EVIDENCE Dance Hosts 25th Anniversary at Harlem Stage & Father's Day Event

Harlem Stage, one of the country's top presenters, producers and supporters of works by artists of color, announces four performances by EVIDENCE, A Dance Company (Ronald K. Brown, founder and Artistic Director) in celebration of the company's 25th Anniversary. The performances, part of the Harlem Stage E-Moves Series, run June 17-20 at the historic Gatehouse, 150 Convent Avenue at West 135th Street in Harlem.

The four-day run, co-presented by EVIDENCE, is part of the Harlem Stage Partners Program. Two programs of work by Brown will be featured, highlighting acclaimed company repertory from the 1990s and 2000s, including his recent "Two-Year Old Gentleman," which debuted in 2008. The full company of ten dancers also performs "To Harm the Dangerous" (1996), "Better Days" and "Incidents" (both 1998), "For You" (2003), and "One Shot" (2007).

For this retrospective, Brown chose works that expressed his choreographic aesthetic and are particularly important to him. "My mentor Bessie Schonberg always told me that people need to know where you've come from, they need to understand all aspects of you," he says. "The pieces I've selected for this special engagement reflect the range of work I've created over the years and offer audiences a glimpse into my world."

"It's a great honor to celebrate EVIDENCE's 25th Anniversary here at Harlem Stage, nearly 25 years to the day that the company had its first performance," said Patricia Cruz, Executive Director, Harlem Stage. "We've have a long relationship with Ron and the company that goes back to the early 1990s. Their performances are inspiring and thoughtful, and we plan to continue celebrating Ron's work well beyond this milestone."

FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND FREE WORKSHOP - JUNE 19
EVIDENCE Founder and Artistic Director Ronald K. Brown leads a free public workshop for African-American boys, their fathers, and their male mentors on June 19 at the Harlem Stage Gatehouse. "Males Moving: Legacy and Expression," gives cross-generational participants a chance to talk about (and dance about) their lives. "There is so much discussion about the role of a male influence in boys' lives; it's especially crucial in the African-American community," Brown says. "I'm trying to create opportunities for male family members to come together and, through movement, really hear each other." No dance experience necessary. Free; RSVP required at 212-281-9240, ext. 19 or 20, or boxoffice@harlemstage.org. (MEDIA NOTE--Additional info: jmkennedy@goodmanmedia.com.)

PROGRAM 1 (JUNE 18 AND 19):

For You (2003)
Brown created "For You," a solo about generosity and survival in the face of tragedy, for a close friend who lost a long battle with cancer. This 2003 work, danced to Donny Hathaway's "A Song For You" will be performed by Brown himself.

Better Days (1998)
Showcasing the athleticism and artistry of the men in EVIDENCE, "Better Days" is a celebration of masculinity and sexuality, danced to music of LaBelle and others.

Incidents (1998)
"Incidents," which celebrates females and female power, was cre ated from a collection of images inspired by historical texts, including Harriet Jacobs' "Incident in the Life of a Slave Girl." Images in the work allude to the residual physical manifestation and emotional responses that have since shaped women of African descent. Excerpts of the full dance are powered by music from The Staple Singers, Aretha Franklin, and Wunmi (who performs live), as well as text by Moms Mabley, Anna Russell and Ron Brown.

To Harm the Dangerous (1996)
"To Harm The Dangerous" is an ode to Brown's mother, whom he says was perceived differently by strangers than by her own family. "How can someone who brought so much love into the world be intimidating to, and not trusted by, people who met her?" Brown says. The piece is accompanied by House music from MKL.

PROGRAM 2 (JUNE 17 AND 20):

Two-Year Old Gentlemen (2008)

As a special Father's Day presentation, EVIDENCE performs Brown's critically acclaimed 2008 work "Two-Year Old Gentlemen." The piece tackles themes of brotherhood and support among men from different generations. Brown was inspired to create the work by his familial relationships, notably those between his grandfather, himself and his young nephew (who will make a cameo appearance during the Harlem Stage engagement). Master African drummer and long time EVIDENCE collaborator Mamadouba Mohammed Camara will play his original music composition live with two other musicians, including his nine-year-old son.

Brown studied ritual initiation dances from Cuba and the West African regions of Guinea, Senegal and Gambia, which are integrated into the work along with the Mardi Gras Indian tradition of war games.

One Shot (2007)

From 1936 to 1975 noted photographer Charles "Teenie" Harris captured many aspects of life in Pittsburgh: the spirit of childhood, decadence, and the soul of jazz. "One Shot" riffs on the same idea, looking to the legacy of a community and its effects on the evolution of other communities. The work incorporates video projection by Clifton Taylor and music by Billy Strayhorn, Mary Lou Williams, Arturo Sandoval, Lena Horne, Phyllis Hyman, and many others.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Performances take place Thu., June 17, Fri., June 18, and Sat., June 19 at 7:30 pm, and Sun., June 20 at 3 pm. Program 1 repeats Friday and Saturday; Program 2 repeats Thursday and Sunday. The "Males Moving" workshop takes place Saturday, June 19 at 2 pm.

TICKETS
Tickets are $35 for all performances, and can be purchased online at www.HarlemStage.org or by calling the box office at 212-281-9240, ext. 19 or 20.

RSVPs for "Males Moving" free workshop required by phone at 212-281-9240, ext. 19 or 20 or by email at boxoffice@harlemstage.org.

SPONSORS
The Harlem Stage E-Moves series receives Lead Sponsorship from Bloomberg, with additional support made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts. Dance at Harlem Stage is supported by American Airlines, the Mertz Gilmore Foundation and Capezio/BalletMakers Dance Foundation.

EVIDENCE, A Dance Company's 2010 Home Season is made possible in part by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, HSBC Premier, and the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation's Center for Arts & Culture, and its Youth Arts Academy.

Programs of Harlem Stage are funded and managed by Harlem Stage/Aaron Davis Hall, Inc.

EVIDENCE, A DANCE COMPANY
Founded by Ronald K. Brown in 1985 and based in Brooklyn, New York, EVIDENCE, A Dance Company focuses on the seamless integration of traditional African dance with contemporary choreography and spoken word. Brown uses movement to reinforce the importance of community in African American culture, and to acquaint audiences with the beauty of traditional African forms and rhythms. EVIDENCE now tours to 25 communities in the United States and abroad and has travelled to Cuba, Brazil, England, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Mexico and Senegal, where Brown and company members have performed, taught master classes and conducted lecture/demonstrations for individuals of all ages. EVIDENCE brings arts education and cultural connections to local communities that historically have lacked such experiences.

Ronald K. Brown
Founder, Artistic Director and dancer Ronald K. Brown was born in Brooklyn and founded his New York-based contemporary dance company in 1985. In addition to his work with EVIDENCE, Brown has created work for the African American Dance Ensemble, Philadanco, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Jeune Ballet d'Afrique Noire. 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, and composers Robert Een and Oliver Lake. Brown has received numerous awards and choreography fellowships including from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York Foundation for the Arts. In 2003, Brown received the Audelco (Black Theatre Award) for his choreography of Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats, originally produced by the McCarter Theater and presented off-Broadway in 2003. In 2006, Brown received The United States Artists Rose Fellowship.

ABOUT Harlem Stage
Harlem Stage is one of the country's top presenters, producers, and supporters of works by artists of color. Its work celebrates and perpetuates the unique and diverse artistic legacy of Harlem and the indelible impression it has made on American culture. The organization provides opportunity, commissions, and other support for artists, it makes performances accessible to all audiences, and it introduces children to the rich diversity, excitement and inspiration of the performing arts.

Many legendary artists have appeared at Harlem Stage (Harry Belafonte, Max Roach, Bill Cosby, Maya Angelou, Tito Puente, Bill T. Jones) and many historic cultural moments happened here including a Town Hall meeting with Ted Koppel and ABC's "Nightline" featuring the newly released Nelson Mandela, actor Danny Glover's presentation of his celebrated Romeo and Juliet, the Harlem Renaissance Awards honoring Harry Belafonte, Nancy Wilson and Maya Angelou, and more.

On October 2006, Harlem Stage opened The Gatehouse, a brilliantly re-imagined showcase for film, music, theater, and dance that marked a new era in the history of the institution. To celebrate the milestone, the organization launched three new cultural programs: WaterWorks (a commissioning program), Harlem Stride (honoring the musical legacy of Harlem) and Harlem Stage Partners (a collaborative program designed to bring new energy and creativity through cultural partnerships).