Bill T. Jones & Gregory Vuyani Maqoma Set for HISTORY, MEMORY AND THE CREATIVE PROCESS Discussion at National Black Theatre Today

Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre (NBT) and Brooklyn's 651 ARTS partner together to present a dynamic conversation between Legendary dancer/choreographer Bill T. Jones and internationally renowned dancer, choreographer Gregory Vuyani Maqoma that falls inline with NBT's 45th Season of "Moving the Legacy Forward." The conversation will happen tonight, October 29, 2013 at 7PM.

The discussion, entitled "History, Memory and the Creative Process," will focus on the creative process of making a dance work based on biographical and historical narratives. National Black Theatre's CEO, Sade Lythcott will moderate the conversation, which will be held at the NBT located at 2031 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10035. Tickets to this event are with a suggested donation of $10.

"Dr. Barbara Ann Teer entered her career in the entertainment industry as a professional dancer, touring with Alvin Ailey, Louis Johnson and Pearl Bailey. After a knee injury, she shifted to acting, directing and producing. She became masterful as a director. Her style of direction of theatrical pieces reflected her mastery of fluid movement of the body and dance." says NBT's Executive Director, Shirley Faison. "With the knowledge of that historical background, I think it is fitting that one of the events celebrating NBT's 45th Anniversary is a conversation with the innovative, world renowned dancers/ choreographers, Bill T Jones and Gregory Vuyani Maqoma."

This partnership is a first for both of these organizations and comes at an exciting time in their organizational history, they are both celebrating landmark years: National Black Theatre 45 Years and 651 ARTS 25 Years. The evening is part of the NBT's Communication Arts Program [CAP] Symposium Series, which was conceived, in the early seventies by its founder Dr. Barbara Ann Teer. The Symposium Series, which were later renamed "Blackenings," are curated conversations that provides the Harlem community with intimate dialogues driven by the leading voices of our time. The series covers the area of spiritual development, entertainment, politics, financial and cultural concerns. Historically, the symposiums were a weekly part of the National Black Theatre's programming from 1968 through 1978. NBT presented conversations with a diverse range of artists, community leaders and historical public figures including, Stokely Carmichael, Patti LaBelle, Alice Coltrane, Ashford & Simpson, and Michael Olatunji have participated in this series. The Symposium Series was re-launched in 2009 with a thrilling dialogue between Avery Brooks and Alicia Keyes followed by moderated discussions and a Q&A between panel members and the Harlem community.

Tickets to this event are with a suggested donation of $10. There is limited seating, so please RSVP here: http://nbtsymposium.bpt.me. In addition to the conversation, 651 ARTS will present the New York City premiere of Gregory Maqoma/Vuyani Dance Theatre's Exit/Exist at the Kumble Theater of the Performing Arts at LIU/Brooklyn in Brooklyn, NY. Performances are Friday, November 1, 2013 and Saturday, November 2, 2013 at 7:30pm. Visit www.651ARTS.org for event and ticket information.

Photo by Walter McBride

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