FUNDING FOR COLORES WAS PROVIDED IN PART BY:

FREDERICK HAMMERSLEY FOUNDATION...

...AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU

HONORING ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF WOMEN'S RIGHT TO VOTE,

POETS EBONY ISIS BOOTH, MERCEDEZ HOLTRY, SARITA GONZALEZ

AND JESSICA HELEN LOPEZ CELEBRATE EMPOWERING WOMEN.

BREAKING DOWN WALLS, BLAZING TRAILS, UTAH ART STUDENTS

CELEBRATE CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE AND WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE.

THE GRACE OF BALLET HIDES THE INTENSE ATHLETICISM.

IT'S ALL AHEAD ON COLORES!

EMBODYING THE RIGHT.

PEACE Y'ALL.

MY NAME IS EBONY ISIS BOOTH.

I'M A POET, CULTURAL STRATEGIST AND CREATIVE

CONSULTANT LIVING IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.

I REPRESENT ONE VOICE AMONG THE TWO POINT EIGHT

PERCENT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO LIVE HERE IN THE STATE.

I VOTE BECAUSE IT'S MY LEGACY TO DO SO.

I REMEMBER AS A LITTLE GIRL BEING DAZZLED BY THE

TRANSFORMATION OF A CAFETERIA OR SCHOOL

LIBRARY INTO A POLLING LOCATION AND WATCHING MY

GRANDMOTHER WALK INTO THAT BOOTH AND CLOSE THE

CURTAIN BEHIND HER, THE PRIDE THAT SHOWN ON HER

FACE WITH CASTING HER VOTE, WITH USING HER VOICE

WASN'T JUST BECAUSE OF THE ACTIVITY BUT BECAUSE OF

THE STRUGGLES AND CHALLENGES THAT SHE FACED

IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THAT RIGHT.

IN ORDER TO GIFT IT TO ME.

BECAUSE OF WOMEN LIKE HER REVEREND CAMILLA BROWN FOWLER

MY GRANDMOTHER.

MRS. FANNIE LOU HAMER, SEPTIMA CLARK, ELLA BAKER

AND THE COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO BLED, FOUGHT, AND DIED

FOR ME TO HAVE THAT RIGHT, OH YOU BETTER BELIEVE

I WON'T WASTE IT.

I'LL USE MY VOICE AND CAST MY VOTE.

I WROTE A POEM I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY CALLED

"BE THE CAPITAL."

ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF VISIBILITY, YOU CAN'T BE

WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE AND IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE LEGACY

OF POWERFUL BLACK WOMEN IS EVERYWHERE.

SO I PRESENT THIS POEM TO YOU "BE THE CAPITAL."

BECAUSE AIN'T NO OTHER WAY TO BE THAN THE CAPITAL

CHARACTER BOASTING ON TWO HUMPS ALONG THE UNSWERVING

PLUMB LINE OF THE LETTER "B" IN BLACK GIRL MAGIC.

YOU SEE WE OUT HERE, WE BE CLATTERING INTO MUSEUMS

AND SALOONS A DAZZLING SPECTRUM OF MELANIN SUN

KISSED ORANGE SODA SWEET LIPS DRIPPING THEORY AND

COMPLIMENTS THAT'LL MAKE YOU WISH YOU NEVER DRANK

THE KOOL-AID LACE LIES ABOUT OUR LEGACY, WE BE A

MINISTRY CALL OUR INCANTATIONS CHURCH BRING

THE BELONGINGS OF YOUR FORMERLY BETROTHED TO OUR

BACKYARDS AND BURN THEM IN RITUAL SOOTHE YOUR SOUL IN

THE ROUX OF OUR CAST IRON POTS, WE BE CONJURING IN

THE COLOR OUR COFFEE TURNS WHILE WE DRIZZLE SWEET

CREAM AND STIR WITH SPOONS THAT CLINK BESIDES A

GRANNY'S TEA CUP CAUSE WHEN WE SWIRL WE CALL THE

SUNKEN ONES BACK UP WE NAMED THEM ALL LAZARUS,

OUR GRANDDADDIES TAUGHT US WHEN TO COCK THE GUN SO WE

LOADED THEM WITH BLACK TOURMALINE BULLETS, THE

BUCKSHOTS EMBOSSING THE BEATITUDES IN BRAILLE

ACROSS THE BACKSIDE OF THE NE'ER DO WELLS.

WE BE REGAL CALL OUR COILS CROWNS, WE ARE MATRIARCHS

IN THE MAKING RULERS OF UNDISCOVERED EMPIRES

NESTLED AT THE INTERSECTION OF BOSOM AND

BELT OF EMPIRE WASTE, WE BE MOMMY WATER BEARERS OF

DESTINY DAMNING THE NILE BEHIND OUR EYELASHES, WE

BE SOBRINAS OF ADOBE DUST BORN IN LOVE WITH THE WIND

SO OUR VOICES CARRY SEEDS OF WISDOM WHISPER TO

DANDELION WISHES OUR MANICURES STAY POLISHED TO

GLISTEN UNDER SANDIA SUNSETS WE SIP MANGO

NECTAR FROM MASON JARS AND SPIT WATERMELON SEEDS INTO

THE RIO GRANDE, LAY SUNFLOWERS DOWN AS ALMS,

INVITE HER BLESSINGS BY KISSING OUR PALMS AND

TENDING OUR HONEY POTS CAUSE WE BE WARRIORS OUR

SWORDS SHARPEN TO EVISCERATE FOR DEBATES CAN

BE LENGTHY AND OUR LIFE EXPECTANCY DON'T AFFORD US

TIME TO WASTE, WE BE STOLEN SORCERESSES

PENCILED INTO THE MARGINS REFUSING TO BE ERASED OUR

INKWELLS ARE INFINITE INDIGO DETAILS INDELIBLE,

WE ARE IRREFUTABLE, HUSTLE, INCUBATED,

INTELLECTUALLY IN COVEN SPACES WE BE AGGREGATING

THE CONTENT TESTING FEEDBACK LOOPS INSIDE OUR

BAMBOO HOOPS AGGRAVATING THE PATRIARCHY EVERY TIME

WE OPEN MOUTH CACKLE AT THE WONDROUSNESS OF IT

ALL, WE ARE RARE AND PRECIOUS FEW YET VITAL

INCUMBENT UPON YOUR LIBERATION, WE ARE SIGNIFICANT.

HERE.

ALWAYS BEEN.

MAGIC.

REMEMBER TO VOTE Y'ALL.

HI, MY NAME IS MERCÉDEZ HOLTRY AND I VOTE BECAUSE

I'M THE DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS.

I AM A WOMAN WHO WANTS CONTROL OF HER BODY AND I

THINK IT'S MY OBLIGATION AND DUTY FOR FUTURE

GENERATIONS TO FEEL SAFE, TO FEEL HAPPY, TO FEEL FREE,

AND TO FEEL UNAFRAID.

THIS POEM IS CALLED "SHOW UP" AND IT'S MEANT TO

ENCOURAGE EVERYONE BUT ESPECIALLY WOMEN TO GO VOTE.

STRONG WOMEN WHEN YOU SHOW UP THE WORLD IS THANKFUL

FOR YOUR ARRIVAL UNTIL THEY'RE NOT.

EVERYONE WANTS A STRONG WOMAN IN THEIR CORNER

UNTIL THE LIGHTNING STORM THAT IS HER MOUTH STRIKES

THE TREE STUMP THAT IS A MAN'S EGO.

SETTING IT ON FIRE UNTIL THE ENTIRE PATRIARCHY OF A

FOREST BURNS TO THE GROUND.

WE LIGHTNING STORMS BE THAT WAY SOMETIMES

UNAPOLOGETICALLY CHARGED AND READY FOR A REVOLT,

LET'S DANCE WITH THE RAIN.

WHEN THE PATRIARCHY TELLS YOU, YOU DON'T MOVE UNTIL

I SAY YOU'RE READY TO MOVE LITTLE GIRL, YOU SHOW THEM

JUST HOW WELL YOUR HIPS AND YOUR HEART AND YOUR FEET MOVE TO THE

BEAT OF A CUMBIA, YOU DANCE CIRCLES AROUND THESE FOOLS.

LET THE SWEAT DRIPPING FROM YOUR BODY BE YOUR

ANTHEM, JUST MOVE LOVE, MOVE LIKE YOU ARE THE

SOUND WAVES, THE BASS, THE MELODY, THE HUM OF BEES,

THE SPEED OF HUMMINGBIRD WINGS, YOU ARE A FORCE OF

NATURE, A BRINGER OF TRUTHS, A VOICE WAITING TO

STAND THE TEST OF TIME AND THEY WILL TRY AND SILENCE

YOU LIKE YOUR ANCESTORS AREN'T ROOTING FOR YOU IN

THE FORM OF THUNDER GRITANDO ANDALE MIJA.

WE DIDN'T DIE FOR YOU TO BE DORMANT, BE ACTIVE, BE

BEAUTIFUL, WAKE UP AND KISS THE DAWN, BREATHE

LIKE THE AIR BELONGS TO YOU, DREAM LIKE THE STARS

ARE WITHIN ARM'S REACH AND DON'T YOU DARE STOP MOVING

WHEN THEY TELL YOU TO STAND STILL.

SHOW UP BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU WHO KNOWS WHAT MESSES

THESE MEN WILL MAKE AND YOU AIN'T NOBODY'S MAID OR

MAMA UNTIL YOU CHOOSE TO BE, SO DON'T CLEAN UP OR

COVER UP THEIR CATASTROPHES, INSTEAD MAKE YOUR OWN.

DROP THE PAIN AND THE PAINT INTO A MASTERPIECE

AND TITLE IT "LOVE," TITLE IT "THE THINGS I'M WILLING

TO DO TO MAKE THINGS BETTER," TITLE IT

"SELF-TRANSFORMATION" THEN WATCH HOW THE PAIN, HOW

THE CHANGES TURN INTO THE BLESSINGS YOU MANIFESTED,

THERE'S A CERTAIN POWER THAT COMES WITH BEING

WOMAN AND IT'S THE TOLERANCE FOR TURNING PAIN INTO BEAUTY.

WE DON'T JUST BIRTH HUMANS THROUGH BLOOD AND STRETCH

SKIN, WE BIRTH BONDS AND SISTERHOOD, LEADERSHIP AND

COMMUNITY WE TAKE, WE TAKE THE SCRAPS OF PAPER THAT

WE ARE GIVEN AND FOLD OUR SUCCESS ORIGAMI STYLE SO

THAT OUR PAPER CRANES WOULD SOAR FARTHER THAN WE

EVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD.

SO THAT NO ONE CAN EVER TELL US "I TOLD YOU, YOU CAN'T FLY!"

AIN'T THAT FUNNY?

THEY THOUGHT WE WOULDN'T LEARN TO USE OUR WINGS ONE

DAY SO THAT WE COULD SHOW UP PHOENIX STYLE RISING

THROUGH THE ASHES NOW WE RESPOND I TOLD YOU THERE

WAS NO STOPPING ME.

I AM THE CREATOR OF MY OWN DESTINY MY SPIRIT CANNOT

BE TAMED SO TAKE YOUR PITY, YOUR SHAME, YOUR

DISDAIN, AND YOUR OWN PAIN CAUSE I NO LONGER CARRY

WHAT DOES NOT BELONG TO ME I CARRY WHAT MATTERS

WHETHER THAT BE MY FAMILY, MY HISTORY, MY COMMUNITY,

AND MY VICTORIES AND I WILL ALWAYS SHOW UP.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME A STRONG WOMAN, THAT'S WHAT

MAKES ME, ME, THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME A STORM OF

LIGHTNING, JUST NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO SHOW UP.

HELLO MY NAME IS SARITA SOL GONZALEZ.

I AM 15 YEARS OLD AND THE REASON THAT VOTING MATTERS

TO ME SO MUCH IS MOSTLY BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THE

VOICES OF MINORITIES TO BE HEARD WHICH IS VERY

DIFFICULT IN MANY CIRCUMSTANCES AND SO THIS

ALLOWS THE VOICE OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO BE

HEARD AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

THE TITLE OF THIS PIECE IS "VOICE."

WE WEREN'T SEEN AS ENOUGH.

THE WORLD WE LIVED IN DIDN'T SEE US AS MORE THAN

MACHINES TO PUMP OUT MEN.

EACH DAUGHTER, A MATE.

EACH WOMAN, A WIFE.

WE WERE NEVER WILLINGLY GIVEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

THOSE WHO HELD MORE MELANIN ON THEIR WRISTS HAD

TO WORK TWICE AS HARD THAN THE SISTERS WITH FAIR COMPLEXIONS.

WE THOUGHT WE HAD WON THE BATTLE WHEN WE HEARD THE

CELEBRATION, BUT WE QUICKLY REALIZED THIS

VICTORY WAS NOT FOR US ALL.

WOMEN OF COLOR STILL HAD TO ENDURE FORTY-TWO MORE

YEARS OF BEING SILENCED.

HOLDING OUR HEADS HIGH AND OUR WORDS ALLOWED TO LET

OUR VOICES BE HEARD.

TO LET IT REVERBERATE IN OUR, THEIR HEAD LIKE THE

CALL OF THE DRUM AT THE BALLS OF THEIR FEET.

THEY SAY THE FIGHT ENDED IN 1920.

IT IS 2020 AND THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER FOR A CENTURY

WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR RESPECT, STRIVING TO

SURVIVE IN A WORLD MADE FOR MEN.

WE STILL FIGHT FOR EQUAL PAY.

WE STILL FIGHT FOR OUR OWN PERSONAL AUTONOMY, WE

STILL FIGHT FOR EQUALITY AND EQUITY, WE STILL FIGHT

FOR OUR VOICES TO BE HEARD.

WE STILL FIGHT.

HOLA, MY NAME IS JESSICA HELEN LOPEZ, SOY CHICANA,

SOY MESTIZA, SOY MAESTRA, SOY POETA, SOY MADRE.

UH, THE REASON I VOTE IS TO HONOR ALL OF MY ELDERS

AND ANCESTORS WHO FOUGHT VERY HARD FOR THAT RIGHT

AND THAT PRIVILEGE, UH IN HONOR OF THE RATIFICATION

OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT, BUT ALSO TO SECURE FUTURE

POSITIVE POLICIES FOR OUR GENERATIONS TO COME,

INCLUDING MY OWN DAUGHTER WHO'S EIGHTEEN AND IS ABLE

TO VOTE, UH THIS ELECTION.

"I HAVE MANY NAMES / TENGO MUCHOS NOMBRES."

YOU MAY CALL ME MALINCHE, GODDESS OF GRASS INDIGENA

WOMAN OF THE KIDNAPPED CLAN ROSETTA-STONE TONGUE

GLASSY RAIN-SOAKED IMPERIAL JADE, MOCTEZUMA'S

POISONED TRADE WITH THE WHITE-SKINNED

TRANSGRESSOR, QUETZALCOATL CLOAKED CORTES.

FLESH OVER THE FORGED HEAT OF SPANISH BLADE, THE

DUTCH, THE FRENCH, THE MULATTO, THE MESTIZA,

AFRICANA, RAPED DAUGHTERS OF THE DOCTRINE OF DISCOVERY.

YOU MAY CALL ME THE DESCENDANT OF THE DECEASED.

THE DISAPPEARED.

THE PILLAGED.

THE BLOOD-QUANTUM, KICK-BACK TREATY FED BY

THE BELLY-FAT OF LAND GRANT LIES.

I HAVE MANY NAMES, THOUSANDS YEARS' OLD NAMES.

ANCIENT MIGHTY NAMES.

TODAY YOU MAY CALL ME SEVEN GENERATIONS MISSING

FROM MY GRANDMOTHER.

TONATZIN.

MALINALLI.

TLATZOTEOTL.

OMOTEOL, OMOTEOL, OMOTEOL, OMOTEOL.

I AM THE BLOOD-LINEAGE SACRIFICIAL ANCESTOR

PROGENY OF THE GONE-MISSING WOMEN CALL ME

MAQUILADORA - FLOWER OF THE FACTORIES WOMAN OF

JUAREZ TWICE-BIT AND BETRAYED BOTH BY MY OWN

KIN AND THE FOREIGN RAPIST.

YOU MAY CALL ME RAGE.

RIGHTEOUS.

VENGEFUL.

TENGO MUCHOS MUCHOS NOMBRES.

YOU MAY CALL ME SOLDADERA,

MATRIARCH OF THE MEXICANA REVOLUTION.

I WAS NEVER ANYONE'S LOVER.

NO PANCHO VILLA BED-WARMER.

BULLETS AND BRAIDS, HANDS THICK LIKE THE SKIN OF TAMAL.

THIS IS WHAT YOU MAY CALL ME.

NO YO SOY JOAQUIN.

YOU MAY CALL ME LLORONA, SHAPE-SHIFTER, PICKET-LINE

PROVOCATEUR BROWN BERET, SKIN-WALKER WOMAN OF THE

FIELD, HANDS OF CALLOUS, PICKER OF FRESA, CHILE,

CEBOLLA AND THE GRAPE ON THE VINE.

WE THE LEGIONS OF FARMWORKERS BENT AT THE

SPINE, FINGERS DEEP INTO THE DARK EARTH.

TODAY THEY WILL CALL ME WET-NURSE, WET-BACK,

UNDER-THE-TABLE PAID BROWN NANNY BREAST-MILK BY PROXY.

BUT I BIRTH ME IN THE SHAPE OF ME BLADE-SHARP

OBSIDIAN, FLINT AND FIRED STONE.

I AM THE BLOOD-LETTING AND THE BAPTISMAL.

I HAVE MANY NAMES.

TENGO MUCHOS MUCHOS NOMBRES.

BUT YOU MAY INVOKE ME BROWN-SKINNED XOLA XINGONA

SPELLED WITH AN "X" LIKE THE MEXICA DO.

MY ANCESTORS WHO RUN WILD IN MY BLOOD, MY MIXED,

MESSY, COLONIZED AND TRIUMPHANT BLOOD.

YOU MAY CALL ME DOUBLE-TONGUED AND

CODE-SWITCHER, RIVER CROSSER, WATER DIVINER,

BORDER DWELLER AND BURNT SAGE.

YOU KNOW ME AS #METOO THE BRIDGED HAIR OF FRIDA'S

BROW, SNAPPED SPINAL COLUMN SURVIVOR.

THE LATE NIGHT MARIACHI HOWL, EATER OF FILTH.

YOU MAY CALL ME POCHA, JOTA, BRUJA AND

LIT-FROM-WITHIN.

MY NAME AN ANGLICIZED.

STAIN, A DE-LOUSED CAMPESINO SOMEWHERE IN THE

MIDDLE OF INDIO, CALIFORNIA - FRUIT BASKET OF THE WORLD.

BUT NOW YOU MAY INVOKE ME DOLORES, LOMA, SANDRA, MARIA,

JOSEFINA, GLORIA, DIANA THE HUNTRESS,

EMMA GONZALEZ AND ALICIA GARZA.

PATRISSE, OPAL, AUDRE LORDE WRITER AND PATRON

SAINT WHO WATCHES OVER US ALL.

YOU MAY CALL ME LA CAZADORA HUNTRESS NO REGRETS.

I AM THE KEEPER OF THE DEAD.

TENGO MUCHOS MUCHOS NOMBRES.

YOU MAY CALL ME THOUGHT WOMAN, CARRIER OF STORIES

JEWELED EGG OF A DIAPHANOUS WEB.

MY CHILDREN SPRING FORTH FROM ME, SILVER-HEADED

SPINDLE-SOFT, READY TO RE-CREATE THE WORLD.

SEVENTH GENERATION RISING.

I AM UN MAL FLORA.

THE BAD FLOWER WHO GREW DESPITE YOUR ATTEMPT TO

RE-NAME THAT WHICH IS NAMELESS.

CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE.

>I THINK THAT THESE SPECIFIC WOMEN HELPED

SOCIETY TO BE WHAT IT IS TODAY.

IF THEY WEREN'T AS BRAVE AS THEY ARE FOR DOING WHAT

THEY DID, THEN THINGS WOULD BE REALLY DIFFERENT.

SO I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO

NOT JUST KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED, BUT WHO WAS AT

THE FOREFRONT AND THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THE

CATALYSTS OF THAT MOVEMENT, BECAUSE THEY

WERE THE ONES WHO WERE WILLING TO MAKE THAT

CHANGE AND WHO WERE WILLING TO LEAD EVERYBODY

ELSE, NOT JUST WOMEN, BUT EVERYBODY TO MAKE THAT CHANGE.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

(SINGING)

> ART IS SUCH A UNIQUE WAY FOR STUDENTS TO HAVE EXPRESSION.

I MEAN, ITS EXPRESSION IN AND OF ITSELF.

THE FACT THAT IT'S CELEBRATING PROBABLY ONE

OF THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN

HAVE IS THAT RIGHT TO VOTE IN THEIR COUNTRY.

SO I THINK THAT THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ART

AND CELEBRATING THE FACT THAT WOMEN RECEIVED THE

RIGHT TO VOTE IS, IS A PERFECT PARTNERSHIP JUST

DUE TO THE FACT THAT KIDS CAN REALLY CELEBRATE

THROUGH THEIR ARTISTIC...

IN OUR PARTICULAR CASE, IT'S THROUGH MUSIC.

I HAD READ IN THE UMEA MAGAZINE ABOUT THE ARTS

ADVOCACY DAY ON THE HILL.

SO I CONTACTED THE ADVOCACY CHAIR AND SHE

CONTACTED ME BACK IN JANUARY AND SAID THAT THEY

ARE DOING IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, THEY ARE

CELEBRATING THE UTAH SUFFRAGE AND THEY HAD

COMMISSIONED A SONG, AND SO THEY INVITED US TO BE A

PART OF IT AND THEY SENT US THE SONG.

SO WE JUST LEARNED IT FROM THERE.

WE'RE EXCITED TO JOIN OTHER SCHOOLS IN

CELEBRATING UTAH SUFFRAGE.

THERE ARE WALLS TO BREAK DOWN, AND TRAILS TO BE BLAZED

> I JUST THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD SONG.

THE MESSAGE IS JUST SO CLEAR, AND IT JUST TALKS

ABOUT THESE AMAZING WOMEN, AND HOW THEY'RE EXAMPLES

TO ALL OF US, AND HOW WE CAN ALL BE CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE.

WE CAN ALL MAKE THAT CHANGE AND WE ALL HAVE THAT CAPABILITY.

WHEN THE TIME SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE (INAUDIBLE)

WILL ALWAYS FIND MY WAY TO BE A CHAMPION OF CHANGE

> THE SONG ESPECIALLY, I WAS THINKING THERE'S A

LINE THAT SAYS, ''WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE

HEROES OF CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE.'' I MEAN, THERE'S

NOTHING THAT WE, AS WOMEN, COULD DO WITHOUT THESE

WOMEN 100 YEARS AGO, WHO FOUGHT FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS

AND THE CHANCE TO HAVE AN OPINION IN GOVERNMENT.

SO AS A WOMAN TEACHER, TEACHING KIDS,

I THINK THAT IT'S ALL BASED ON ALL OF WHO CAME BEFORE

AND WHO CARVED THE PATH.

MY FRIENDS, TO FIGHT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION

LIKE ALBERTA HENRY

> NOW, MOVING ON TO WOMEN SUFFRAGE, WE'RE TALKING

ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

NOW, WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE BASIC HUMAN FREEDOM RIGHTS, RIGHT?

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS TO KNOW ABOUT

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE, ESPECIALLY THE HISTORY OF

IT IN UTAH, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY NOT SOMETHING THEY HAVE NOTICED.

THEY'RE BORN IN THE LATE 2000S.

IT'S NOT REALLY AN IDEA THAT THEY HAVE WHERE WOMEN

HAVEN'T ALWAYS HAD THIS RIGHT BECAUSE IN THEIR WORLD,

THEIR MOMS CAN GO AND VOTE,

AND SAME WITH THEIR AUNTS OR WHOEVER.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THEY SEE AND DON'T REALIZE THAT IT

IS A FIGHT TO EARN.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO REALIZE THAT

NOT EVERYONE HAD THE SAME RIGHTS BACK THEN, AND

STILL TODAY, THERE ARE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE DON'T.

SO IT'S NICE FOR THEM TO REALIZE THAT AND NICE FOR

THEM TO FREELY LEARN ABOUT IT, AND SEE WHERE THERE

ARE PLACES WHERE GIRLS STILL DON'T GO TO SCHOOL

AND GET AN EDUCATION BECAUSE IT'S NOT A RIGHT FOR THEM.

SO I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE FORTUNATE,

THEY ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE A SCHOOL SYSTEM WHERE

THEY CAN COME IN AND LEARN AND HAVE THIS FREE EDUCATION.

SO I DECIDED TO INCORPORATE THIS WITH MY

STUDENTS BECAUSE I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REALLY

CELEBRATE THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF WOMEN BEING

ABLE TO VOTE, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS IN OUR

BACKYARD WHERE IT HAPPENED.

SERAPH YOUNG WAS A UTAH, I THOUGHT THAT WAS IMPORTANT

FOR THEM TO REALIZE THAT THIS BIG HISTORIC MOMENT

HAPPENED HERE, LIKE 20 MINUTES FROM WHERE WE HAVE SCHOOL.

PLUS WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON PORTRAITURE SO I KNEW

THAT THEY'D BE ABLE TO REALLY GET THOSE DETAILS

DOWN AND MAKE THE PERSON LOOK LIKE THEM.

WE HAVE LOTS OF BOOKS AND THINGS FOR THEM TO DRAW

FROM AS WELL SO THAT THEY HAVE A LOT DIFFERENT IDEAS

FROM HISTORY THAT THEY COULD CHOOSE FROM.

SO I HOPE FROM THIS PROJECT, THEY CAN

SPECIFICALLY TAKE HOME THE IDEAS THAT WOMEN ARE

STRONG AND THEY ARE EQUAL, THAT WE HAVE FOUGHT OUR RIGHTS.

HERE WE ARE TODAY AND WE STILL HAVE THEM, AND

THAT'S A REALLY BEAUTIFUL THING.

HOPEFULLY IT REALLY ENCOURAGES THEM TO STILL

STAND UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN, BOYS AND GIRLS.

> A MATRIARCH, SHE WAS LIKE MOTHER FOR HER TRIBE.

SHE WATCHED OUT FOR EVERYBODY.

I'M GOING TO PASS THIS TRADING CARDS AROUND SO

YOU GUYS CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THEM.

THE UTAH HERITAGE PROJECTS WAS A REAL KIND OF FLUID

RELATIONSHIP THAT STEMMED FROM THE UTAH FILM CENTER.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH MICHELLE WALKER THERE,

WITH SOME OF THE TUMBLE WEEDS FILM FEST, AND WE'RE

GOING TO SEND OUR KIDS DOWN TO TUMBLE WEEDS, AND

THEN WE'RE BRINGING IN ONE OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT TRAININGS.

AS MICHELLE WAS IN OUR SCHOOL AND SEEING THE ART

THAT WE WERE DOING AND SEEING SOME OF THE STUFF

THAT WE WERE INVOLVED WITH, MICHELLE SUGGESTED

THE BETTER DAYS UTAH HERITAGE PROJECT.

WE GOT IN TOUCH WITH NAOMI WITH THAT PROJECT AND SHE WAS GREAT.

OUR FOURTH-GRADE TEACHERS JUMPED RIGHT ON BOARD WITH

THAT, AND WE'RE REALLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IT.

SO WE MOVED FORWARD WITH IT.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR

STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN FOURTH GRADE, WITH THAT

CORE UTAH HERITAGE TO REALLY GET TO KNOW SOME OF

THE AMAZING THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR STATE

THIS YEAR RIGHT NOW.

I THINK IT'S AMAZINGLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WITH

WHAT I PERSONALLY DID TODAY WITH SOME OF THESE

STUDENTS, IN THIS TELLING OF THEIR STORY.

I WAS REALLY INSPIRED BY MAE TIMBIMBOO PARRY AND

HER TAGLINE AND MOTTO OF "WHAT IS YOUR STORY".

WHAT STORY DO YOU WANT TO TELL?

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR KIDS TO SEE THE

LEGACY THAT HAS BEEN LEFT BEFORE THEM, BUT THEN ALSO

TO THINK FORWARD TO WHAT LEGACY ARE THEY GOING TO

LEAVE FOR THOSE WHO COME AFTER THEM.

I THINK ART IS JUST SUCH A MAGNIFICENT WAY FOR THEM

TO EXPRESS THAT WITHOUT SO MUCH PRESSURE TO DO IT IN

A FORMAL WAY OR IN A WAY THAT'S RIGHT OR WRONG.

ART IS JUST SO FREE-FLOWING AND SO

WONDERFUL, IT'S JUST LETTING KIDS EXPRESS WHO

THEY ARE IN THE MOMENTS AND RELAXING, CALMING,

REALLY NEED TO SEE WHAT THINGS COME OUT.

I HOPE THAT THEY TAKE A GREATER SENSE OF

RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT THEY HAVE, AND FOR USING

WHAT THEY HAVE, AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WHAT THEY

HAVE IN PRODUCTIVE WAYS, IN WAYS THAT EXTEND

OUTSIDE OF THEMSELVES.

I REALLY WANT THEM TO APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT

HAS GONE BEFORE THEM, AND THE MILESTONES, AND THE

DIFFERENT CHALLENGES THAT HAVE BEEN OVERCOME TO GIVE

THEM WHAT THEY HAVE TODAY.

I HOPE THEY GAIN A GREATER SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO

CARRY THAT TORCH FORWARD AND TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE

OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE TODAY SO THAT THOSE GENERATIONS

THAT FOLLOW WILL HAVE EVEN MORE AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES

THAN WHAT THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW TODAY.

CARING FOR THE "INSTRUMENT" OF A DANCER.

IF I'VE BEEN DANCING PROFESSIONALLY, LIKE I'M

DANCING ALL DAY, EVERYDAY, MY BODY DOESN'T FEEL YOUNG.

THE AMOUNT OF STRESS YOU PUT ON YOUR BODY DAY IN

AND DAY OUT, THE AMOUNT OF AGILITY AND STAMINA.

IF THAT'S NOT AN ATHLETE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL IT.

>> LISA: MOST PEOPLE'S BASICALLY UNDERSTANDING OF

BALLET IS POINT SHOES AND TUTUS.

BUT BALLET DANCERS WANT AUDIENCES TO KNOW

THERE'S SO MUCH MORE.

OUR JOB IS TO MAKE IT LOOK EASY ON STAGE AND WE'RE

NOT SUPPOSED TO SHOW THAT IT'S DIFFICULT.

>> LISA: THIS SEASON IS THE FIRST YEAR THE

CLEVELAND BALLET IS PARTNERING WITH THE SPORTS

MEDICINE DEPARTMENT AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS,

WHICH WILL ALLOW THE DANCERS TO RECEIVE MORE PREVENTIVE CARE.

THE PHYSICAL THERAPISTS WHO WORK WITH THE DANCERS

KNOW HOW TO TREAT THE ARTISTS AS ATHLETES.

OUR BODIES ARE OUR INSTRUMENT.

THOSE ARE OUR TOOLS.

THAT'S THE SAME AS FOOTBALL PLAYERS.

THEY'RE USING THEIR BODIES AS AN INSTRUMENT, AS A

TOOL TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO BE IN THE GAME.

I'LL WAKE UP ONE MORNING AND I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN.

IT'S LIKE, OH MY GOSH, I CAN'T DO JUMPS

OR I CAN'T DO THIS TODAY.

AND THEN I GO TO PHYSICAL THERAPY AND I'LL BE LIKE,

ALMOST 100% BETTER RIGHT AFTER.

AND I'M LIKE, OH WAIT, I CAN DO THIS.

I THINK THAT IF I KEEP ON GOING TO PHYSICAL THERAPY,

THE LIFE OF MY DANCE CAREER WILL BE A LOT LONGER

(LAUGHS).

>> LISA: IT'S MARLA MINADEO'S FIRST SEASON AS

A PROFESSIONAL DANCER.

HER MOM, GLADISA GUADALUPE IS THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

FOR THE CLEVELAND BALLET.

GUADALUPE HAD TO RETIRE AFTER AN INJURY, AND SHE

THINKS IT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.

THE CAREER FOR DANCERS IS VERY SHORT.

BUT IF YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY NOW IN A

PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND WITH PROFESSIONALS IN

THE MEDICAL FIELD THAT UNDERSTAND THE WEAR AND

TEAR AND HOW TO PREVENT, THEY COULD HAVE CAREERS UP

TO 45 OR 50, WHY NOT?

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

>> LISA: DR. JAMES VOOS OF UH OVERSEES THE

PARTNERSHIP, AND HE'S ALSO THE SPORTS MEDICINE

PHYSICIAN FOR THE CLEVELAND BROWNS.

HE SAYS TAKING CARE OF AN ATHLETE'S BODY IS

IMPORTANT FOR FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND DANCERS, BOTH

PROFESSIONAL AND IN TRAINING.

NOW THIS IS PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO ME,

HAVING YOUNG DANCERS AT HOME.

CONTACT ATHLETES SUCH AS FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND OUR

PERFORMING ARTISTS, SUCH AS BALLET DANCERS, PUT AN

INCREDIBLE FORCE ON THEIR BODY DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

THAT FORCE TO JUMP AND MAINTAIN POISE AND POSTURE

DAY IN AND DAY OUT PUTS AN INCREDIBLE STRESS ON THE BODY.

WHILE YOU MAY BE MOVING MORE GRACEFULLY IN BALLET,

THOSE STRESSES ON THE BODY ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT, AND

SO THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN FLEXIBILITY, TO PUT

TOGETHER A PREVENTATIVE PROGRAM IS JUST AS

IMPORTANT IN BOTH SPORTS.

>> LISA: GUADALUPE SAYS IT TAKES MONTHS TO PUT

SOMETHING ON STAGE AS A PRODUCTION.

BUT IT TAKES DECADES FOR A DANCER TO BE TRAINED.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.

THEY JUST SEE THE BEAUTY, THE CURTAIN GOES UP, AND

THEY JUST SEE THE END PRODUCT.

THEY DON'T SEE THE SWEAT AND THE HARD WORK, AND

THAT'S MY HOPE, THAT AS MUCH AS I WILL LIKE THE

AUDIENCE TO ENJOY, WHICH THEY DO ENJOY THE

PERFORMANCE, THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE

ARTISTS GO THROUGH, AND RESPECT THE PROFESSION.

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