Under These Circumstances: A Choreopoem Workshop with Monica Prince
Step into a revolutionary space where poetry becomes performance, and movement becomes message. “Under These Circumstances: A Choreopoem Workshop with Monica Prince” is more than a writing class—it’s an immersive creative experience, rooted in the tradition of Black femme storytelling, and guided by acclaimed choreopoem scholar and creator, Monica Prince.
This six-week virtual workshop blends poetry, music, dance, art, theatre, and movement to explore stories of justice, resistance, trauma, and healing—all under the current, pressing conditions of our world. If you're a BIPOC writer committed to social equity, community transformation, and bold expression, this workshop is your call to action.
✨ Register now: 👉 Under These Circumstances Workshop
What is a Choreopoem?
First coined in 1975 by Ntozake Shange in her groundbreaking piece For colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf, the choreopoem fuses multiple performance mediums—poetry, movement, song, dance, and visual art—into a unified narrative form.
Traditionally rooted in Black femme storytelling, the choreopoem has evolved into a radical space for unearthing truths, confronting systems of oppression, and breaking intergenerational cycles of trauma.
In today’s global climate—marked by war, injustice, genocide, and climate destruction—the choreopoem becomes a vehicle of liberation, a way to speak pain into power, and silence into transformation.
What to Expect in This Workshop
Led by Monica Prince, this workshop is designed to empower BIPOC voices and guide participants in crafting their own choreopoems.
Over six powerful weeks, you’ll:
🖋 Explore the History of the Choreopoem – Learn its legacy and importance in Black theatre and liberation.
💃 Dive into Performance Theory – Engage your body and voice as a tool for poetic storytelling.
📜 Write & Develop Your Own Choreopoem – Use guided prompts or bring your own source material to craft original pieces.
🎭 Participate in Virtual Readings – Share your work in a safe, affirming space and receive meaningful feedback.
🤝 Build Community – Connect with like-minded BIPOC writers in an affinity space built on trust, healing, and creative expression.
Workshop Logistics
📆 DATES: Six Saturdays beginning April 19th
Sessions: 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, (No class 5/10), 5/17, 5/24, 5/31
🕐 TIME: 1PM EST / 10AM PST
💻 WHERE: Zoom (link provided upon registration)
🌍 WHO: BIPOC participants only – a safe space built for and by the community
💸 COST: Sliding scale $300–$500
Sliding Scale & JEDI Commitment
This course follows a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) pricing model, honoring financial accessibility and wealth redistribution.
Here’s how to choose your rate:
$500 – You are financially stable and able to support others' access to the workshop.
$400 – You can afford essentials, but financial pressure exists.
$300 – You are under- or unemployed, or facing significant financial hardship.
💡 Need more flexibility? Contact us to discuss payment plans, work-trade options, or scholarships.
Who This Workshop Is For
✅ BIPOC-identifying writers, performers, poets, and creatives
✅ Those interested in Black theatre, liberation art, and transformative storytelling
✅ Anyone seeking a radical space to confront trauma and express truth through creative movement
✅ No performance experience required—just an open mind and a willing heart
Conclusion: Reclaim, Resist, Reimagine
“Under These Circumstances” isn’t just about writing—it’s about embodying truth. It’s about dancing with the discomfort, reclaiming stolen stories, and reimagining a world where healing is possible.
Through poetry, movement, and collaboration, you’ll leave this workshop not only with a drafted choreopoem, but with a renewed sense of power, purpose, and community.
✨ Join us, and let your body speak.
👉 Sign up now at We Are Urban Haiku
FAQs
1. Do I need performance experience to join?
No! Performance experience is encouraged but not required. You’ll be guided through all aspects of movement and expression.
2. Is this only for poets?
Not at all. Writers of all genres—including prose, essays, plays, and experimental forms—are welcome.
3. Can I bring my own writing to work with?
Yes! You’re encouraged to bring your own source material (poems, short stories, personal essays, etc.), or you can generate new work using our prompts.
4. Is the workshop in-person or virtual?
The workshop takes place online via Zoom, making it accessible to participants across the globe.
5. Why is this workshop only for BIPOC?
We are committed to centering and uplifting underrepresented voices. This BIPOC-only space creates a safe, culturally affirming environment for deep creative work.
