DCDC hosts choreographer in advance of gala performance
Excitement builds as Dayton Contemporary Dance Company prepares its 50th anniversary gala performance Saturday, May 4.
Celebrated choreographer Ronald K. Brown, who notably choreographed the 2012 Tony Award-winning revival of “Porgy and Bess” starring Audra McDonald, visited the DCDC studio April 6-11 to reset “Children of the Passage,” co-choreographed by the late Donald McKayle (“Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder”). First performed by the troupe 20 years ago, “Children of the Passage” is a joyful, spiritual routine reflecting the Middle Passage, the journey of African slaves to America. Brown looks back with fondness on his collab- oration with McKayle and the themes at the heart of the routine, featuring music by Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
“To be able to work with a legend like Donald McKayle was amazing,” said Brown, founder and artistic director of Brooklyn-based Evidence: A Dance Company. “I knew at the time that it would be an incredible opportunity for me to collaborate with an elder I loved dearly. McKayle’s legacy is so important to dance history and the history of DCDC. DCDC takes care of classics so well and I always hoped this routine would be among (those to name only a few. He also won an AUDELCO award for Regina Taylor’s award-winning musical play “Crowns.” But he has a special relationship with DCDC, who also premiered his work “The Clearing in the Woods,” a collaboration with noted jazz pianist Mulgrew Miller. Although he’ll be on tour in the United Kingdom the night of the gala, he is grateful for his work to be included on the program and is happy to see the company cele- brating a major milestone.
“I told the dancers how incredible it is, what an honor it is, for them to be a part of a repertory company like DCDC,” Brown said. “They’re able to work in so many different styles. classics). The routine is an They’re able to do whatever a illusion to the Middle Paschoreographer asks of them. sage and the children of our They are young, beautiful ancestors. The ancestors are artists who are a testament having a party at a mansion to Debbie Blunden-Diggs but the mood shifts. Ulti- and the incredible teachers mately there is an under- coaching them.” standing that opulence isn’t The gala, slated to feathe most important thing in ture special guests Dayton the world. I am honored to Philharmonic Orchestra be able to get the piece on and choreographer Kevin its feet again and the dancWard, begins at 6:30 p.m. at ers are incredible. A lot of the Schuster Center, Second the ancestors are smiling and Main Streets, Dayton. right now, including JeralFor tickets or more infordyne Blunden and Donald mation, call Ticket Center McKayle.” Stage at (937) 228-3630 or
In addition to Broadway, visit ticketcenterstage.com. Brown has choreographed For more information about for Alvin Ailey American DCDC, visit dcdc.org. Dance Theater, Ailey II,
Munto Dance Theater of Chicago, and Ballet Hispanico