'The Dance' A 2 Man Minstrel Show Begins Feb 22

In honor of Black History Month, InThaCut Inc. will present the NY Premiere of the enlightening satire The Dance: The History Of American Minstrelsy. The Dance, nominated for 3 NAACP Theater Awards and 3 LA Weekly Awards for Best Playwright, Best Ensemble and Best Director, is a two-man show written by Jason Christophe White, and co-directed and performed by Jason Christophe White and Aaron White. Performances will run from February 22 to March 3 at the Richmond Shepard Theatre in NYC. 
 
The Dance "educates audiences about the fascinating history of American minstrelsy from the perspective of two African-American performers in blackface makeup who challenge the audience to reflect on the deep entrenchment of racial stereotypes in our culture. Using past and present day images and a text developed from six years of research, as well as an arsenal of props taken from two suitcases, The Dance ultimately helps us realize that no matter what race we are, we all wear masks," state press notes.

"Blackface was an important performance tradition in American theater for over 100 years. White performers used burnt cork and later greasepaint or shoe polish to blacken their skin and exaggerate their lips. Stereotypes embodied in the stock characters of blackface minstrelsy played a significant role in proliferating racist images and attitudes. Currently, blackface minstrelsy is not taught in many schools and colleges because of its controversial nature."
 
The Dance has been supported by and featured on KCET's Life and Times (PBS), The NAACP Theater Awards, KAOS Network, CalArts Theater, Inthacut Inc. and Mark Greenfield. Jason Christophe White and Aaron White are recent graduates of CalArts (California Institute of the Arts) in Los Angeles. InThaCut Inc. is a production company dedicated to producing new and original works through the arts. 
 
Limited engagement of The Dance is February 22 through March 3 at the Richmond Shepard Theatre (309 East 26th Street between 2nd & 1st Avenues). Performances run every day at 7pm. A Q&A will follow each performance. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for teens (12-17) and can be purchased by calling 212-868-4444 or visiting www.smarttix.com. Running time is 1 hour. Appropriate for ages 12 and up. For more information on the show visit www.SeeTheDance.com.