651 ARTS Presents Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE: 25 Years December 17, 2010

Special Guests: Mohammed Camara, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company & the Dirty Dozen Brass Band

651 ARTS celebrates 25 years of outstanding contributions in choreography and dance by Ronald K. Brown in an evening of his seminal works rarely seen in their entirety.

Brown’s company EVIDENCE performs Destiny (1998), a work Brown created in collaboration with Jeune Ballet d’Afrique Noire that explores and synthesizes contemporary American and traditional West African dance. The piece reflects what has come to be known as the EVIDENCE aesthetic—showcasing Brown’s distinctive juxtapositions of contemporary and traditional movement, music, and storytelling from West Africa to America. Excerpts of Destiny have been a favorite in the company’s repertoire for the past 12 years; however, a full performance of Destiny has not been seen since 1998.

EVIDENCE will also perform Two Year Old Gentlemen (2008), a short work created for the male dancers in the company, emphasizing the importance of community and strong male relationships across generations. Both pieces are set to music composed and performed by West African percussionist Mamadouba Mohammed Camara.

Children of the Passage (1999) will be performed by Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) with live musical accompaniment by New Orleans’ iconic Dirty Dozen Brass Band which also composed the original music. This work, which Brown created in collaboration with American master Donald McKayle, honors the unique culture of New Orleans and has rarely been presented as it was meant to be seen: with the full band on stage.

Official Website: http://www.bam.org/view.aspx?pid=2770