Katherine Dunham News

This past year was filled with exceptional theatrical productions in the St. Louis Arts Community. Nearly every performance in 2022 at STAGES St. Louis, The Muny, The Black Rep and Midnight Company were entertaining with only a few misfires. As a long-time season ticket holder to The Fabulous Fox Theatre and a first-time attendee to New Line Theatre, I had the opportunity to see nearly every theatrical production that was staged in these venues. Instead of compiling a top ten list of best shows, I decided this would be the opportunity to recognize the best work, both performing and technical theater, that I observed in 2022. Without further ado, here are the ten best works on the stages of St. Louis throughout the past year. 

Jacob's Pillow has announced “Jacob's Pillow On Demand,” an array of new digital offerings that will premiere this fall through spring 2023, marking the next stage in the company's development as a year-round crossroads for dance presentation, creation, education, and preservation, both in-person and online.

Hanrahan’s script provides a nostalgic look at St. Louis through the 1900s and the compelling lives of incredibly talented woman. His script is more than just a historic look at some famous St. Louis Women. It is an important lesson in St. Louis Black history, examining the lives of strong African American women who helped shape and improve this world for all women, especially women of color. Laka’s effective portrayal of more than a half-dozen real live artists is due to her ability to disappear into these women, allowing their spirit to inhabit her body. Her versatility allows her to span a century of music performing gospel, jazz, blues, R&B, and rock-and-roll. When she rips into the Music of Tina Turner, Fontella Bass and Ann Peebles at the beginning of the second act, her vocals blow the roof off the theater.

Catherine Russell has a full schedule of performances slated throughout the East Coast and in Europe to finish off the year. Among them include her annual four-night residency at Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center from September 29 through October 2, with two shows nightly.

Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents the 17th Annual DanceAfrica on October 7-8, 2022, at the Moody Performance Hall and the DanceAfrica Festival & Marketplace at Klyde Warren Park on October 8, 2022, in Dallas, Texas.

ST. LOUIS WOMAN honors the enduring legacy of some amazing female artists who put St. Louis on the map with their timeless music, dance and poetry. LAKA will portray legendary artists Josephine Baker, Tina Turner and Katherine Dunham. In her roles she will also present the poetry of Maya Angelou, the song stylings of chart-toppers Fontella Bass and Ann Peebles, and the Gospel classics of the legendary Willie Mae Ford Smith. Most of these women were either born in St. Louis or came here when they were young, with the exception of Katherine Dunham’s who moved here during the height of their career to continue her momentous work. 

Returning to Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival for the first time since 2002, Denver-based modern dance company, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, will perform in the Ted Shawn Theatre from Aug. 17-21, with pieces enriched in emotion, femininity, war, race, and elegance.

The sixth week of the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2022 welcomes New Zealand-based company Black Grace to the Ted Shawn Theatre, from July 27-31.

B. MOORE DANCE returns to the stage, May 27-29, 2022 for exhilarating performances of a World Premiere, i am magic, at Addison Theatre Centre, Friday/Saturday, 8:00 PM and Sunday, 3:00 PM.

The National Arts Club will present the zoom presentation of EYE ON DANCE clips narrated by the archive's creator/producer/host Celia Ipiotis on Thursday, April 28 at 7:30pm.

Broadway choreographer Liza Gennaro will lead a talk and signing for her new book Making Broadway Dance at The Players, a historic membership club in a Gramercy Park South Gothic Revival mansion, on March 2, 2022.

Released on HBO Max kicking off celebration of Black History Month. The documentary traces the origin in Africa and follows the evolution through each decade and genre while exploring and commenting on the political and social influences that shaped the artistry of today.

Jacob’s Pillow has announced the full season lineup for Festival 2022, featuring world premieres, new commissions, 90th Anniversary Season celebrations, Pillow-exclusive engagements, and work developed at the Pillow Lab. 

Ballet Hispánico has announced its School of Dance 2022 summer programs. With programs ranging from early childhood classes through professional studies and professional development for teachers, the Ballet Hispánico School of Dance has multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary dance training for dancers of all ages.

GRAMMY-nominated vocalist Catherine Russell, when asked to characterize her new album, Send For Me, replied, 'I love romance that swings.' Due out on April 1, 2022 via Dot Time Records, Send For Me features a baker's dozen of newly recorded tunes on her eighth album as a leader, meeting a simple exacting standard.

CSUF’s beloved Fall Dance Theatre makes its triumphant return to campus with an eclectic variety of choreography and dance techniques sure to entertain, engage, and provoke. 'Fall Dance Theatre' is presented at 8 pm on November 16, 17, 18, and at 2 pm on November 19 in the Little Theatre.

Ms. Stroud has been on faculty at the Martha Graham School, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, SUNY Purchase and the University of Hartford. She was a Principal Soloist with the Martha Graham Dance Company for eleven years. She has danced with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, the road company of Your Arms Too Short to Box with God, the Universal Studios film production of The Wiz, and as a guest artist with Katherine Dunham and the Gemini Dance Company.

Ballet Hispánico is partnering with DOROT, a New York City-based nonprofit organization creating social connections for older adults, to present a virtual performance and artistic talkback with Rodney Hamilton, Michelle Manzanales, and Melissa Verdecia on Thursday, May 13, 2021 and two virtual movement workshops on Thursdays May 20 and 27, 2021.

JACK has announced the nine artists selected for residencies at JACK. Chosen from an open call that drew 169 submissions, the artists include theater-makers Carolina Đỗ, Kedian Keohan, Drew Drake and Jadele McPherson, designers Itohan Edoloyi and Tuçe Yasak, composers Jaime Lozano and Sugar Vendil, and dance artist Nora Alami. 

Ballet Hispánico is continuing its Community Arts Partnerships with a free virtual Latin Social Dance Class in partnership with Penn State, on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 7:30pm ET. Held over Zoom, the class will be an extension of the Ballet Hispánico 50th Legacy Experience.