we saw beyond our sea II mean these days of bloody screaming
II mean these days of bloody screaming
II mean these days of bloody screaming Oh children Dino head out with lilies
Oh children Dino head out with lilies
Oh children Dino head out with lilies blue
head of men honest and daily weave in
head of men honest and daily weave in the temples strangling our guilt gray
the temples strangling our guilt gray
the temples strangling our guilt gray fungus growing way new and night our no
mean we aided in the key
mean we aided in the key [Music]
[Music]
[Music] and now I sold my broken dry tablets
and now I sold my broken dry tablets
and now I sold my broken dry tablets without
without
without [Music]
you
you [Music]
my guilt is slavery’s chains too long
my guilt is slavery’s chains too long the clang of iron falls down the years
the clang of iron falls down the years
the clang of iron falls down the years [Music]
[Music]
[Music] there’s brother sold and this sisters
there’s brother sold and this sisters
there’s brother sold and this sisters gone is bitter wax lining my ears my
gone is bitter wax lining my ears my
gone is bitter wax lining my ears my gills made music with my teeth
dead of SE Turner Gabriel
dead of SE Turner Gabriel and Malcolm Marcus Martin King
they love to
they love to way
[Music]
[Music] my greatest love
my greatest love
my greatest love five to ten
my sin is hanging from a tree I do not
my sin is hanging from a tree I do not scream it makes me proud
I hate to die like a man I do it to
I hate to die like a man I do it to impress the crowd
I see lies and not screaming
I see lies and not screaming [Music]
my journey started at the age of eleven
my journey started at the age of eleven years old and something extraordinary
years old and something extraordinary
years old and something extraordinary happened to me at that time which sent
happened to me at that time which sent
happened to me at that time which sent me on a course to change my life
me on a course to change my life
me on a course to change my life actually for the better I saw great
actually for the better I saw great
actually for the better I saw great performances on channel 13 and the
performances on channel 13 and the
performances on channel 13 and the documentary that was on at the time was
documentary that was on at the time was
documentary that was on at the time was Margot Fonteyn and rid of Maria
Margot Fonteyn and rid of Maria
Margot Fonteyn and rid of Maria performing a classic work like horse air
performing a classic work like horse air
performing a classic work like horse air and I was enthralled and mesmerised and
and I was enthralled and mesmerised and
and I was enthralled and mesmerised and couldn’t believe what I was watching and
couldn’t believe what I was watching and
couldn’t believe what I was watching and and altitude listen PBS was my escape
and altitude listen PBS was my escape
and altitude listen PBS was my escape channel because it were only 13 channels
channel because it were only 13 channels
channel because it were only 13 channels anyway there were no no internet there’s
anyway there were no no internet there’s
anyway there were no no internet there’s no Netflix Hulu any of that so but I
no Netflix Hulu any of that so but I
no Netflix Hulu any of that so but I found great resource in PBS because I
found great resource in PBS because I
found great resource in PBS because I had a lot of interest in the arts so
had a lot of interest in the arts so
had a lot of interest in the arts so once I viewed this program I immediately
once I viewed this program I immediately
once I viewed this program I immediately saw something and word of Nureyev oh
saw something and word of Nureyev oh
saw something and word of Nureyev oh there was something in him that I
there was something in him that I
there was something in him that I related to and maybe his naturalness was
related to and maybe his naturalness was
related to and maybe his naturalness was definitely his a beauty present power um
definitely his a beauty present power um
definitely his a beauty present power um it would just was magical to me so I
it would just was magical to me so I
it would just was magical to me so I want to understand actually how to do
want to understand actually how to do
want to understand actually how to do that how to dance like that and so I
that how to dance like that and so I
that how to dance like that and so I said to my mother who was in the next
said to my mother who was in the next
said to my mother who was in the next room said I want to dance and she said
room said I want to dance and she said
room said I want to dance and she said oh really well I’m glad well good do you
oh really well I’m glad well good do you
oh really well I’m glad well good do you know what it takes
know what it takes
know what it takes are you willing to go to the edge and
are you willing to go to the edge and
are you willing to go to the edge and she said something like a are you
she said something like a are you
she said something like a are you willing to take the plunge I was like
willing to take the plunge I was like
willing to take the plunge I was like the plunge what I had to do and I just
the plunge what I had to do and I just
the plunge what I had to do and I just basically said yes I didn’t understand
basically said yes I didn’t understand
basically said yes I didn’t understand all that she was asking me but I
all that she was asking me but I
all that she was asking me but I understood that part there was something
understood that part there was something
understood that part there was something that was just innately inside of me that
that was just innately inside of me that
that was just innately inside of me that I knew if I got the information I could
I knew if I got the information I could
I knew if I got the information I could so I then went to audition for the high
so I then went to audition for the high
so I then went to audition for the high school performance and forgive me if I’m
school performance and forgive me if I’m
school performance and forgive me if I’m panting cuz it’s a lot to do okay so um
panting cuz it’s a lot to do okay so um
panting cuz it’s a lot to do okay so um so so onward
so so onward
so so onward I auditioned for the High School of
I auditioned for the High School of
I auditioned for the High School of Performing Arts and the issue was that I
Performing Arts and the issue was that I
Performing Arts and the issue was that I was a hefty kid as well flexible but
was a hefty kid as well flexible but
was a hefty kid as well flexible but hefty yeah and I didn’t understand or
hefty yeah and I didn’t understand or
hefty yeah and I didn’t understand or know if they wanted to work with me
know if they wanted to work with me
know if they wanted to work with me except me any other things but then when
except me any other things but then when
except me any other things but then when I arrived to the school on the audition
I arrived to the school on the audition
I arrived to the school on the audition day I saw dancers in tights and leotards
day I saw dancers in tights and leotards
day I saw dancers in tights and leotards and vocal majors or those students who
and vocal majors or those students who
and vocal majors or those students who are interested in vocal on the training
are interested in vocal on the training
are interested in vocal on the training we’re doing a vocal ease and then I saw
we’re doing a vocal ease and then I saw
we’re doing a vocal ease and then I saw actors over there doing here monologues
actors over there doing here monologues
actors over there doing here monologues and it was breathtaking I thought had
and it was breathtaking I thought had
and it was breathtaking I thought had stepped into a dream and it stepped into
stepped into a dream and it stepped into
stepped into a dream and it stepped into my own reality right so but within that
my own reality right so but within that
my own reality right so but within that I just said oh maybe I can to can do
I just said oh maybe I can to can do
I just said oh maybe I can to can do this and thus I auditioned in my
this and thus I auditioned in my
this and thus I auditioned in my three-piece green suit and patent
three-piece green suit and patent
three-piece green suit and patent leather shoes which one of the dancers
leather shoes which one of the dancers
leather shoes which one of the dancers when it is senior members and the school
when it is senior members and the school
when it is senior members and the school said to me listen um maybe that that
said to me listen um maybe that that
said to me listen um maybe that that outfit mm-hmm you look like honey Kohl’s
outfit mm-hmm you look like honey Kohl’s
outfit mm-hmm you look like honey Kohl’s yeah and I didn’t know who honey Kohl’s
yeah and I didn’t know who honey Kohl’s
yeah and I didn’t know who honey Kohl’s was at the time you know great tap
was at the time you know great tap
was at the time you know great tap master and I said oh well thank you I
master and I said oh well thank you I
master and I said oh well thank you I didn’t understand but he said you have
didn’t understand but he said you have
didn’t understand but he said you have to have you know some sweats or dance
to have you know some sweats or dance
to have you know some sweats or dance attire and that’s what I thought it was
attire and that’s what I thought it was
attire and that’s what I thought it was so I didn’t have any information so I
so I didn’t have any information so I
so I didn’t have any information so I quickly gave me some sweat pants and a
quickly gave me some sweat pants and a
quickly gave me some sweat pants and a white t-shirt and that’s what I listened
white t-shirt and that’s what I listened
white t-shirt and that’s what I listened in and I totally blanked on my first try
in and I totally blanked on my first try
in and I totally blanked on my first try through they called a 40 I’ll never
through they called a 40 I’ll never
through they called a 40 I’ll never forget it a 40 a 40 and I was standing
forget it a 40 a 40 and I was standing
forget it a 40 a 40 and I was standing there a 40 I didn’t understand what was
there a 40 I didn’t understand what was
there a 40 I didn’t understand what was happening because I was I was lost in
happening because I was I was lost in
happening because I was I was lost in the idea of a being at the school I just
the idea of a being at the school I just
the idea of a being at the school I just seen famed movie
seen famed movie
seen famed movie I was mesmerized I kept hearing my
I was mesmerized I kept hearing my
I was mesmerized I kept hearing my mother’s voice saying you know what it
mother’s voice saying you know what it
mother’s voice saying you know what it takes
takes
takes hearing Debbie Allen’s voicing uh Fame
hearing Debbie Allen’s voicing uh Fame
hearing Debbie Allen’s voicing uh Fame cost and right here is where you start
cost and right here is where you start
cost and right here is where you start paying in sweat I was like oh my god
paying in sweat I was like oh my god
paying in sweat I was like oh my god what so when I heard my song the Tom Tom
what so when I heard my song the Tom Tom
what so when I heard my song the Tom Tom Club come on there I was like I just
Club come on there I was like I just
Club come on there I was like I just burst out into flailing arms
burst out into flailing arms
burst out into flailing arms in any gymnastics step that I could give
in any gymnastics step that I could give
in any gymnastics step that I could give them any sort of legs anything I was
them any sort of legs anything I was
them any sort of legs anything I was turning and spinning and they were all
turning and spinning and they were all
turning and spinning and they were all laughing laughing hysterically the whole
laughing laughing hysterically the whole
laughing laughing hysterically the whole adjudicating panel worried laughing and
adjudicating panel worried laughing and
adjudicating panel worried laughing and I didn’t really pay much more attention
I didn’t really pay much more attention
I didn’t really pay much more attention to that I just was like I’m just going
to that I just was like I’m just going
to that I just was like I’m just going to do what I got to do right here and
to do what I got to do right here and
to do what I got to do right here and then they called me to the table
then they called me to the table
then they called me to the table afterwards and said listen so who
afterwards and said listen so who
afterwards and said listen so who choreographed that again I didn’t know
choreographed that again I didn’t know
choreographed that again I didn’t know what choreography was so I said I’m not
what choreography was so I said I’m not
what choreography was so I said I’m not sure what you mean and she said who
sure what you mean and she said who
sure what you mean and she said who created that he’s the dude dance Dean
created that he’s the dude dance Dean
created that he’s the dude dance Dean said to me and I said oh I just I kind
said to me and I said oh I just I kind
said to me and I said oh I just I kind of built it basically I built it right
of built it basically I built it right
of built it basically I built it right on the spot because I didn’t really
on the spot because I didn’t really
on the spot because I didn’t really remember anything so saying that to say
remember anything so saying that to say
remember anything so saying that to say that they said to me
that they said to me
that they said to me long story short is that I was sent a
long story short is that I was sent a
long story short is that I was sent a letter in the mail and they said that
letter in the mail and they said that
letter in the mail and they said that they saw my enthusiasm my passion and
they saw my enthusiasm my passion and
they saw my enthusiasm my passion and though it was enthusiastic audition
though it was enthusiastic audition
though it was enthusiastic audition that’s what the words that we saw your
that’s what the words that we saw your
that’s what the words that we saw your potential and I was like I again
potential and I was like I again
potential and I was like I again flailing around and jump for joy at the
flailing around and jump for joy at the
flailing around and jump for joy at the house but I really decided right then I
house but I really decided right then I
house but I really decided right then I said wow this is going to be an
said wow this is going to be an
said wow this is going to be an opportunity and I saw that opportunity
opportunity and I saw that opportunity
opportunity and I saw that opportunity and thus having many many great teachers
and thus having many many great teachers
and thus having many many great teachers in front of me and with me to guide me
in front of me and with me to guide me
in front of me and with me to guide me not only through just pure classicism
not only through just pure classicism
not only through just pure classicism just doing a simple tendu and knowing
just doing a simple tendu and knowing
just doing a simple tendu and knowing what that was or making sure I knew what
what that was or making sure I knew what
what that was or making sure I knew what movement was coming from from my inside
movement was coming from from my inside
movement was coming from from my inside out and that’s what I related to rid of
out and that’s what I related to rid of
out and that’s what I related to rid of Nureyev when I saw him there was
Nureyev when I saw him there was
Nureyev when I saw him there was something that just permeated my soul
something that just permeated my soul
something that just permeated my soul and thus obviously is the bio red I’ve
and thus obviously is the bio red I’ve
and thus obviously is the bio red I’ve gone on and done a few things in a world
gone on and done a few things in a world
gone on and done a few things in a world you know um and danced around the world
you know um and danced around the world
you know um and danced around the world but the most beautiful thing I would say
but the most beautiful thing I would say
but the most beautiful thing I would say through all my trials to triumph would
through all my trials to triumph would
through all my trials to triumph would be when I was at the Paris Opera dancing
be when I was at the Paris Opera dancing
be when I was at the Paris Opera dancing with Alvin Ailey and I finished a piece
with Alvin Ailey and I finished a piece
with Alvin Ailey and I finished a piece called treading and it’s a duet with a
called treading and it’s a duet with a
called treading and it’s a duet with a man and a woman and I was called
man and a woman and I was called
man and a woman and I was called backstage and I didn’t understand what
backstage and I didn’t understand what
backstage and I didn’t understand what was happening I thought Alvin Ailey was
was happening I thought Alvin Ailey was
was happening I thought Alvin Ailey was like what what did you do I was super
like what what did you do I was super
like what what did you do I was super scared and then I was summoned to the
scared and then I was summoned to the
scared and then I was summoned to the side of the stage
side of the stage
side of the stage Paris Opera and they’re read of Nureyev
Paris Opera and they’re read of Nureyev
Paris Opera and they’re read of Nureyev was sitting in his wheelchair and he
was sitting in his wheelchair and he
was sitting in his wheelchair and he summoned to me to come over to him and
summoned to me to come over to him and
summoned to me to come over to him and said oh my god
said oh my god
said oh my god so he said Monsieur formidably your
so he said Monsieur formidably your
so he said Monsieur formidably your incredible dancer oh my God where do you
incredible dancer oh my God where do you
incredible dancer oh my God where do you come from
come from
come from and I said Queens New York and then he
and I said Queens New York and then he
and I said Queens New York and then he said hits I told him I said we’ll listen
said hits I told him I said we’ll listen
said hits I told him I said we’ll listen thank you so much for your accolade and
thank you so much for your accolade and
thank you so much for your accolade and he then said to me for what are you
he then said to me for what are you
he then said to me for what are you thanking me for
thanking me for
thanking me for and I told him that you were my
and I told him that you were my
and I told him that you were my inspiration
inspiration
inspiration you were my lipo moment you know I
you were my lipo moment you know I
you were my lipo moment you know I identified with you and thus my world
identified with you and thus my world
identified with you and thus my world opened up for dance and he just bowed to
opened up for dance and he just bowed to
opened up for dance and he just bowed to me in gratitude and they wheeled him off
me in gratitude and they wheeled him off
me in gratitude and they wheeled him off yeah but with that saying that I really
yeah but with that saying that I really
yeah but with that saying that I really am honored to continue to share dance
am honored to continue to share dance
am honored to continue to share dance with the world and do what I do thank
with the world and do what I do thank
with the world and do what I do thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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