Loretta Abbott was one of three former Ailey principle dancers to perform in the On The Block (After Bearden). The work is a story ballet set on a Harlem neighborhood from the 1950’s through the present day. Loretta, Dudley Williams and Hope Clark shared their exstensive character development expertise with the cast. And I gained the artistic respect and friendship of Loretta and Dudley, which lasted throughout the balance of their lives.
On The Block (After Bearden) premiered in 2004 and featured a fifteen member cast ranging from age 14 to 65 plus. The work was based on Romare Bearden’s six panel mural, which capture the energy and pathos of a block in Harlem. Loretta’s character, Blanche, was an alcoholic with a dysfunctional family who just want to be happy.
Loretta Abbott- On The Block Excerpt