3/24/15 O&A: Only In The Darkness Can You See The Stars- Dance Of The Village Elders Perform Friday

The Harlem Hospital Auxiliary, in partnership with the Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs, presents The Dance Of The Village Elders in Only In The Darkness Can You See The Stars on Friday, March 27; 6pm in the Herbert Cave Auditorium located on the 2nd floor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Pavilion at Harlem Hospital Center, 560 Lenox Avenue at 135 Street. The program title Only In The Darkness Can You See The Stars was a statement made by Martin Luther King Jr. during the bleakest days of the civil rights struggle.

The Village Elders are the participants of a dance and fitness class at the Harlem Hospital designed and implemented by Ailey Teaching Artist Walter Rutledge. The Elders share memories of the Harlem of their youth and honor the Civil Rights Movement in an informative, enlightening, and entertaining showcase. Only In The Darkness Can You See The Stars reflects the traditions of the Diaspora teaching through storytelling.

Dance Of The Village Elders – Harlem (Excerpt)

The one-hour presentation will include a fitness demonstration designed especially for senior citizens with audience participation, performances by Greater Hood Memorial AME Zion Church Choir (under the direction of Carson Stapleton) and Tyneshia Hill from the Boys and Girls of Choir of Harlem Alumni Ensemble. The program will culminate with a dance/theatre performance featuring dancers from the Ailey School, the Village Elders and special guest artist former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater principal dancer Dudley Williams. The unique blend of seasoned and younger performers creates an intergenerational camaraderie; and it is probably the only time dancers will arrived via Access-R-Ride for an Ailey performance.

This event is a joint fundraiser for the Harlem Hospital Auxiliary to assist their community outreach efforts and to extend the classes for The Dance Of The Village Elders through the end of June. The tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. For tickets and more information contact Charlotte Ozuna at (212) 939 1369 or at Charlotte.Ozuna@nychhc.org.