again to create an immersive physical theatre experience of the history at Rowan Oak, accompanied by original music compositions and arrangements by Damein Wash.
The performance will begin at the front of the house in the circular rock garden where the system of slavery will be examined. Behind the big house, the performance will bring to life the relationship between the slave dwelling and the kitchen. An Imbongi (African prophet) will take us forward to experience the relationship between Caroline Barr Clark and William Faulkner. And the performance will end with catharsis as we witness George running to freedom.
“Inspiration for this performance came in the fall of 2022 during a University of Mississippi Slavery Research Group Meeting. Based on our collaboration in the fall of 2019, Rhondalyn and I set out to create a new work at Rowan Oak that goes beyond what is commonly known,” said director/choreographer Jennifer Mizenko. “It is important to me the story is told on the site where it happened, because the spirits of these people are alive in the soil and the atmosphere of Rowan Oak.”
The cast of twenty is made up of local Oxonians and is multi-generational (ages 12–84) and multi-cultural. Most of these individuals have little to no experience, but a big desire to tell the stories of people who stories have not been told.
Cast member Rachel Coleman states, “I found the first Moving Spirits very powerful. They tackled important experiences and stories that are hard to hear, and I imagine, hard to embody. But it was done with great care and reverence for the ‘spirits’ and the dancers. I am excited about participating in such a powerful project, bringing important and untold stories to light.”
Joan Wilkins, whose entire family is involved in the project, from her grandchildren to her parents, said she is part of the project because, “I grew up in this town and moved away, partly because I never felt like I belonged here. Now that I am back, I feel more comfortable, and I want to help bring our history to life for people who really need and want to know about it.” She further states, “My parents would probably say that this is the first opportunity in their lifetime that they have been able to see the races interact with each other in a positive way. They grew up in the 50s and 60s when this type of project would not have been possible.”
The audience will stand among the performers and follow the story from site to site. Good walking shoes are recommended. The performance is free of charge and will last approximately 40 minutes, with a Q&A afterward. A golf cart will be provided for anyone with ambulatory challenges, and a limited number of camper chairs will be available for those who need to sit during the performance.
This project is sponsored by The Mississippi Hills Heritage Area Alliance, The University of Mississippi, Volunteer Mississippi, The Center for the Study of Southern Culture, Rowan Oak, The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, The Oxford Tourism Council, and The Mississippi Humanities Council.
Rowan Oak is located at 916 Old Taylor Road. Due to limited parking, ride-sharing is encouraged, or you may park at the museum and take a nice walk through Bailey’s Woods.
