Helen Tamiris and How Long Brethren
In her signature work How Long Brethren (1937), a production of the Federal Theatre Project, Helen Tamiris (1905–1966) exposed poverty, injustice, and the hopelessness of unemployed Southern black workers. It was performed to Lawrence Gellert’s “Negro Songs of Protest,” sung by an African American chorus and accompanied by a full orchestra. Dance Observer noted: “It is Tamiris at her best, Tamiris turned back to her jazz rhythms—richer for all her long work with themes of basic social input.” How Long Brethren ran for forty-two performances and won the 1937 award from Dance Magazine for the best group choreography.
In her signature work <em>How Long Brethren</em> (1937), a production of the Federal Theatre Project, Helen Tamiris (1905–1966) exposed poverty, injustice, and the hopelessness of unemployed Southern black workers. It was performed to Lawrence Gellert’s “Negro Songs of Protest,” sung by an African American chorus and accompanied by a full orchestra. <em>Dance Observer</em> noted: “It is Tamiris at her best, Tamiris turned back to her jazz rhythms—richer for all her long work with themes of basic social input.” <em>How Long Brethren</em> ran for forty-two performances and won the 1937 award from <em>Dance Magazine</em> for the best group choreography.