Presented by DANCECleveland, Tri-C Performing Arts, The Joyce Theater Foundation, Northrop, and PMG ARTS Management 1 WELCOME! As the saying goes, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ in our case it also refers to presenting a dance performance. With the cancellation of our entire season, it seemed impossible to imagine that we would have the chance to see a ‘live performance’ at all this year. Then the stars aligned. Northrop at the University of Minnesota, whose original live performance of Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE was to be the week following our performance here in Cleveland, wondered if it might be possible to broadcast a live performance of the Company to all of our patrons? With that, the Joyce Theater in New York City joined the conversation to share that they had been developing both the technology and the technical expertise to bring this idea about. With both a Director, Producer, multiple cameras, an expanse of time for rehearsal on stage and with all of us providing funds into the project, the impossible has become possible. As the idea has taken shape, Northrop took the lead in developing a series of additional events which we thought were both relevant and timely and excited to be able to share as part of the performance series. So without further ado, DANCECleveland, Cuyahoga Community College along with partners Northrop and the Joyce Theater present (drum roll please) Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE…..LIVE FROM THE JOYCE THEATER!!!!!!! Enjoy the Performance! Pamela Young Executive Director DANCECleveland Terri Pontremoli Director, Tri-C JazzFest & the Performing Arts Cuyahoga Community College 2 ARTISTIC DIRECTOR RONALD K. BROWN ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ARCELL CABUAG DANCERS DEMETRIUS BURNS, ARCELL CABUAG, STEPHANIE CHRONOPOULOS, JOYCE EDWARDS, CHARLES GRANT, ANNIQUE ROBERTS, SHAYLIN WATSON GUEST ARTISTS DANIEL S. HARDER & HANNAH ALISSA RICHARDSON APPRENTICES AUSTIN COATS, BREANA MOORE & CHRISTOPHER SALANGO REHEARSAL DIRECTOR ANNIQUE ROBERTS COSTUME DESIGNER OMOTAYO OLAIYA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR / RESIDENT LIGHTING DESIGNER TSUBASA KAMEI COMPANY MANAGER MEGHAN ROSE MURPHY ABOUT THE COMPANY Founded by Ronald K. Brown in 1985 and based in Brooklyn, EVIDENCE, A DANCE COMPANY focuses on the fusion of African dance with contemporary choreography and spoken word. This work provides a unique view of human struggles, tragedies, and triumphs. Brown uses movement as a way to reinforce the importance of community in African American culture and to acquaint audiences with the beauty of African forms and rhythms. EVIDENCE tours to some 30 communities in the United States annually. The company has traveled to Cuba, Brazil, England, France, Greece, Hungary, Hawaii, Ireland, Holland, Mexico, Columbia, South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, and in 2010 joined the U.S. State Department’s DanceMotion USASM tour to perform works, teach master classes, and conduct demonstrations. Annually, the company reaches an audience of more than 30,000. EVIDENCE, A DANCE COMPANY 1368 Fulton Street Brooklyn, NY 11216 Tel: 347-493-2414 BOOKING AGENT PMG ARTS MANAGEMENT Pamela Green LOTUS ARTS MANAGEMENT Sophie Myrtill-McCourty 3 Note from Ronald K. Brown The foundation of the relationship between Pamela Green, PMG Arts Management, Evidence, and I began over 20 years ago. In 1998, I was preparing an application for National Dance Project and there was a requirement to list a Booking Agent. I knew that Pam had worked for Baba Chuck Davis and with fingers crossed, I sent her a note asking her to work with Evidence. She said yes. When we began working together in 1999, we talked business, dreams, and family. In our work together, we were able to share the work of Evidence in 50 of the states in the US and at over 8 venues internationally. During our relationship, Pam has brought many opportunities that have resulted in magic. She has been instrumental in the development of some of the most potent works in the Evidence repertory including; Come Ye, One Shot, The Subtle One, and Blueprint of a Lady: The Once and Future Life of Billie Holiday, in collaboration with Nneena Freelon and over five other works. When Pam mentioned that Gideon Lester wanted to meet with me to discuss a presentation for the 20th Anniversary of Grace and the possible creation of a new work, I had no idea that it would result in a collaboration with Meshell Ndegeocello and the creation of Mercy. It is perfect that for this special digital performance, Evidence is performing Mercy and some of the solos and duets that are a part of our history. The dancers and I are happy to dedicate these performances to Pamela Green as a thank you for her support, encouragement, love, and contribution to us all. 4 MEET THE COMPANY RONALD K. BROWN (Founder/Artistic Director) raised in Brooklyn, NY, founded EVIDENCE, A Dance Company in 1985. He has worked with Mary Anthony Dance Theater, Jennifer Muller/The Works, as well as other choreographers and artists, and has been on the faculty of The Julliard School. Brown has set works on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Jeune Ballet d’Afrique Noire, Ko-Thi Dance Company, Philadanco, Muntu Dance Theater of Chicago, Ballet Hispánico, TU Dance, and Malpaso Dance Company. He has collaborated with such artists as composer/designer Omotayo Wunmi Olaiya, the late writer Craig G. Harris, director Ernie McClintock’s Jazz Actors Theater, choreographers Patricia Hoffbauer and Rokiya Kone, composers Robert Een, Oliver Lake, Bernadette Speech, David Simons, and Don Meissner, and musicians Jason Moran, Arutor O'Farrill and Meshell Ndegeocello. Brown is the recipient of the 2020 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award. His other awards and recognitions include the AUDELCO Award for his choreography in Regina Taylor’s award-winning play Crowns, two Black Theater Alliance Awards, and a Fred & Adele Astaire Award for Outstanding Choreography in the Tony Award winning Broadway and national touring production of The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, adapted by Suzan Lori Parks, arranged by Diedre Murray, and directed by Diane Paulus. Brown was named Def Dance Jam Workshop 2000 Mentor of the Year and has received the Doris Duke Artist Award, NYC City Center Fellowship, Scripps/ADF Award, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts Choreographers Fellowship, New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, United States Artists Fellowship, a New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award, Dance Magazine Award, and The Ailey Apex Award. Brown is Co-Artistic Director of Restoration ART Youth Arts Academy Pre-Professional Training Program / Restoration Dance Youth Ensemble and a member of Stage Directors & Choreographers Society. ARCELL CABUAG (Associate Artistic Director/Dancer) is a first generation Filipino American who is a native of San Jose, California. In 1995, he moved to New York and attended the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center where he was first introduced to Ronald K. Brown. His professional experiences include: Rock the House for Paramount Pictures (California), The Shoji Tabuchi Show (Branson, MO), and the Richard Rodgers Centennial Production of The King and I. Arcell can be seen in the episode "Choreographed" on Law and Order SVU, and a Codorinu commercial with PILOBOLUS, shot and aired in Barcelona. He has served his community as dance professor at Long Island University (Brooklyn Campus), the Co-Artistic Director of RestorationART Youth Arts Academy Pre-Professional Training Program / Restoration Dance Youth Ensemble, and continues to teach master class locally and abroad. Cabuag has also set EVIDENCE repertory at NYU TISCH, UMASS, Boston Arts Academy, the Peridance Certificate Program, The Ailey Fordham BFA Program, University of the Arts, Kent State, DeSales University, Coker College, Marymount Manhattan College, and Boston Conservatory. Cabuag has assisted Brown in creating repertory on Philadanco Dance Company, MUNTU, TU Dance, Ballet Hispánico, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Malpaso Dance Company of Havana, Cuba, and was the associate choreographer for the Tony Award winning Broadway and National touring production of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. Arcell was the first EVIDENCE apprentice in 1996, joined the company in 1997, was appointed to be the associate artistic director in 2003 and won a New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award in 2004. TSUBASA KAMEI (Technical Director/Production Manager/Resident Lighting Designer) has toured with the company for more than 65 venues globally and internationally. Credits include: Scene and lighting for Mercy (World Premiere), lighting for Four Corners; Dancing Spirit (Company Premiere); New Conversations: Iron Meets Water (World Premiere) for Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE. He has also designed The Call (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater) and Where The Light Shines Through (TU Dance), all choreographed by Ronald K. Brown. 5 ANNIQUE ROBERTS (Rehearsal Director/Dancer) is from Atlanta, Georgia and a graduate of Tri-Cities High School for the Visual and Performing Arts. She attended the Junior Division Summer Intensive Program at The Ailey School and the School at Jacob’s Pillow. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance from Howard University under the direction of Dr. Sherrill Berryman Johnson. There, she performed works by distinguished choreographers such as Ronald K. Brown, Kevin Iega Jeff, Christopher Huggins, and Eleo Pomare. Annique joined Garth Fagan Dance in January 2004 and became senior dancer in 2006. She also taught at the Garth Fagan Dance School and was featured in the August 2008 issue of Dance Magazine. Annique joined EVIDENCE in January 2010 and became the rehearsal director in 2017. She was nominated for a 2013 and 2020 New York Dance and Performance Award "Bessie" for Best Performer and featured in the February 2013 edition of TimeOut NY. In 2020, she was one of seven dancers selected to perform in The Joyce Theater's production of the revival of Molissa Fenley's tour de force solo, State of Darkness.