Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Follow

Shelter (1988): Choreography by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Music by Junior "Gabu" Wedderburn, Texts: "Between a Rock and a Hard Place at the Intersection of Reduced Resources and Reverberating Rage", by Hattie Gossett; "Belongo" by Laurie Carlos; "Elmina Blues Opus 1 Pidgin Drum Song” by Carl Hancock Rux

Last winter
While working my temp job
On the exclusive upper east side of Manhattan
Everyday
I passed a homeless woman
Begging for change
On the streets
Her cold silent stare
Tore into me
And I couldn’t bring myself
To pass her and not giver her something
Because I could see myself
falling
Down down
Off the margin
Being without income too long
Losing my apartment
Good will dried up
Savings exhausted
Get up & go long gone
Worn out by red tape changes
Between a rock & a hard place
At the intersection of reduced resources
And reverberating rage...
Living on the streets
Its so easy
It’s so easy
Living on the street
It’s so easy
It could happen to you too.

Belongo
So long ago
Belongo
Run!
Run!
Run!
Ugene Ugene
Abia, Abia