Instead of using words and ideas to tell a story, Joan Frosch prefers to use feet.
“Nora,” a film produced by Frosch, a UF professor of dance and director for the Center for World Arts, will make its U.S. broadcast television debut tonight.
The film, based on the real-life stories of Zimbabwe-born dancer Nora Chipaumire, aired on PBS World’s “AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange” at 7 p.m. and midnight.
The film illustrates Chipaumire’s childhood experiences growing up in Zimbabwe.
It portrays her life during the Rhodesian Bush War, also known as the Zimbabwe War of Liberation, through dance and performance.
Frosch first became intrigued with Chipaumire’s tale while producing and directing her film “Movement (R)evolution Africa: a story of an art form in four acts.”
“I remember being in our dance studios downstairs, and when Nora walked into the room, the room stood still,” Frosch said. “She has such an enormous presence that there was just no taking your eyes off of her for anyone in her room.”
Following “Movement (R)evolution Africa,” Frosch said that she wanted to focus on just one artist and his or her story.
She decided to make Chipaumire the subject.
“I know that Joan has been working on this for many years,” UF School of Theatre and Dance associate professor Paul Favini said. “I’m so glad it’s getting the recognition.”
Tom Davison, director of American Public Television Presentations, worked on “AfroPoP” and said its goal is to communicate the African American experience to the U.S., something that “Nora” exhibits.
“It’s a really unique look at something that’s not usually accessible to audiences,” he said. “’Nora’ is almost a visual poem piece. The actual production values of the film are excellent. This type of story telling is really hypnotic. The history of Nora’s life tells what the country was going through.”
