First presented in E-Moves in 2004, celebrated director and choreographer Camille A. Brown curates works by associate choreographers in her theater and commercial work who are pursuing their own careers in the field — Chloe Davis, Juel D. Lane, Mayte Natalio, Rickey Tripp, and Maleek Washington. Brown will also present Turf featuring her “tour de force” (The New York Times) company, Camille A. Brown & Dancers. Thank you for joining us for this special evening of dance celebrating the conclusion of Harlem Stage’s 40th Anniversary Season!
The Memorial
Choregraphed by Chloe Davis
Sugar Hill
Choregraphed by Mayte Natalio
SHE
Choregraphed by Juel D. Lane
Breakthrough
Choregraphed by Maleek Washington
that lady, part 1
Choregraphed by Rickey Tripp
Turf (An excerpt from ink)
Choregraphed by Camille A. Brown
*Please note that strobe lighting effects will be used during this evening’s performance
Thank you so much for joining me tonight. I am thrilled and honored to be a part of Harlem Stage’s 40th anniversary season.
Harlem Stage has been a champion of my work for 20 years. In 2004, I was 24 and presenting one of my earliest works, Shelter Of Presence, for their E-Moves series. Since then, they have been strong advocates for my work as I developed as an artist. What better way to express my gratitude than to pay it forward and present the work of choreographers who have also supported my endeavors. They are my dear friends and I’m so proud to call them my community. This past season has been a wonderful celebration of their work that expands from Broadway, opera, and beyond. I am so proud of everything they are doing and thrilled to create this platform.
Thank you for coming, enjoy the show, and Cheers and gratitude to Harlem Stage!
—Camille A. BrownThis program is supported, in part, by the Mellon Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Diana King Memorial Fund presented by the Charles and Lucille King Family Foundation, the Mertz-Gilmore Foundation, and the Harkness Foundation for Dance.
Four Time Tony Award® nominee CAMILLE A. BROWN, currently nominated for her choreography in Hells Kitchen on Broadway, is a prolific Black female choreographer who in 2022, made her Broadway directorial debut for the Broadway revival of for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf, making her the first Black woman to direct and choreograph a Broadway play since Katherine Dunham in 1955. The production received seven Tony Award nominations including Best Direction of a Play and Best Choreography for Brown. The New York Times proclaimed the production “triumphant.” The same season, at The Metropolitan Opera, Camille became the first Black artist to direct a mainstage production, co-directing alongside James Robinson on Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones (2021), which she also choreographed. Fire was triumphantly brought back to the MET again this 2024 spring season. Camille also choreographed Porgy & Bess in 2020 and Terence Blanchard’s Champion, which premiered April 2023, both at The MET Opera. Camille made her Broadway choreography debut with A Streetcar Named Desire, followed by Once on This Island, followed by Choir Boy for MTC. She continues to be the artistic director and choreographer for her own company, Camille A Brown and Dancers.
Her trilogy on race culture and identity has won accolades: Mr. TOL E. RAncE (2012) was honored with a 2014 Bessie Award and a 2023 Bessie award nomination for Outstanding Revival; BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play (2015) was Bessie-nominated; and ink (2017) premiered at The Kennedy Center to critical acclaim.
Brown’s film and TV work includes Harlem (2022) (Amazon Prime), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix); Emmy award winning Jesus Christ Superstar Live (NBC); New Year’s Eve in Rockefeller Center (NBC), Google Arts & Culture (ink).
Brown has received numerous awards including ISPA’s 2021 Distinguished Artist, 2020 Dance Magazine Award, 2020 Emerson Collective Fellow, Guggenheim, Doris Duke Artist, Dance Magazine, United States Artists, Audelco, Princess Grace Statue Award, Jacob’s Pillow Award, and New York City Center, USA Jay Franke & David Herro Fellow, TED fellow, Kennedy Center’s Next 50. Other awards include a Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellowship 2017 and the 2020 Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Choreography.
Most recently, Brown won the Chita Rivera Award for outstanding choreography and earned a Drama Desk nomination and her fourth Tony Award nomination for her choreography of the Broadway hit, Hell’s Kitchen, the new Alicia Keys musical which has garnered 13 Tony Award nominations.
This summer her company, will premiere a new piece, the highly anticipated I AM at Jacobs Pillow. This Fall, she will return to Broadway for the Broadway revival of Gypsy — directed by George C. Wolfe and starring Audra McDonald.
Performed by Winston Dynamite Brown, Richard Glover, Lindsey Jolyn Jackson, Raven McRae, Teneise Mitchell Ellis, Kimberli Render & Erica Spyers
The Memorial is an artistic expression that honors the traditions, emotions, healing process, vulnerability, and yes, celebration, an individual and/or community experiences after someone has passed. It is the Omega service—a funeral, a sacred gathering, and/or ritual cleanse that honors our beloved who have transitioned. As a choreographer, I wish to create an universal memorial that will provide a compassionate and therapeutic outlet to streamline the emotions we digest, but, most importantly, I hope this work will provide the supportive community we can lean on to find love, gentle care, and most importantly, our joy. At this performance at Harlem Stage, I will present an excerpt of the evening length work, The Memorial
A Celebration. A Healing. An Awakening.
“Conjure up a celebration that echoes songs that are soulful, praise that is worthy, poetry that is melodic, music that is anointment, ritual candles lighting the connection to the divine, cries that jump start the healing, shouts that release the pain, claps that ignite the culture, hums that bless the emotions, moans that ask for love...and silence that centers the soul.”
-ChloeO. Davis, Director and Choreographer of The Memorial
CHLOE O. DAVIS is a choreographer, performer, and author. Her recent choreography credits include: Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC); A New Brain (Barrington Stage Company); Ain’t Misbehavin’ (The REV Theatre Company); My Tribute to Black Broadway and Black Choreographers (The Muny); Broadway Bares (Hammerstein Ballroom); Paradise Square (Broadway, Associate Choreographer); for colored girls (The Public, Associate Choreographer); and Harlem (Amazon, Assistant Choreographer). Chloe is a Drama Desk Award Winner for Outstanding Choreography and winner of The Award by Broadway Black for Best Choreography. Some of her favorite performance credits include: Hell’s Kitchen (Broadway); Paradise Square (Broadway); Porgy and Bess and Champion (Metropolitan Opera); Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix);
Harlem (Amazon); Uprooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance (HBO); Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (NBC); Camille A. Brown and Dancers; and PHILADANCO. Chloe will choreograph the smashing hit musical Waitress at The Muny this summer and is developing an evening length choreographic work called, The Memorial. She is also the author of The Queens’ English, The LGBTQIA+ Dictionary of Lingo and Colloquial Phrases.
WINSTON DYNAMITE BROWN a native of Kansas City, Missouri, Dynamite has had the pleasure of working with companies such as Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Co., Deeply Rooted Productions, Albany Berkshire Ballet, The Metropolitan Opera (most recently AIDA, ONEGIN, and Fire Shut Up in My Bones), TU Dance, CorbinDances, Irish Modern Dance Theatre (IMDT), Ben Munisteri Dance Projects, Taylor 2. He has also worked with Dance Heginbotham, Owen/Cox Dance Group, Pilobolus, Sean CurranCo., Opera Theater St. Louis, Kyle Abraham/A.I.M, and Stephanie Batten Bland Co. Dynamite is honored to be a current member of Camille A. Brown & Dancers. Dynamite is thrilled to be the Associate Choreographer for the new 2024 production of El Niño that premiered early 2024 at The Met Opera. Currently, Dynamite is working on producing classes/series, workshops, new works, and repertoire for The DynamitExperience, a dance company he co-created and co-directs with his wife, Latra Ann Wilson.
RICHARD GLOVER is from Brooklyn, NY, where he began his training at the Brooklyn Music School. He then went on to study at Dance Theatre of Harlem, followed by The School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center, both on full scholarship. Mr. Glover began his professional career at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater dancing in The Four Temperaments, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and Serenade. He danced with Colorado Ballet in Denver, performing in ballets such as The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Giselle, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Dracula, and a world premiere by choreographer Rennie Harris. Richard also danced with several companies in London, including performances at English National Ballet and The Royal Opera House. He also appeared in a music video for music artist
Asgeir, choreographed by Celia Rowlson-Hall. Richard recently served as Ballet Master and Company Manager at Brooklyn Ballet as well as Director of Programs at DanceLab NY. Along with freelance performing, Richard teaches, coaches and choreographs at various schools and companies including New York University, Joffrey Ballet, Mark Morris, Martha Graham and Juilliard.
LINDSEY JOLYN JACKSON is a Los Angeles, CA native. BA: Fordham University. M.S.Ed.: University of Pennsylvania. M.S. University of Massachusetts. 2008 Lorna Strassler Award. The Lion King (Broadway); Lula Washington Dance Theater; PHILADANCO. Cohost of First Comes Love Then Comes Marriage Podcast. Glory to God. Thanks to my family and friends for your support. I love you Aaron, Jack Major, Action Major, Shine Major, Liv Major and Christmas.
RAVEN MCRAE is a passionate NYC native and creative. After Graduating from LaGuardia Arts, she danced with Ballet Hispanico ll. Soon after she made her Broadway debut in Motown the Musical and later became an original cast member of Cirque du Soleil’s first Broadway show Paramour. Raven also starred as Dream Laurey in DCPA’S Oklahoma and also served as associate choreographer of Goddess the Musical which ran in Berkeley Rep Theatre, CA. She is the creative director of The Truth Project (a faith based art initiative). Raven uses her gifts and creativity to spread light in the world.
TENEISE MITCHELL ELLIS a Chesapeake, VA native, made her Broadway debut in Wicked the Musical in 2017. She performed six seasons as a Radio City Rockette in The Christmas Spectacular, and The New York Spectacular. Teneise has been seen in a host of dancecompanies including: Philadanco, Camille A. Brown and Dancers, Bad Boys Of Dance, and Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago II. She also hit the stage with music icon Beyoncé, and hip hop mogul, Nas. She has been seen on popular television shows such as Saturday Night Live, Jimmy Fallon, Project Runway, The Today Show, and The Chew and she had the privilege of performing on the 2022 Tony Awards. She most recently starred in her first independent short film, Keep the Change, directed by Edford Banuel and When it Rains, directed by Mark K. Buddington. Teneise is a dedicated wife, and believes her greatest accomplishment is being a mother of her two beautiful little girls, Jordan and Naomi
KIMBERLI RENDER made her Off-Broadway debut as a Swing in the Lincoln Center Theater’s critically acclaimed premier of Intimate Apparel, opera by Ricky Ian Gordon, libretto by Lynn Nottage and directed by Bartlett Sher. Ms. Render made her Metropolitan Opera debut as a featured chorus soloist in the GRAMMY award winning production of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Roles include Liu in Turandot (Puccini), Donna Anna in Don Giovanni (Mozart), Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow (Lehar), Elisetta in Il matrionio segreto (Cimarosa), the Governess in Turn of the Screw (Britten), and Lucinda in Into the Woods (Sondheim). Cover roles include Louise/Betty in the recent revival of X: The Life and Times of Malcom X, Leah in Southern Crossings (Jabri), Marguerite in Faust, and Micaela in Carmen. Ms. Render’s career includes solo, concert, ensemble, and chorus work. As an extra-chorister in the Metropolitan Opera, she has been seen in Turandot, Die Meistersinger, Boris Gudanov, and Fire Shut Up in My Bones. Concert engagements include Coronation Mass, Rossini Stabat Mater and Bach’s Magnificat under the baton of the world-renowned conductor, Helmuth Rilling. Ms. Render completed a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance at Colorado State University and two Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance at Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music.
ERICA SPYERS is an actor, singer, and violinist who has been lauded by the Boston Globe for her “uncommon versatility”. On Broadway, she originated the role of Amelia Tiggens in Paradise Square, and performed as ensemble, Julie, and Carrie in Carousel (2018 revival). Tours include Ex-Girlfriend in the 1st National Tour of Once and as a soloist with the Boston Pops. Internationally, she appeared as Clara in the Parisian premiere of Sondheim’s Passion opposite Natalie Dessay conducted by Andy Einhorn at the Théâtre du Châtelet. She has soloed with several orchestras including the Boston Pops, Midland Symphony Orchestra, Springfield Symphony Orchestra, South Dakota Symphony, Viennese Opera Ball, Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra, and The Video Game Orchestra. Erica can be heard in Schmigadoon, Last Week Tonight, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and on Sondheim Unplugged Vol. 1 & 2. In 2021, she was commissioned to produce her own cinematic cabaret, Daydreamer’s Carnival, for The Lyric Stage Company of Boston. Erica has received an Elliot Norton Award for Tribes and IRNE Awards for The Light in the Piazza, Avenue Q, and Camelot. In addition to performing, Erica loves coaching high schoolers for My College Audition, and enjoys exploring NYC with her husband, Drew, and cat, Bastian.
Performed by Miki Michelle, Donovan Reed & Gianna Theodore Music by Bill Withers, Nina Simone, Black Science Orchestra, The Trammps Sound Design by Bryan Natalio
MAYTE NATALIO is from NYC and has had a versatile career as a performer and choreographer. She has performed and toured with the Parson’s Dance Company, Camille A. Brown and Dancers, Kyle Abraham’s A.I.M, Darrell Moultrie and toured pop stars Mylene Farmer and Kanye West. Favorite TV/Film credits include, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon), The Get Down (Netflix), NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix) and Harlem (Prime). Favorite regional credits include Stagger Lee and Hair (Dallas Theater Center) and Aida (Ogunquit Playhouse) and Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical (A.C.T). Off-Broadway credits include the immersive hit Queen of the Night and Third Rail Project’s The Grand Paradise. Select Choreography credits include The Winter’s Tale (Public Works/ Dallas Theater Center), Into the Woods (Barrington Stage), Love in Hate Nation (Two River Theater) Measure for Measure (Public Theater/ Mobile Unit), Hair (The Old Globe), Kiss My Aztec (Hartford Stage), How To Dance In Ohio (Syracuse Stage & Broadway) and Suffs (Broadway).
Pause for a moment. Take a deep breath. Yes, right now! Inhale slowly for four counts, hold for four, then exhale for four. Feel more grounded? Great. Thanks for being here and engaging with my bio (smile).
I’m a multifaceted artist devoted to heart-centered connections and illuminating love through embodied awareness. From solo backpacking worldwide to
studying with Indigenous tribes in the Amazon, I enrich my life to deepen my artistic expression. It’s my joy to simply BE, to share & connect, and to move closer to freedom through it!
Some credits include Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Jon Batiste, Coldplay, commercials for Apple, GAP, and Fabletics, Netflix’s The Get Down, performances at The Metropolitan Opera, and work with Camille A. Brown & Dancers.
Whether on global/local stages, TV/film, or workshops, I aim to spread light, connect authentically, and inspire others to do the same.
I wonder, what sets your heart ablaze?
DONOVAN REED (They/Them) is a New York based dance artist. They are currently a dancer with A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, and most recently named one of Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch 2024.
GIANNA THEODORE fostered her love for dance in West Palm Beach Florida, at Ballet East (formerly known as Susan Lyle Studios). She later went on to graduate from A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts where she trained in Ballet, Horton, and Compsition. Soon after, she moved to New York City, and obtained her BFA in dance with the A iley School/Fordham University. While training in school, Gianna worked part-time as a freelance artist, performing with Helen Simoneau Danse, Mark Caserta, Ebony Williams, and Maleek Washington. In 2019, she joined Kyle Abraham’s A.I.M, and has been touring and performing with the company since. Dancing and creating has allowed Gianna’s love for choreographing to grow. She is a recent Artist in Residence with Chez Bushwick and MOTIVE Brooklyn, and continues to be a collaborator and movement director throughout her artistic journey.
SHE
BY JUEL D. LANEPerformed by Gabrielle Loren
Rehearsal coach Francine Ott
Music composition by Leo Ra Soul
Contributing lyricist Chi Ife
Music contains elements from Zhané, Sending My Love.
“A love letter to Black women!”
Special thanks to my Mama, Camille A. Brown, Rachel Sherertz, Francine Ott, Adrienne Abdus- Salaam and in remembrance of Kenya Griffin.
JUEL D. LANE is a renaissance artist known for his boundless creativity. Dance Magazine named him one of their “25 to Watch,” and he has performed with renowned companies like Ronald K. Brown/Evidence and Camille A. Brown & Dancers. Lane’s captivating works have graced prestigious companies including Ailey II, Dallas Black Dance Theater, Carolyn Dorfman, Atlanta Ballet, and numerous universities. Lane is an executive artistic associate at the Black Acting Methods Studio, where he continues to inspire others. As a passionate lover of dance films, Juel D. Lane has been honored as a Bronzelens Film Festival award winner for his remarkable film The Maestro, which pays homage to the iconic Ernie Barnes. Lane recently co-directed and choreographed the music video “Only-1” with Roc Nation artist Dixson. Follow @jueldlane for more.
GABRIELLE LOREN is a professional dancer, educator, and rehearsal director whose calling is to provide every individual she encounters with the tools to attain their goals. Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, she received her BFA in Contemporary Dance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. After graduation, she joined the Bessie Award-winning Abby Z & the New Utility, where she performed on main stages at the Jacob’s Pillow Festival and New York City Live Arts. She was also hand-picked as one of seven dancers to perform in Paris, France at the American Center for Arts and Culture. Gabrielle led the foundational team responsible for introducing dance as a core group fitness class at both NYC locations of Chelsea Piers Fitness. Additionally, she served as the Artistic Associate at Dorill Initiative; a non-profit arts organization founded by one of her dearest friends. She has had the opportunity to perform works by Stephen Shynes, Kayla Farrish, and Nicole Mannarino at venues such as Lincoln Center, Triskelion Arts, and Judson Memorial Church, while also assisting with and staging works at universities by the internationally recognized choreographer, Juel D. Lane.
A native New Yorker MALEEK WASHINGTON is a performer, choreographer, and teaching artist at Broadway Dance Center. Previously Maleek has worked with Sia, Kyle Abraham, Rihanna, ASAP Rocky and currently works as a collaborator with Camille A Brown and Dancers. While also creating an extensive career as a teaching artist Washington has taught at Joffrey jazz and contemporary, Boston conservatory, LaGuardia High School for performing arts, Bard College, Move NYC, and NYU Tisch to name a few.
With multidisciplinary, experiential performance works that investigate the people, practices, and spaces shaping Washington’s black identity, he is proud to present his art in 2017 at the Boston Dance Festival, Pepatian and BAAD!, Periapsis Dance and Music Noesis, and at the legendary Movement Research at Judson Church in Spring 2018. Washington is also a 2017-18 Dancing While Black top 10 choreographic finalist. Gibney granted Mr. Washington an evening length show in 2019. Currently Maleek is honored to be nominated for a 2021 Bessie Award for “Outstanding Breakout Choreographer”. He was named a 2022 Princess Grace award winner for choreography and recently 2023 Bessie nominee for “Outstanding Performer”.
ELYSE S. MORRIS, (dancer/poet/humanitarian) is a native of Brooklyn, NY. She holds a MPH from NYU School of Public Health (2018) and a B.A. in Dance Performance from Goucher College (2010). She is also a graduate of LaGuardia High School of Music and Art & Performing Arts. Elyse has studied at Ballet Hispanico, The Alvin Ailey School, The School at Jacob’s Pillow, Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet School and Springboard Danse Montreal. Receiving a scholarship from her alma mater, she had the privilege to study the history and performance of contemporary and traditional dance in Brazil at the Universidade de Rio de Janeiro, Escola de Angel Vianna, and El Centro de Movimento de Deborah Colker.
Elyse is a former dancer of the The Seán Curran Company and former dancer/ collaborator with A.I.M by Kyle Abraham with whom she completed several national and international tours from 2010-2013. Throughout her dance career, she has performed works by artists such as Sylvain Emard, Alanna Kraaijeveld, Robert Battle, Thaddeus Davis & Tanya Wideman-Davis, Larry Keigwin, Heather McArdle, Robert Moses, Troy Powell and Nathan Trice. Beyond dance performance, Elyse has taught youth and adults ballet and modern dance, and served as Artistic Director of Reflections Dance, a local faith-based dance collective from 2011-2019. As a poet, Elyse shares her work regularly at Brooklyn Poets and is currently developing her first poetic anthology. She is deeply grateful to be returning to the dance stage and credits God for all her artistic and academic success!
DYMON SAMARA is a process-driven dancer, choreographer, and performer. Dymon is a New World School of the Arts alum where she holds the Principals Hall of Fame Award for her outstanding academic and arts performance. She is a Dean Scholar’s graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts where she holds a BFA in Dance and Minor in Sociology. Dymon has performed works by choreographers such as: Ohad Naharin, Peter London, Kyle Abraham, Camille A. Brown, Stephen Petronio and was fortunate enough to apprentice with Ronald K. Brown’s Evidence A Dance Company. Dymon Samara is a former company member of A.I.M by Kyle Abraham and recently made her Lyric Opera debut in the production of “Champion” and Met Opera debut in the production of “El Niño”. Dymon Samara is now rediscovering her gift as a freelance artist.
NYU’s MARCUS WILLIAMS, of Dallas, Texas, is a previous company member with Ailey 2, Philadanco, and The Phantom of The Opera (Asia World Tour). He performed Fire Shut Up In My Bones under the choreographic direction of Camille Brown at The MET Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago. He has taught at Steps on BroadwayBallet Hispanico, Dance Theatre of Harlem, The Ailey School, Open Doors Academy, Ailey Extension, and I.M. Terrell Academy as well as choreographed works for Ailey 2, Lincoln Center Stage, and the Ailey School. He is a current company member with Lion King on Broadway.
As a work in progress, that lady, part 1 is a part of a larger gesture and moment dedicated to my dear Granny, Bernice Crain, and the women who had a hand in shaping the man I am today and forever will be.
RICKEY TRIPP is a director and choreographer with credits that include: RENT, Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Choreographer: A Raisin in the Sun (Public Theater, NYC) Kinky Boots (Broadway at Music Circus), X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X (Detroit Opera, Opera Omaha), RENT (Signature Theater). A Wonderful World, World Premiere (Miami New Drama). TV/Film: The Roll Call: The Roots to Strange Fruit NBT (EMMY Nominated), Eileen (Universal Pictures) Sundance Film Festival 2023, A Thousand and One (Universal Pictures) Sundance Film Festival U.S. Grand Jury Prize 2023. Encore! (Disney). Faculty for Immersive Artist Experience and a Zena Rommett Floor-Barre® Technique, Certified Mentor. B.A. in Dance, San Jose State University. (he series)
JOSHUA DAWSON is an accomplished dancer, singer, and actor at the young age of 22 years old. He began his dance training at Dancerz Stage in Charlotte, NC under his mentor Treshawn Brown. He later continued his training at Havilah Dance Company in Matthews, NC. At the age of 12, he had the amazing opportunity to perform with Debbie Allen in the Award-Winning Musical “Brothers of the Knight.” Joshua has also danced for the NBA as a member of the Hive Hip Hop Crew and appeared in music videos for Christy Altomare and Todrick Hall. Most recently he has appeared in the World Premiere of the Sugar Hill Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker directed by Josh Bergasse, Jelly’s Last Jam for Encores! at The New York City Center, and NBC Upfronts directed by Shannon Lewis. He currently lives in New York City where he just graduated Summa Cum Laude from Pace University with a BFA in Commercial Dance and a minor in Arts & Entertainment Management.
ABDULLAH IBRAHIM · ADAM W. SADBERRY
ALEXANDER DAVIS · AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE
BERTHA HOPE · BILL T. JONES/ARNIE ZANE COMPANY
BOBBY MORGAN · BORA YOON · CAMILLE A. BROWN
CARL HANCOCK RUX · CHLOE DAVIS · CRAIG HARRIS
DAFNIS PRIETO · DANIEL FETECUA · DAVID VALBUENA
DJ SABINE BLAIZIN (OYASOUND) · FEI-FEI
FLOR DE TOLOACHE · GEORGE EMILIO SANCHEZ
HANNAH LEMMONS AKA LEMMONS · IAN ISIAH
JAMES BLASZKO · JASON MORAN · JOANNE BRACKEEN
JOSÉ JAMES · JOYA POWELL · JUEL D. LANE
KALÍ RODRÍGUEZ-PEÑA · KIMBERLY NICHOLE
LUCIANA SOUZA · MALEEK WASHINGTON
MARY PRESCOTT · MATTHEW WHITAKER
MAYTE NATALIO · MICAH THOMAS · NORA CHIPAUMIRE
PABLO MAYOR’S FOLKLORE URBANO ORCHESTRA
PATTY ORTIZ · RICKEY TRIPP · RODERICK GEORGE
RONALD K. BROWN/EVIDENCE
SHANTELLE COURVOISIER JACKSON · STEW
SUN HAN GUILD · TAMAR-KALI · URBAN BUSH WOMEN
VIJAY IYER · YASSER TEJEDA · YUNIYA EDI KWON
AN EXCERPT FROM ink BY
CAMILLE A. BROWNPerformed by Dorse Brown & Eric Parra
Turf is an excerpt from Camille A. Brown’s ink which celebrates the rituals, gestural vocabulary, and traditions that remain ingrained within the lineage of the African Diaspora and reclaims African-American narratives by showcasing their authenticity. The work examines the culture of Black life that is often appropriated, rewritten, or silenced. Turf is the response illustrating the Black male rite of passage propelled by “the dab.” Two innocents are hit with the reality of navigating being Black Men in America while protecting one another through it all.
Maleek Washington & Timothy Edwards performing the TURF duet from ink
Photo by Christopher Duggan
At the age of 7, Dorse Brown began his dance career in his hometown of Little Rock, AR. He graduated from the University of Memphis with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and a minor in Dance. While training, Brown received a Young Artist Talent Scholarship to attend the American Dance Festival and also had the opportunity to appear and compete on the 5th season of the television show, So You Think You Can Dance. He is so honored to have trained and danced with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company in Dayton, Ohio from 2011- 2015. After Dayton, Brown performed as an Aerialist while being a hip-hop soloist with Royal Caribbean Cruise line. Brown also completed a Specialty Performer contract with Cirque Dreams Productions on Norwegian Cruise Lines. He was selected for the 14th Annual Bronzlens Film Festival as a Film Director/Performer, and for the Emerging Black Choreographer Incubator presented by Mojuba Dance Collective. He has performed with the Metropolitan Opera for their productions of Fire Shut Up In My Bones and X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. Currently, he’s entering his third season with Camille A. Brown and Dancers.
Eric Parra is a first-generation Colombian-American artist from Union City, NJ. He graduated from Montclair State University with a BFA in Dance Performance. Eric has danced for Carolyn Dorfman Dance, Earl Mosley’s Diversity of Dance, Von Howard Project, and Doug Elkins Choreography, etc. among others. Television/film credits: POSE on FX, Easter at Crossroads by Crossroads Church, Unconquered by Earl Mosley, WILD: Act 1 by The Black Iris Project. On stage credits: Fire Shut Up in My Bones, X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X, Awaited the Musical. Eric is currently a performance artist for the Metropolitan Opera, Limón Dance Company, and Camille A. Brown & Dancers.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council.
Harlem Stage’s Programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
THANK YOU, PAT FOR 25 YEARS OF EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP!
SEPTEMBER 14, 2023
ON & ON: JOSÉ JAMES
SINGS BADU
SEPTEMBER 22, 2023
UPTOWN NIGHTS
LATIN MUSIC SERIES
PABLO MAYOR’S FOLKLORE
URBANO ORCHESTRA
OCTOBER 13 – 14, 2023
E-MOVES
RONALD K. BROWN/ EVIDENCE
OCTOBER 20 – 21, 2023
CRAIG HARRIS
TONGUES OF FIRE
(in a harlem state of mind)
OCTOBER 27, 2023
UPTOWN NIGHTS
LATIN MUSIC SERIES
DAFNIS PRIETO
FEATURING LUCIANA SOUZA
CANTAR
NOVEMBER 3, 2023
IN THE COURT OF THE CONQUEROR
BY GEORGE EMILIO
SANCHEZ IN COLLABORATION WITH VISUAL ARTIST PATTY ORTIZ
NOVEMBER 10, 2023
UPTOWN NIGHTS
LATIN MUSIC SERIES + CARNEGIE HALL CITYWIDE
FLOR DE TOLOACHE
DECEMBER 1, 2023
UPTOWN NIGHTS
LATIN MUSIC SERIES
YASSER TEJEDA & DJ SABINE BLAIZIN (OYASOUND)
DECEMBER 9, 2023
WATERWORKS EMERGING ARTISTS SHOWCASE
FEATURING SHANTELLE
COURVOISIER JACKSON, HANNAH LEMMONS AKA
LEMMONS, BOBBY MORGAN, MARY PRESCOTT & KALÍ RODRÍGUEZ-PEÑA
JANUARY 11–13, 2024
E-MOVES
URBAN BUSH WOMEN’S HAINT BLU
JANUARY 26, 2024
UPTOWN NIGHTS
IAN ISIAH + KIMBERLY NICHOLE
FEBRUARY 16, 2024
UPTOWN NIGHTS:
CONVENT TO WYTHE yuniya edi kwon + SUN HAN GUILD
*Note: All presentations subject to change as COVID-19 conditions evolve.
MARCH 1 – 2, 2024
ETERNAL SPIRIT: VIJAY IYER & FRIENDS
CELEBRATE THE MUSIC OF ANDREW HILL
MARCH 8, 2024
UPTOWN NIGHTS
AN EVENING OF CHAMBER
MUSIC PRESENTED WITH SUGAR HILL SALON & CONCERT ARTISTS GUILD
MARCH 9, 2024
UPTOWN NIGHTS:
CONVENT TO WYTHE
BORA YOON &
R. LUKE DUBOIS AT NATIONAL SAWDUST
MARCH 22 – 23, 2024
STEW
HIGH SUBSTITUTE FOR THE DREAD LECTURER:
BARAKA JONES IN DUB
MARCH 29 – 30, 2024
WATERWORKS ESTABLISHED
ARTIST COMMISSION
AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE
banyan seed
APRIL 19 – 20, 2024
E-MOVES
BILL T. JONES/ ARNIE ZANE COMPANY
APRIL 26, 2024
PIANOS FOR DUKE
REIMAGINED: FEATURING
JASON MORAN, ABDULLAH
IBRAHIM & FRIENDS
APRIL 27, 2024
PIANOS FOR DUKE
REIMAGINED: FEATURING
JASON MORAN, ABDULLAH
IBRAHIM & FRIENDS
BENEFIT CONCERT
MAY 3 – 4, 2024
WATERWORKS ESTABLISHED
ARTIST COMMISSION
TAMAR-KALI THE SWANN
MAY 17 – 18, 2024
E-MOVES
nora chipaumire
ShebeenDUB
JUNE 3, 2024
HARLEM STAGE
40TH ANNIVERSARY GALA
JUNE 14 – 15, 2024
E-MOVES
CAMILLE A. BROWN & GUESTS
FEATURING WORKS BY CAMILLE A. BROWN, CHLOE DAVIS, JUEL D. LANE, MAYTE NATALIO, RICKEY TRIPP & MALEEK WASHINGTON
Lead support for Harlem Stage’s 40th Anniversary Season is provided by the Mellon Foundation.
Harlem Stage is the performing arts center that bridges Harlem’s cultural legacy to contemporary artists of color and dares to provide the artistic freedom that gives birth to new ideas.
For 40 years our singular mission has been to perpetuate and celebrate the unique and diverse artistic legacy of Harlem and the indelible impression it has made on American culture. We provide opportunity, commissioning, and support for artists of color, make performances easily accessible to all audiences, and introduce children to the rich diversity, excitement, and inspiration of the performing arts.
We fulfill our mission through commissioning, incubating, and presenting innovative and vital work that responds to the historical and contemporary conditions that shape our lives and the communities we serve.
Courtney F. Lee-Mitchell, President
Jamie Cannon, Vice President
Michael Young, Secretary
Mark Thomas, Treasurer
Angela Glover Blackwell
Jenna Bond
Jamila Ponton Bragg
JoAnn K. Chase
Patricia Cruz, Artistic Director & CEO
Indira Etwaroo, Incoming Artistic Director & CEO
Eric Oberstein, Managing Director
Shamar Hill, Director of Development
Shanté Skyers, Associate Director of Development
Julianna Friedman, Development Manager
Carl Hancock Rux, Associate Artistic Director/ Curator-in-Residence
Sarah McCaffery, Programming Manager and Associate Curator
Maurice Ivy, Programming Associate
Deirdre May, Senior Director of Digital Content and Marketing
Andre Padayhag, Marketing Manager and Graphic Designer
Adrienne Gomez, Box Office Manager
EDUCATION
Jordan Carter, Education & Community Engagement Manager
Bethany Cintron, Education & Community Engagement Associate
Amanda K. Ringger, Director of Production
Randi Rivera, Stage Manager
Clarence Taylor, Lighting Operator
Orlando Alvarado, Audio Engineer
David Barrett, Julio Collado, Saul Ulerio, Audio & Deck Crew
LaChanze
Patricia Cruz
Hugh Dancy and Claire Danes
Jenette Kahn
Channing Martin
Rebecca Robertson
Tamara Tunie
Blair Washington
Rodney Bissessar, Director of Operations
Lamont Askins, Operations Associate
Acey Anderson Sr., Maintenance
NCheng LLC, Accountants/Advisors
Jake Lee, Partner
Gleni Monegro, Supervising Senior Accountant
Aon/Albert G. Ruben Company (NY)/ Claudia Kaufman, Insurance
Arts Education Consultants: Sobha Kavanakudiyil, Sierra Ray & Wendy Rojas
Blake Zidell & Associates, Public Relations
Briguel, Digital Video Services
DAS, IT Consultant
Derrick Saint Pierre/Snugg Studios, Digital Video Services
Intrepid Digital, SEO Services
JCA, Inc.: Database Consulting
Jess Medenbach, Digital Video Services
LCM/247, Digital Video Services
Lutz & Carr/Chris Bellando, Accountants
Madison Consulting Group, Matthew Laurence
Manchester Benefits, Greg Martin
Marc Millman, Photography
Robyn L. Stein, Rl Stein Group, Development Consultant
Charles Whelan, The Whelan Group Incorporated
Lamont Askins, Miriam Hernandez, Andy Garcia, Marlon Moncrieffe, Uriel Reynoso