Katherine Dunham News

Tonight, July 12th, 6-7pm, International Goodwill Cultural Ambassador/performing artist Ronald Rand will be joined by legendary film star Brian Cox, stage and screen actress Nicole Ansari, one of America's greatest sculptors Carolyn D. Palmer, singer extraordinaire Julie Budd, Encompass New Opera Theatre artistic director Nancy Rhodes, Broadway and film director Michael Pressman, historian Louise Hirschfeld, and legendary portrait painter Everett Raymond Kinstler for an exciting panel discussion about creativity in film, theater, music and art at Barnes & Noble-Union Square, 33 East 17th Street, NYC.

In 1994 Disney's animated feature The Lion King was the cartoon movie that broke barriers and was popular with adults and children. With its textual references to William Shakespeare's HAMLET, this age old tale is one that no one needs to go in depth about. In July of 1997, Julie Taymor along with original cartoon creatives Elton John and Tim Rice debuted a Broadway bound music that was sure to revolutionize storytelling. Now 20 years on the boards this lavish musical continues to inspire, empower and entertain. With authentic and visceral musical arrangements by Lebo M, THE LION KING is a theatrical jewel that gleams brightly representing the essence of the Motherland- Africa.

On July 12th, 6-7pm - International Goodwill Cultural Ambassador/performing artist Ronald Rand will be joined by legendary film star Brian Cox, stage and screen actress Nicole Ansari, one of America's greatest sculptors Carolyn D. Palmer, singer extraordinaire Julie Budd, Encompass New Opera Theatre artistic director Nancy Rhodes, Broadway and film director Michael Pressman, historian Louise Hirschfeld, and legendary portrait painter Everett Raymond Kinstler for an exciting panel discussion about creativity in film, theater, music and art at Barnes & Noble-Union Square, 33 East 17th Street, NYC.

BAX is proud to welcome 2017-18 Artists in Residence (AIR) and Space Grant recipients. This group of artists embodies a vision, promise, and deep commitment to investigative practices in line with their and BAX's core values. Together, we are making space for bold and challenging work that asks deep questions about our ever-changing world and our place in this world.

On Friday, June 9th, 2017, 5-7pm — a Special Book Event for “CREATE! How Extraordinary People Live To Create and Create To Live” — a new book by best-selling author, Ronald Rand — will be held at The Drama Book Shop, 250 West 40 Street in New York City. 

Actor/singer/writer/director Clarke Peters first debuted FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE in the United Kingdom in 1990. Two years later it premiered on Broadway and ran for 445 performances. Over the last several years, FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE has been produced across the United States and the United Kingdom. On May 19, a refreshed version of FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE premiered at the Ebony Repertory Theatre in Los Angeles. I caught up with Peters to talk about the production, Louis Jordan and whether LA will ever become a "theatre city."

Ma-Yi Theater Company and Producing Artistic Director, Ralph B. Peña and Executive Director, Jorge Z. Ortoll have announced the 28th Anniversary Gala honoring legendary prima ballerina of Ballet Philippines and Alvin Ailey Dance Company, Elizabeth Roxas Dobrish, and creators and patrons of the arts, Frank and Lolita Valderrama Savage.

The City College Center for the Arts (CCCA) presents "Truth to Power," featuring Onaje Allan Gumbs and Trio Plus, at Aaron Davis Hall on Friday, April 28. The musicians will be joined by special guest artists Nana Camille Yarbrough and Mem Nahadr for the 7 p.m. concert. 

Dance Resource Center, the service organization that is the hub and voice for Greater Los Angeles dance, is pleased to announce the third programmatic year of HOME GROWN @ Bootleg.

As part of its' second annual American Dance Platform, The Joyce Theater has been showcasing eight of America's most captivating dance companies over the past week. This year's platform was curated by Alicia B. Adams, VP of International Programming and Dance at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. I again had the opportunity to attend another performance on Friday, January 6, 2017. The evening featured a double bill with dances by Lucky Plush Productions and the Dallas Black Dance Theatre.

Join host Christine Jowers,  Editor of The Dance Enthusiast and Caribbean artists, Candace Thompson (Trinidad & Tobago), Nelida Tirado (Puerto Rico), Nadia Dieudonne (Haiti), and  Davalois Fearon (Jamaica) for a stellar evening of performance & conversation as they introduce us to a one-of-a kind insider experience into the beauty and complexity of Caribbean culture and performance. 

Join host Christine Jowers,  Editor of The Dance Enthusiast and Caribbean artists, Candace Thompson (Trinidad & Tobago), Nelida Tirado (Puerto Rico), Nadia Dieudonne (Haiti), and  Davalois Fearon (Jamaica) for a stellar evening of performance & conversation as they introduce us to a one-of-a kind insider experience into the beauty and complexity of Caribbean culture and performance. 

After four successful Enthusiastic Events!, The Dance Enthusiast is thrilled to announce the 5th Enthusiastic Events! event:  Dance: Island to Island-Moving Caribbean in New York City, Wednesday November 16, 6:15 PM to 9 (nibblies before and after; performance at 7 PM) at Gibney Dance, 280 Broadway (entrance at 53A Chambers Street).   Enthusiastic Events! is proud to partner with PANK Elephant Catering, who will be providing tasty delicacies from all over the Caribbean chain.   The event follows four successful previous Enthusiastic Events! in which The Dance Enthusiast celebrated the relationship of dance to other important fields: the world of design and fashion, the world of empowing thought and action, the world of visual art and, most recently, the landscape of dance on Broadway versus concert dance versus Reality TV.   

Strengthening its role as a center for artist research and development, Jacob's Pillow Dance announces an active, year-round season with its expanded 2016-2017 Creative Development Residency program. This season brings new additions to the program including two technical residencies, cross-genre collaborations, and invited audiences of college students, as well as a diverse roster of 10 artist residencies, the Pillow's largest residency season yet.

There's not much one can say when you look at the resume of Ben Vereen. I have to admit I thought the email to interview Mr. Vereen was a hoax or a vile trick someone was playing on me. Now the reason I say this is because he is one of my idols and reasons I studied musical theatre in college and left to go to NYC to work professionally. We are familiar with his work with Bob Fosse as the Leading Player in PIPPIN and as Judas in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR but Mr. Vereen still continues to give us the ole razzle dazzle on the stage and on the screen. He's starred in 9 Broadway shows, has received the coveted Antionette Perry Award (The Tony), a Drama Desk Award, and a Prism Award. Nominated for an NAACP Image Award, starred in 30 plus movies and television shows, and has a huge crossover career. Ben Vereen hit the scene in Martha Graham's PRODIGAL SON in 1965 and he's been working ever since. I had the esteemed pleasure to sit and talk about his illustrious career and the current projects he's working on currently.

Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director Devon Carney today announced the appointment of April Berry as the new Community Engagement and Education Manager. 

In her work, Simone Leigh (b. 1968, Chicago, IL) demands that the concerns, roles, and rights of women of color be recognized as central, rather than pushed to the margins. Taking into account a history of social inequality that has necessitated community-organized care, traditionally provided by women, “Simone Leigh: The Waiting Room” considers the possibilities of disobedience, desire, and self-determination as they manifest in resistance to an imposed state of deferral and debasement.

On May 24, The Lorraine Hansberry Awards, presented by Goodman Theatre Resident Director Chuck Smith and Woodie King, Jr., New Federal Theatre Artistic Director, will honor five women: Micki Grant, Lynn Hamilton, Shauneille Perry, Dr. Glory Van Scott and Camille Yarbrough.

Olga El is a writer, director, and performance activist based in New York City. Her company, The Kandake Dance Theatre for Social Change, uses dance traditions from around the world to create socially relevant work and engage audiences and communities. This year is The Kandake's fifth anniversary, so I decided to ask Olga some questions about the company's unique foundations and where she thinks it may be headed in the future.

In a time when the very foundation of the African-American community has been rocked by police brutality and racism renewed with a vengeance, we need something to uplift and inspire us. This holiday season, that something is Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 45th annual residency at New York City Center.