Rejoice Black Historical past Month with dance

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II 2024 excursions
February 2-28, in varied cities throughout the U.S.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater continues its celebratory 65^th anniversary season, together with performances in Miami; Washington, D.C.; Birmingham, AL; Auburn, AL; Philadelphia; and Chapel Hill, NC throughout the month of February. Among the many works featured within the tour’s repertory are two world premieres specifically commissioned for Ailey – Amy Corridor Garner’s CENTURY and former Ailey dancer Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish’s Me, Myself and You.

Ailey II, celebrating its 50^th anniversary, will kick off the U.S. leg of its world tour throughout Black Historical past Month. The various tour repertory contains two new works by Creative Director Francesca Harper and the dynamic duo of Baye & Asa, alongside repertory favorites and revered classics.

For a full listing of tour dates, go to www.alvinailey.org/performances-tickets/tour-schedules/ailey-ii-2024-tour.

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater and Muntu Dance Theatre
February 3, at Governors State College, Chicago, IL

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater joins Muntu Dance Theatre to showcase genuine and progressive interpretations of latest and historical African and African American dance, music and storytelling. Deeply Rooted performs Madonna Anno Domini, choreographed by Deeply Rooted Dance Theater Creative Director Nicole Clarke-Springer, with music by Aretha Franklin, Culoe de Track, Sinead O’Connor and Alev Lenz. This work had its world premiere in November 2023, on the Auditorium Theatre. Deeply Rooted additionally performs revivals by Deeply Rooted Co-Founders and Resident Choreographers: Juntos by Kevin Iega Jeff (1990) with music by Pat Metheny, and 53 Inhale by Gary Abbott (2009) with music by Nico Muhly. 

For tickets and extra data, head to govst.edu/MuntuDeeplyRooted.

AbunDance Awards
February 4, at AbunDance Academy of the Arts, Brooklyn, NY

The AbunDance Awards had been created in 2023, by award-winning artist and entrepreneur Karisma Jay to indicate youths what they’ll accomplish within the dance world and to honor individuals of coloration who’ve made important contributions to the sector. Honorees embrace Reginald Van Lee, Assane Konte, Obediah Wright, Karen Thornton, Jamel Gaines, Chloe Arnold, Maud Arnold, Arcell Cabuag and Nicole Deweever, and a recording of the scholars from the Academy might be introduced. 

Jay is devoted to offering reasonably priced courses and alternatives to carry out for younger aspiring dancers of coloration. 

“Traditionally, there aren’t many awards to amplify dancers and dancemakers, and but so many tv reveals, movies, Broadway reveals and commercials depend on dance to execute the creative story and imaginative and prescient,” mentioned Jay. “The AbunDance Awards have fun those that have contributed a lot to the world of dance, honor individuals of coloration who’ve made an influence on the humanities group, and encourage our youths to realize greatness by dance.”

For tickets to the second annual AbunDance Awards, click on right here.

Philadanco’s NYC season
February 6-10, at The Joyce Theater, New York, NY

Philadanco will return to the Joyce Theater for the 32^nd time, and first since 2018, with Intangible, a program of New York premieres by 4 rising choreographers. The works are Nijawwon Okay. Matthews’ From Dystopia to Our Declaration; Christopher Rudd’s Mating Season; Ray Mercer’s Steadiness of Energy; and Tommie-Waheed Evans’ Someplace Between Heaven and Earth, made in collaboration with the Philadanco dancers.

Philadanco, based in 1970 by Joan Myers Brown, is widely known for its innovation, creativity and preservation of predominately African American traditions in dance. Acknowledged for its creative integrity, beautifully educated dancers and electrifying performances, Philadanco is dedicated to empowering youth with essential improvement expertise that facilitate achievement and success on this planet of dance and on a regular basis life.

For tickets, go to www.joyce.org/performances/55//philadanco.

‘Nonetheless I Rise’ with Misty Copeland – Black Historical past Month Speaker Sequence
February 13, at Wilmington Public Library, Wilmington, DE

The Wilmington Public Library will current its Black Historical past Month Speaker Sequence with Misty Copeland, who made historical past as the primary African American feminine principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. Copeland will discuss her childhood, her early years finding out ballet and her inspiring story. Books might be out there for buy the day of the occasion. No registration or tickets are required, however seating is on a primary come, first served foundation.

For extra data, go to delawarescene.com/occasion/35580/still-i-rise-with-misty-copeland.

Jamel Gaines Artistic Outlet’s Remembering
February 15-17, at Brooklyn Academy Music, Brooklyn, NY

Jamel Gaines Artistic Outlet (JGCO) will current Jamel Gaines’s multimedia theater work, Remembering, that includes dance, theater, stay music, spoken phrase and video projection. The corporate will then give performances and workshops in Cape Coast and Accra, Ghana, from February 18-27, in a cultural trade program with the Nationwide Dance Firm of Ghana and Nationwide Theater of Ghana. New York Metropolis Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo will journey to Ghana with JGCO.

Remembering is an annual program celebrating Black Historical past and was impressed by The MAAFA Suite – which commemorates the center passage journey of African individuals sure for enslavement within the Americas – and the teachings of Bishop Rev. Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood. Set to music by John Williams, Philip Hamilton and BeBe Winans, Remembering has lighting design by Gregory L. Dratva, costumes by Hopie Lynn Burrows, spoken phrase by multimedia artists Talu Inexperienced, Gha’il Rhodes Benjamin, Theara Ward and Shirley Black Brown-Coward, and imagery by Tom Emotions.

“Remembering is a historical past lesson round artwork, tradition, spirituality, social activism, schooling and the African-American expertise by the eyes of world historical past,” mentioned Gaines. “It’s a chunk of cultural creative expertise that continues to show the world about individuals of coloration, historical past and the journey that transcends cultures all around the world. Remembering is an expertise designed to coach, domesticate and encourage all to be taught in regards to the richness of Black Historical past and tradition. Black Historical past is actually world historical past.”

For tickets, go to www.creativeoutlet.org/occasions.

Elevé Dance Theater’s Rooted: A Black Historical past Celebration in Dance
February 17, at Stroudsburg Wesleyan Church, Stroudsburg, PA

Be a part of Elevé Dance Theater as the corporate honors and embraces the wealthy heritage of Black Historical past. Put together to be captivated by the facility and great thing about dance as proficient performers take the stage to showcase the range and significance of Black tradition. From conventional African dances to modern choreography, this occasion guarantees to be a vibrant and memorable expertise.

For tickets, go to www.eventbrite.com/e/rooted-a-black-history-celebration-in-dance-tickets.

Alonzo King LINES Ballet’s Deep River
February 22-24, Lincoln Middle’s Rose Theater, New York, NY

Alonzo King LINES Ballet will make its Lincoln Middle debut with Deep River, a contemplative and high-intensity work by celebrated American choreographer Alonzo King. Deep River is a collaboration that includes Grammy Award-winning vocalist Lisa Fischer (long-time back-up vocalist for the Rolling Stones) and Kennedy Middle Creative Director for Jazz and MacArthur Award winner Jason Moran. Deep River melds dance with non secular music from the Black, Jewish and Indian traditions.

For tickets, head to www.lincolncenter.org/sequence/lincoln-center-presents/alonzo-king-lines-ballet.

A Weekend of West African Dance: Black Historical past Month Presentation
February 23-24, at Jamaica Performing Arts Middle, Jamaica, NY

This weekend-long occasion will characteristic performances by Kofago Dance Ensemble and FANIKE! African Dance Troupe in a vibrant celebration of West African dance and tradition. It’s an occasion that guarantees to be full of rhythm, vitality and pleasure.

Kofago Dance Ensemble’s work as a dance firm is concentrated on therapeutic and ritual by the performing arts. FANIKE! African Dance Troupe embraces and respects the dance, rhythm, historic and rising tradition tied to African motion.

For tickets to this occasion, click on right here.

Thelma Hill Performing Arts Middle’s Black Historical past Month Program
February 24, at Central Baptist Church, New York, NY

Thelma Hill Performing Arts Middle (THPAC), the oldest presenting group in Brooklyn, and Central Baptist Church of NYC will current its Black Historical past Month program, a free occasion for the group which celebrates Black contributions by music, dance and spoken phrase. This system will embrace three bible-themed works by choreographer Walter Rutledge, that includes dancers Amina Konaté and Tevin Johnson, with narration by James Earl Jones.

“We hope to ascertain this as a free annual occasion for our viewers, the church’s congregation and the bigger group,” mentioned THPAC Government Chairman Alex Smith, Jr. “This system will inform the general public of and have fun the numerous contributions of African Individuals by music, dance and the spoken phrase. We’re dedicated to the remembrance of our historical past and the uplift of African Individuals. By reaching again by this program, we are able to envision and grasp a therapeutic future for our group and all of humanity.”

For extra data on Thelma Hill Performing Arts Middle, go to www.thelmahill.org.

By Laura Di Orio of Dance Informa.