SWEET SATURDAY NIGHT a Celebration of Street & Social Dance
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1983-84 BROOKLYN ACAbFIViY OF Music oo35? presents SWEET SATURDAY NIGHT A Celebration of Street & Social Dance March 6 - 11, 1984 Helen Owen Carey Playhouse Production supervised by Mikki Shepard-Hemans Lenwood Sloan Rudy Stevenson Artistic Director/Choreographer Music Director Paul Sullivan Lighting Designer SWEET SATURDAY NIGHT combines the creative/choreographic talents of Arthur Hall, Mama Lu Parks, Alford Armstrong Perryman, and Lenwood Sloan. Special thanks to those individuals who assisted in the reconstruction work of certain pieces: Margot Webb, Brenda Dixon-Stowell, and Linda Goodrich. SWEET SATURDAY NIGHT is sponsored by New York Telephone. Additional funds have been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. L ib 1 ,.. e i) . r. .r.e \\\ 4,.,. ... le p- - . The (Andy flop leatV4 March 6-11, 1984 tr AlloTaLN: 83-84 NIGHT SWEET SATURDAY C Street & Social Dance A Celebration of Black PART I OVERTURE Boy," Al Jarreau Recorded music "Party "Bad Boy" Luther Vandross "Jump To IL" Aretha Franklin PROLOGUE OF THE STREET THE SOUNDS & RHYTHMS Jumpers Featuring Double Dutch Rappers and cast EMERGENCE OF DRUMS OF AFRICA & BLACK DANCE IN AMERICA Afro-American Featuring Arthur Hall's Dance Ensemble OBA TALA Hall Choreography Arthur Music Traditional Drumming Hall's Afro-American Performed by Arthur Dance Ensemble DRUMA KYA Traditional Drumming Music Afro-American Performed by Arthur Hall's Dance Ensemble DANSE CONGO SQUARE Arthur Flail Choreography and Drumming Music Traditional Singing Afro-American Performed by Arthur Hall's Dance Ensemble IN THE MARKET PLACE DOWN Invention Exploring Spontaneous PATTING JUBA Lenwood Sloan Choreography and Calling Music Daditional I lambone flail, Rudy Stevenson, Arrangements Arthur Percussion Lenwood Sloan Rudy Stevenson, by Arthur Hall, Brian Performed Sloan, Leon Jackson, Lenwood of Arthur Grandison and members Dance Ensemble I lolls Afro-American MASTER JUBA DANCE by Lenwood Sloan of Reconstructed Stevenson and members Music Rudy Band The Rudy Stevenson Brian Grandison Performed by Leon Jackson, FAT TUESDAY (Excerpts) flat! Choreography Arthur Band Music The Rudy Stevenson I tulle Afro-American Performed by Arthur Dance Ensemble I 1.110.1P: 0 March 6-11, 1984 83-84 PART II DOWN 'EM UP & PUTTIN"EM PICKING Dancing CI In Celebration of Exhibition DARKTOWN STRUTTERS BALL Stevenson Band Promenade The Rudy STRUT MISS LIZZIE (Exhibition Cakewalk, circa 1900) Sloan Choreography Lenwood Linda Goodrich Reconstruction Consultant Band Music The Rudy Stevenson Brian Grandison, Performed by Dahl Osmnare, Loretta Abbott, Alford Perryman Featuring Leon Jackson and Dora Dean. the memory of Charles Johnson This work is dedicated to ROLL BACK THE RUG Gyrations, Flirtations & Syncopations APPLEJACK, LINDY HOP BLACK BOTTOM, CHARLESTON, Choreography Mama La Parks Music "Sweet Georgia Brown" "I've Gut Rhythm" "Pig Feet and a Bottle of Beer" Band by The Rudy Stevenson Pt Parks' 11-aditional Jazz Performed by Mama Lu & Lindy Dancers as Featuring Alford Perryman Earl "Snakehips" flicker Green, "Take the A 'Rain" Chuck Smith' (special thanks to Ernest BALLROOM EXHIBITION Eyes" Music "Smoke Gets In Your Lenwood Sloan Choreography and Margot) (after the style of Norton Margot Webb, Brenda Dixon-Stowell Reconstruction Consultants Band by The Rudy Stevenson Music Perryman by Loretta Abbott, Alford Performed Jazz Mania Lu Parks Traditional & Lindy Dancers of Norton & Margot) (Dedicated to the contributions Vocals Leon Jackson EPILOGUE SATURDAY NIGHT! SWEET in the Streets A Celebration of Dancing 50s/60s/70s MEDLEY Music "Do the I lucklebuck" "Green Onions" "Land of a Thousand Dances" '"tell Me What I Say" "Master Blaster'' Jazz I.0 Parks' Featuring Moron Alford & Lindy Dancers with Perryman and Loretta Abbott Grandison wolfs Leon Jackson and Brian DISCO HUSTLE Music ":toot'' Lourdes Jones by Eddie Vegas and Pert, ,,,,,,,, and chorengraphrd j01.1!:CT IP A I] It SA 11 A CELEBRATION OF I STREET AND N! li SOCIAL DANCE Additions to the Program Personnel: MAMA LU PARKS' BOOGIE AND BREAKER CREW Leon "Puppet Man" Chesney, Ali "Mechanical Man" Smith, Freddie "Jacques" Smith, Frankie "Sir Swift" Hernandez, with extras Deon "Puppet Man" Georges, William "Crazy One" Ketchera, Luis Felix Quinones. JR. JAZZY JUMPERS Ulisha Cromwell, Angela Fikes, Janine Mc Phil, Renee Richardson, April Steele, Tammy Washington. (Performing Tues-Thurs, March 6-8) TOUCH OF CLASS Peter Holoman, Sheree Jones, Brenda Morgan, Tamise Petterson. (Performing Fri-Sun, March 9-11) THE RUDY STEVENSON BAND Rudy Stevenson, conductor; Reggie Moore, associate conductor. Art Baron, trombone; Frank Derrick, drums; Bill Easley, alto sax & clarinet; Leonard Goines, trumpet; Johnny Grimes, trumpet; Jack Jeffers, trombone; Greg Maker, bass & tuba; Reggie Moore, piano; Harold Minerve, alto sax & clarinet; Zane Paul, tenor sax & clarinet. PRODUCTION STAFF Bernard Johnson Costume Designer Costumes supplied by Eaves-Brooks Costume Co. Sal Rasa Stage Manager Tony Castrigno Set Designer Stephanie Johnson Assistant Light Designer Rosann Muller Production Assistant A NOTE FROM ARTISTIC DIRECTOR LENWOOD SLOAN Good evening and welcome to SWEET SATURDAY NIGHT. We invite you to sit back, snap your fingers, and tap your toes as we transport you through the "good times" reflected in Black street and social dancing. The program is dedicated to a very special lady, Margot Webb, and also to the memory of Hazel Bryant, whose last words to me were, "Baby, go out there, make it real and keep it live." I would also like to thank Brenda Dixon-Stowell for an illuminating discussion con- cerning the relationship between inspiration and reconstruction. Tonight's program combines reconstructed works based upon existing research and nota- tion, pieces based upon the style and movement vocabulary of a certain era, and the con- tinuous invention of such artists as Mama Lu Parks and Chuck Green. Very special thanks to Mikki Shepard and Harvey Lichtenstein for supporting my work, to Bernard Johnson for enhancing the style and elegance of the evening, and to Arthur Hall for keeping the spirit alive and passing it on. "But 'nuff said y'all." Come on everybody, get together and let the good times roll. About the Artists LEN WOOD (GENII SLOAN is best LORETTA ABBOTT is a dancer, actress, MAMA LU PARKS, Director of Mama known for his internationally acclaimed and singer, and has been performing Lu Parks' Traditional Jazz and Lindy musical production JUBILEE MIN- since the age of two. She has taught Dancers, has kept the now-classic dance STRELS which has been seen through- dance, given lecture-demonstrations, styles created at the legendary Savoy out the United States, in Europe, and and performed on stage, screen, and Ballroom alive for more than 25 years. Australia. Mr. Sloan is the recipient of television. I ler Broadway performance Immediately following her graduation three San Francisco Drama Critics credits include RAISIN, the revival of from Emerson College, Ms. Parks came Awards for Best Direction, Choreog- PORGY AND BESS at Radio City Music to New York and embarked on a career raphy, and Performance for THE WAKE, Hall, and the films FAME and THE wiz as a dance and drama specialist for the a musical based upon the works of Bert City's Board of Education and Youth Williams. Mr. Sloan, as a National BRIAN GRANDISON hails from Board. Her work with these agencies Endowment for the Arts Fellow for Minneapolis, Minnesota by way of brought her into contact with hundreds Choreography, developed a work on Illinois, Iowa, Georgia, and Missouri. of talented but untrained youngsters. West Indian Carnival dances inspired by Brian worked with the Mixed Blood Under her guidance, they developed into the research of Katherine Dunham, Lynn Theatre in Minneapolis. He is a graduate professional performers, many of whom Emery, and Bessie Jones. This work is of the Universityof Georgia with an became members of Parks' ensemble. currently being performed by the Bobbi MFA in Theatre. His roles have been as The group has appeared in Europe and Wynn Dance Company of San Francisco. diverse as the Messenger in MEDEA to Africa and was the United States Mr. Sloan, also a dance historian, has Bill Bojangles Robinson in THE representative at the Mexican Olympic developed dance film festivals on the HARLEM RENAISSANCE REVUE. Festival, as part of the Smithsonian Folk- West Coast and has lectured at many Brian's most fervent wish is to travel fur- Life Program. They have also appeared universities and colleges. He was the ther west than Overland Park, Kansas. on national television and have toured Associate Director of the California Arts throughout the United States, perform- Council and writes for City Arts CHARLES "CHUCK" GREEN was born ing at colleges and universities. Magazine. in Fitzgerald, Georgia and was a protege of the great John Bubbles. With his AL PERRYMAN, choreographer, dancer, RUDY STEVENSON is the Music Con- friend, James Walker, he formed the and instructor, has been involved in the sultant for the Brooklyn Academy of team of Chuck and Chuckles and toured world of dance for twenty-five years. His Music and the Music Director of JAZZ Europe, the United States, and Australia Broadway performance credits include ON A WINTER'S NITE. His performing Chuck has danced at Radio City Music PURLIE, TWO GENTLEMEN OF arts achievements are extensive. They Hall, and the Paramount, Apollo, and VERONA, RAISIN, and THE WIZ. Most include appearances as guitarist for Capitol theaters, to name just a few. He recently he choreographed the AMEN Stephanie Mills, The Fifth Dimension, performs graceful and breathtaking CORNER. He has appeared in concert and Thelma Houston. He has had record rhythm tap in the style of John Bubbles, with Eleo Pomare, George Faison, and dates with Nina Simone, Wynton Kelly, his favorite dancer. Walter Kerr, describ- Dinizulu and His African Dancers, and Cedar Walton and his compositions ing Chuck Green in the New York Times, Drummers & Singers.