BWCC: Dancing in the Street (1964)

Berkeley Women's Community Chorus (BWCC) under direction of Debra Golata performs "Dancing in the Street (1964)" by William “Mickey" Stevenson (c. 1940), Ivy Jo Hunter (Detroit, 1940) and Marvin Gaye (Washington D.C. 1939 -- Los Angeles 1984).

Solo: Anushka Drescher

"Dancing...” was first recorded by Martha (Reeves) and the Vandellas and become one of their and “Motown's" signature song. The idea for the song came to Stevenson from watching people on the streets of Detroit cool off in the summer in water from opened fire hydrants. Although produced as an innocent dance single, the song was perceived by some as a civil rights anthem to social change, causing some radio stations to take the song off its play list. When asked if Reeves agreed that "Dancing in the Street” was a call to riot, Reeves responded, “My Lord, it was a party song.” In 2006, it was announced that Martha and the Vandellas' version of “Dancing in the Street” would be one of 50 sound recordings preserved by the Library of Congress to the National Recording Registry. Reeves was thrilled by song's perseverance, saying, "It's a song that just makes you want to get up and dance.”

The performance took place on Sunday, 2015 November 22 at Northbrae Community Church in Berkeley, CA.

Видео BWCC: Dancing in the Street (1964) канала Marek Jeziorek