Beyoncé is known for her knock-out performances on grandiose stages. But never before has the “Halo” singer been highlighted on a stage quite like her last: a neon tennis court in Compton.
During the 94th Academy Awards ceremony hosted last Sunday, the 25-time Grammy-award winning artist honored professional tennis duo, sisters Serena and Venus Williams, and their family by performing in their hometown of Compton alongside other women and girls from the community. The city, located in South Los Angeles, is one of the oldest in the county and home to a largely Hispanic and Black population.
The powerful performance resonated with viewers like Jaren Savage, a Compton native and international relations major at USC.
“It’s inspiring to the young people of Compton, including me,” Savage said. “For a long time there’s been a narrative about Compton that you have to make it out to be successful.”
Beyoncé sang “Be Alive,” her Oscar-nominated song from the soundtrack of “King Richard,” a Best-Picture-nominee. The biographical film chronicled Richard Williams’, played by actor Will Smith, journey while raising and training his two athletically gifted daughters. The performance was introduced by Venus and Serena, who served as executive producers on the film.
“In the heart of beautiful Compton, where we truly came alive as professional athletes,” the Williams sisters said in an ESPN interview referencing the setting of the performance.
Located in Tragniew Park, the tennis court is a short distance away from where the Williams sisters grew up and where their tennis careers first began. Beyoncé’s opening was draped in a “tennis ball green” hue, allowing Beyoncé to become one with the court alongside a large formation of female dancers, musicians and their instruments.
The performers moved together in fluid formations while Beyoncé sang lyrics dedicated to the Williams family: ”It feels so good to be alive / Got all my family by my side. Do you know how much we have pride / How hard we have to try?”
Savage was touched by its cultural representation, specifically pointing out the dancers’ braided and beaded hair.
“Shedding light on Compton in the way that Beyoncé did was incredible,” he said. “It felt authentic, which any time you are entering into another culture, authenticity and honoring of people [in the] Black community are truly important.”
At the start of her performance, Beyoncé is surrounded by women and girls, including her daughter Blue Ivy Carter and “King Richard” actresses Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton. Some performers wielded tennis rackets while others rode on horseback through the streets of Compton.
These young equestrians hail from the Compton Jr. Equestrians, a program developed to serve local youth.
“We were able to contribute something that’s going to be long lasting and just seen by a lot of people,” said Jamie Vance, the director of the program. “I feel proud.”
Vance shared that many people are not aware of the farm life within the city and that “these are little pieces of Compton that’ve been often forgotten.”
She said having the youth in her organization featured in the Oscars performance was a wonderful opportunity.
“It actually opened a lot of doors for the children,” Vance said. “They became much more confident after seeing themselves on camera and being in the same room as a legend like Beyoncé.”
Gina Luciani, a USC alum and professional musician, had the opportunity to play flute during the Oscars’ number.
“Honestly, it will forever be a career highlight of mine,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to work with Beyoncé.”
Luciani explained how the video’s vision came directly from Beyoncé herself.
“Just her attention to detail from just looking at the way that the tennis court looks to everybody’s outfits for the performance,” she said. “You could tell she had her personal touch on everything and wanted to make sure everything was perfect.”
Savage said that seeing Compton represented on screen during a major TV broadcast “does work wonders for the community.”
“The Williams sisters mean a lot to Compton, a lot to me and my family,” he said. “Just their relentless pursuit of perfection and success, which they’ve achieved so many times.”