Pearl Primus

Born :

November 29, 1919

Died :

October 29, 1994

Why do I dance? Dance is my medicine. It’s the scream which eases for a while the terrible frustration common to all human beings who because of race, creed, or color, are ‘invisible’. Dance is the fist with which I fight the sickening ignorance of prejudice.

fighting dance ignorance

The dance is strong magic. The body can fly without wings. It can sing without voice. The dance is strong magic. The dance is life.

dance strong life

I dance not to entertain but to help people better understand each other. Because through dance I have experienced the wordless joy of freedom, I seek it more fully now for my people and for all people everywhere.

freedom dance art