I think the race situation is getting better as far as people respecting each other goes. I think the race situation with entertainment is not that much better.
When I did plays in high school and college, I never remember memorizing my lines, but once I had blocking, I had all my lines memorized. Once I had movement associated with words, it was fine. Before I had blocking, it was just text on a page. Once it became embodied, it was much easier.
Choreography is mentally draining, but there's a pleasure in getting into the studio with the dancers and the music.