1/13/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Ancestral Voices- Dianne McIntyre, Romare Bearden and Cecil Taylor

One of Bearden’s early dance collaborations was the modern dance work Ancestral Voices choreographed by Dianne McIntyre and presented by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. At the suggestion of company founder and artistic director Alvin Ailey, Romare Bearden was commissioned to create the visuals for the work which premiered on the Ailey company, May 13, 1977.

Set to a score by jazz great, Cecil Taylor, Ancestral Voices has been described as an African ritual interpreted through the modern dance idiom. The cast included Ailey standouts Estelle Spurlock, Alistair Butler and Dyane Harvey. In addition to the front curtain, Bearden also created a backdrop, and designed the costumes and headpieces.

Bearden was a wonderful storyteller. And enjoyed retelling the story of creating the visuals for Ancestral Voices. Within  those retellings he mentioned how he and his wife Nanette have unsuccessfully tried to retrieve the set and costumes. “They tell us they have just disappeared”, he would simply say.

New York Times dance critic Anna Kisselgoff attended the opening night performance. In a review published the next day on May 14th, 1977, Ms. Kisselgoff reported:

“Ancestral Voices is an abstraction of an African ritual, and the abstract note is obvious from the start in Romare Bearden’s beautiful front curtain of foliage and African forms. The theme of ritual onstage is the world’s four elements – earth, water, air and fire.”

The taping took place on a warm summer evening in Central Park dancer Dyane Harvey added, “I viewed the footage and was gently reminded of the experience of filming Ms. McIntyre’s work during that summer. The cast was comprised of Alistair Butler, Charles Grant, Bernadine Jennings, Dorian Williams and Dianne (McIntyre). As mentioned in the interview we embodied elemental forces against the beautiful backdrop designed and crafted by Romare Bearden. The actual filming process, in the scheme of dance filming, was painless. (Third World Cinema…?) I recall thinking how exhilarating it was to be outside at night performing Dianne’s spirited choreography with so much lavish color and nature surrounding and inspiring us!”
Dy

In a recent correspondence with Dianne McIntyre about the collaboration she wrote:

Hello Walter,

Here is a bit of background for you: Yes, Anna Kisselgoff wrote about the piece, which I was very sorry to read. It is a very bad review for a piece that I must say, was not my best work, and unfortunately (for me) because it had the beautiful costumes and sets by Romare Bearden.

Alvin Ailey invited me to do a work and suggested that Romare Bearden could do the costumes. I was very honored by that. In the work the dancers represented the four elements of nature – air, earth, fire and water. Romare created costumes so intriguing, unique, monumental that they looked like his collages come to life. The poster for that year marketing the Ailey brand was Romare Bearden’s rendering of his costume for Fire. A white and red poster – must be a collector’s item today.

Fortunately, a couple of years later, in a film about Romare was a segment I put together of excerpts from the dance. We shot it in Central Park in front of a fountain during one daytime and evening. The gigantic scrim created from a drawing Romare made for the dance was mounted on the lawn and I had the dancers performing in front and behind the scrim. It was a beautiful adventure.

I am grateful to Alvin Ailey that he introduced me to such a master artist. Romare gave me advice, guidance about my journey as an artist and I have always held him in my vision of the highest one can be as an artist. What he created and the way he worked always made me want to be like him – from watching him I say to myself: Stick to your vision, go for it all the way, don’t waiver, produce and practice every day even in the quiet.

Thank you, Romare Bearden.

Ancestral Voices

4/18/22 (Repost) O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Shakespeare’s King Lear. James Earl Jones, NYC Shakespeare Festival, 1974

Reposted by popular demand O&A NYC Magazine present an extraordinary live performance of William Shakespeare’s King Lear with the one and only James Earl Jones in the title role. Filmed in 1974 before a live audience in Central Park for the New York Shakespeare Festival the production featured  Jones, Paul Sorvino and Raul Julia. Continue reading

7/4/19 O&A NYC WHATS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND: JULY 4- JULY 7, 2019

July 4th is the start of a four day summer holiday weekend and New York is just getting warmed up. We will have a hot dog eating contest at Coney Island and a seafood boil festival in Brooklyn. Tap dance in Chelsea and Afropop in Central Park. Not to mention a jazz brunch in Harlem. Here are a few of the many events happening in the city that never sleeps, guaranteed to keep you Out and About.

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6/9/19 O&A NYC WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK: June 9 Through June 16, 2019

Sunny days just makes New Yorkers even more festive. We have a dance tribute in Queens, a film on an Opera icon and Jumping Jack Flash in New Jersey. Here are a few of the many events happening in the city that never sleeps, guaranteed to keep you Out and About. Continue reading

7/1/18 O&A NYC WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK JULY 1 THRU JULY 8, 2018: Art, Dance, Film, Music, Theatre and More

Heatwave and the 4th of July, that means beach and barbecue!  New York City is heating up.  We have visual arts from as far away as Western Cameroon. Ballet leaps to the forefront at  Lincoln Center and Chelsea. And mouthwatering barbecue in Brooklyn.  Here are a few of the many events happening in the city that never sleeps guaranteed to keep you Out and About. Continue reading

5/26/16 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Endless Love – Diana Ross: Live In Central Park

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The legendary Diana Ross took the stage in New York’s Central Park On July 21, 1983. Soon after the entertainer began her concert in front of an audience of over 800,000 people the pouring rain and heavy wind threatened to put an end to the show. Diana pushed on for much of the set, urging the drenched crowd to remain calm and stay with her. Continue reading

8/13/15 O&A NYC REVIEW: The Wiz Is A Wow!

By Walter Rutledge

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The concert version of the 1975 Tony Award winning musical The Wiz debuted on Wednesday, August 12 at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. The Wiz: A Celebration In Dance And Music directed and choreographed by George Faison marked the 40th Anniversary of the groundbreaking musical. Before the performance started Rumsey Playfield looked more like it was a rock concert than a dance performance; the overflow crowd began lining up mid afternoon for the free outdoor theatrical event.

After a brief introduction by City Parks Foundation SummerStage dance curator Danni Gee, George Faison took to the stage with classic Faison panache. He and former Wiz munchkin Phylicia Rashad co-narrated the concert version of the musical, which featured the songs and dance numbers from the original musical plus new choreography and staging created for this production.

The cast was a combination of young performers, many who have honed their craft under Faison, and original cast members returning in roles and cameos. Darlesia Cearcy (Dorothy) and Anita McKinney (Aunt Em) opened the evening with McKinney’s rendition of The Feeling We Once Had. The tornado dance followed creating a whirlwind of moment. Khalia Campbell wowed the audience as the Tornado Eye. The tall and limber Campbell reminisced the memorable performance of Broadway diva Evelyn Thomas who transported Stephanie Mills and the Majestic Theater audience to Munchkinland. 

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Ebony JoAnne had fun in the role of Addapearle, and her playful rendition of He’s The Wizard sent Dorothy on her journey to Oz. Her escorts Jahmal Chase, Martel Ruffin, Nehemiah Spencer and Devonte Jerome Wells were the funky yellow brick road quartet complete with trademark yellow Afros and poles. Throughout the entire performance the audience clamped and sang along.

It was evident that time had not diminished the popularity of the Charlie Smalls’ score. Dance Arranger/ Musical Supervisor Timothy Graphenreed and a six piece on-stage Wiz band featuring Edward Callahan (Keyboard 2) John Matthew Clark (Bass Guitar) Paula Green (Percussion) Jeremy Jordan (Keyboard 3) Segdrick Marsh (Drums) and Damien Sneed (Keyboard) kept the face paced production moving. While Oz Singers Chenee Campbell, Anitra McKinney, Matia Washington and Darryl Jovan Williams provided the background vocals.

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Garry Q Lewis was an energetic Scarecrow, John Manzari’s strong tenor voice and tap dance acumen endeared his Tin Man to the audience and Reji Woods’ comedic cowardly Lion was entertaining. Inaya Day (the second Dorothy) cooled the audience with her soothing rendition of Be A Lion. One of Faison’s real gifts is showcasing performers strengths; Day also returned to sing Home and again proved  a capable balladeer.

A new number, the Emerald City dance, is a sharp, lively and invigorated addition. The stylish sequence complete with emerald-green attire and copper-colored wigs had “Emerald City elegance”. Gate Keeper Devonte Jerome Wells proved a formidable triple threat with his strong dancing, stage presence and vocals.

The Poppies scene became an immediate audience pleaser when six ladies from the 1975 original production appeared on stage. Shirley Black Brown Coward, Paula Brown Douglas, Jamilah Halvorson, Alyson Williams, Joni Palmer and Gina Ellis strutted, posed and brought sexy back. This sextet of sexy sirens seduced the Lion with ole’ school charisma and swagger.

Another standout was Nehemiah Spencer as the Lead Monkey, which remains a pivotal role as the leader of Evilene’s bidding. Speaking of the wicked witch, Elaine Nicole Phifer attacked the role with great command. Evilene was mean (and clearly hungry), but her No Bad News and chant were definitely good news for the audience. Her eventual demise provided witty comic relief and was a clever transition to Brand New Day complete with full stage kick line.

Andre De Shields returned in his signature role as The Wiz. Complete with white jumpsuit, cape and platform shoes he played a major role in this production. De Shields seemed to enjoy performing the role almost as much as the audience enjoyed his performance. The proof was his show-stopping sustained vocals, swashbuckling super hero cape, which billowed across the stage with great aplomb, and De Shields’ three songs ranging from up-tempo, to ballad, then gospel infused lyrics.

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Dorothy returned home with the helped of Glinda and an armada of white-clad dancers. Dee Dee Bridgewater floated on stage via the shoulders of four men in white tuxedos. Bridgewater’s impassioned delivery had the élan of an accomplished performer and again made us all “Believe”.

The Wiz celebrates 40, but this classic musical remains timeless. Faison continues to do what he has done for more than 40 years, to mold talented young artists- this is his true genius. Even before The Wiz Faison trained dancers, many of the returning artists met Faison as teenagers; and eventually became members of his dance company the George Faison Universal Dance Experience.

The number of artists who have experience “The Faison Boot Camp” and now have profession careers are as plentiful as the lights on Broadway. All speak of him with respect, admiration and great affection. Congratulation to George Faison, co-producer Tad Schnugg and The Wiz as they continues to “Ease On Down The Road”.

The production moves uptown to Marcus Garvey Park for two final performances Thursday, August 13 and Friday, August 14. The evening begins at 6:45 with a master class by Darrin Henson. Seating is first come first serve so please come early.

In Photo: 1) Reji Woods 2) Ebony JoAnne and  Darlesia Cearcy 3) John Manzari 4)  Darlesia Cearcy and Dee Dee Bridgewater

Michael Seto Photographer

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6/22/15 O&A Picks Of The Week June 21- June 27: Art, Dance, Film, Music, and Theatre

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Summer is finally here! And it has ushered in a whirlwind of arts events. We have fine art, dance, film, music and theatre; something for everyone. Here are a few of the many events happening in the city that never sleeps guaranteed to keep you Out and About. Continue reading