JUNE 2, 2025
Our mission matters... to ignite the artistic freedom of performing artists of the Global Majority (85% of the global population) who dare to create new artistic works, new ideas, and a new world in which ALL people can flourish.
Due to persistent and longstanding inequitable systems and structures, artists and institutions of the Global Majority remain the underinvested communities of the 21st century and yet...
Harlem Stage is forged in a crucible of a creative fire whose flames and embers may waver, still — undeterred by overwhelming odds — we will continue to be a conduit for freedom, a lens to focus the issues of our time, and a light to illuminate any darkness.
Dr. Indira Etwaroo | CEO & Artistic Director | Harlem Stage
Harlem Stage is proud to present an evening co-curated by Calvin Royal III and Ronald K. Alexander. This reflection by Black male artists in the field of dance looks back at what has been, celebrates the present, and imagines what lies ahead.
The evening includes a special tribute by Gay McDougall honoring the late Joanne Robinson-Hill, a former dancer, esteemed member of the arts education community, and champion of the arts.
There will be a cocktail reception following the discussion.
RONALD K. ALEXANDER
Ronald K. Alexander is a distinguished dance educator, arts administrator, and artist. He has danced with prominent ballet companies, including The National Ballet of Canada in Toronto, the Frankfurt Ballet and Hamburg Ballet in Germany, and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet in New York City. As a choreographer, Ronald has created works for a variety of institutions, including the Hamburg Ballet, Clark Center for the Performing Arts, the Ailey School and the Ailey Extension, Harlem School of the Arts, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Warner Theatre in Torrington, CT, and RestorationART, among others. In recognition of his lifelong contributions to the arts, Ronald was honored with a Legacy Award by Morehouse College in 2024 at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Chapel. He has also dedicated many years to serving on the Bessie Awards Nominating Committee for Dance.
From 1994 to 2002, Mr. Alexander was a certified dance instructor with the New York City Department of Education. He has held numerous administrative and artistic roles, including Chairman of the Dance Department at the Harlem School of the Arts under the leadership of Betty Allen, School Supervisor at the Dance Theatre of Harlem School under Arthur Mitchell, Principal of Contemporary Arts, and Director of Education at the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation Youth Arts Academy under Dr. Indira Etwaroo. Mr. Alexander holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Dance from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, as well as a certificate in School Supervision and Administration from the City College of New York. He was featured in the 2011 Dance Teacher Magazine article “Five Teachers, Five Venues”. Most recently, he received the 2022 Dance Magazine Teacher of the Year Award and is currently a faculty member at the Ailey School in New York.
Mr. Alexander has dedicated his life to making dance accessible to communities across NYC and the world. He is now a proud member of the Harlem Stage Board of Directors.
CALVIN ROYAL III
Calvin Royal III, Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre, through sheer determination and artistic excellence has risen to the top of the ballet world. After starting ballet at age 14 in his freshman year at his local performing arts high school, he competed and gained recognition as a finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix, which led to a scholarship at ABT’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. Within two years, he was promoted to ABT II, and his subsequent growth earned him a position with ABT Main Company, nominations for the Clive Barnes Award and the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship. In 2017, he was promoted to Soloist, and his performances in Swan Lake and Manon and other notable productions garnered glowing reviews. In 2019, Calvin made his acclaimed debut as Apollo in George Balanchine’s Apollo and in 2020, he made history as the third African-American Principal Dancer in ABT’s history. Calvin has performed worldwide, collaborating with renowned choreographers, named the Artist-in-Residence at the Vail Dance Festival in 2020/21 and in 2024, he curated and co-produced the Joyce Theater’s Ballet Festival program UNITE. His journey reflects resilience, mentorship, and the transformative power of dance. For more visit calvinroyaliii.com and follow Calvin on Instagram @calvinroyaliii
MATTHEW RUSHING
Matthew Rushing was born in Los Angeles, California. He was a scholarship student at The Ailey School and later became a member of Ailey II. During his career he has performed for Presidents George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. During his time with the Company, he has choreographed four ballets: Acceptance In Surrender (2005), a collaboration with Hope Boykin and Abdur-Rahim Jackson; Uptown (2009), a tribute to the Harlem Renaissance; ODETTA (2014), a celebration of “the queen of American folk music”; and Testament (2020), a tribute to Alvin Ailey’s Revelations created in collaboration with Clifton Brown and Yusha-Marie Sorzano. His latest creation is Sacred Songs, a ballet choreographed to the songs that were omitted from the original version of Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations. Mr. Rushing joined the Company in 1992, became Rehearsal Director 2010, and was appointed Associate Artistic Director in January 2020 and currently during the 65th anniversary season, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is being led by Interim Artistic Director Matthew Rushing.
DESMOND RICHARDSON
An iconic American Dance Professional, Singer, Actor. SDC, AEA, SAG/Aftra member. A Broadway Tony Award Nominee, Founder and Co-Artistic Director Complexions Contemporary Ballet celebrating its 30th year anniversary, TedTalk Guest artist & speaker and So You Think You Can Dance, AMICI (Italy) Guest Choreographer. Richardson is a Presidential Scholar in the Arts and has graced the covers of various publications. He was the first African American Principal dancer of American Ballet Theater, a principal dancer with The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Frankfurt Ballet, and a featured guest performer nationally and internationally. He has received the Capezio, Rosey Roosevelt Thompson, Bessie, Dance Magazine awards and is a recent honorary Doctorate Recipient from the University of the Arts in North Carolina. Richardson’s character Ted appeared on the HBO Max hit series “The Other Two” Season 3.
IG: @desmondrich7
ROBERT GARLAND
Mr. Garland is currently the Dance Theatre of Harlem Artistic Director.
Robert Garland was a member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem Company, achieving the rank of principal dancer. After creating a work for the DTH School Ensemble, Arthur Mitchell invited Robert Garland to create a work for The Dance Theatre of Harlem Company and appointed him the organization’s first Resident Choreographer. He was also Director of the Professional Training Program of the DTH school, and the organization’s webmaster. In addition to choreographing several ballets for DTH, Mr. Garland has also created works for New York City Ballet, Britain’s Royal Ballet, Oakland Ballet and many others. His commercial work has included music videos, commercials and short films, including the children’s television show Sesame Street, a Nike commercial featuring New York Yankee Derek Jeter, the NAACP Image Awards, a short film for designer Donna Karan, and the “Charmin Cha-Cha” for Proctor and Gamble. Mr. Garland holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the Juilliard School in New York City.
RONALD K. BROWN
Ronald K. Brown is the Founder and Artistic Director of EVIDENCE, A Dance Company. Raised in Brooklyn, NY, he founded EVIDENCE in 1985. He has worked with Mary Anthony Dance Theater, Jennifer Muller/The Works, as well as other choreographers and artists. Brown has set works on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Jennifer Muller/The Works, Jeune Ballet d’Afrique Noire, Ko-Thi Dance Company, Philadanco, Muntu Dance Theater of Chicago, Ballet Hispánico, TU Dance, and Malpaso Dance Company.
He has collaborated with such artists as composer/designer Omotayo Wunmi Olaiya, the late writer Craig G. Harris, director Ernie McClintock’s Jazz Actors Theater, choreographers Patricia Hoffbauer and Rokiya Kone, composers Robert Een, Oliver Lake, Bernadette Speech, David Simons, and Don Meissner, and musicians Jason Moran, Arturo O’Farrill and Meshell Ndegeocello.
Brown is the recipient of the 2020 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award. His other awards and recognitions include the AUDELCO Award for his choreography in Regina Taylor’s award-winning play Crowns, two Black Theater Alliance Awards, and a Fred & Adele Astaire Award for Outstanding Choreography in the Tony Award winning Broadway and national touring production of The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, adapted by Suzan Lori Parks, arranged by Diedre Murray, and directed by Diane Paulus.
Brown was named Def Dance Jam Workshop 2000 Mentor of the Year and has received a Doris Duke Artist Award, New York City Center Fellowship, Joyce Theater Artist Residency Center Fellowship, Scripps/ADF Award, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts Choreographers Fellowship, New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, United States Artists Fellowship, a New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award, Dance Magazine Award, and The Ailey Apex Award. Ronald K. Brown was a Creative Administration Research artist at NCCAkron and along with Arcell Cabuag is a 2024 Dance Teacher Magazine Awardee of Distinction recipient.
Brown is Co-Artistic Director of the Restoration Dance Youth Ensemble and a member of Stage Directors & Choreographers Society.
