I For Immediate Release Press Information: 718-636-4129 THE 1992 NEXT WAVEFESTIVAL CONTINUESWITH THE NEWYORK PREMIERE OF DAVIDROUSSEVE AND HIS COMPANYREALITY IN THE FINAL INSTALLMENTOF A FOUR-YEAR DANCE-THEATERSERIES URBANSCENES/CREOLE DREAMS NOVEMBER10, 12-14, 1992 - BAMMAJESTIC THEATER The 10th Anniversary/1992 NEXT WAVEFestival, sponsored by Philip Morris Companies Inc., presents the New York premiere of David Rousseve's dance-theater piece Urban Scenes/Creole Dreams on November 10, 12-14, 1992 at the BAMMajestic Theater. Performed by Rousseve and his company REALITY, the evening length work juxtaposes the vivid life of the late Thelma Arceneaux, Rousseve's Creole grandmother, with Rousseve's own stories of growing up and facing some of the same racial problems and personal losses in the 1990s. This site­ specific work, commissioned, in part, by The Dance Center at Columbia College, Performing Arts Chicago, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and The Walker Arts Center, will feature Los Angeles based pop/gospel singer B.J. Crosby and New York based Lavender Light: The Black and People of All Colors Lesbian and Gay Gospel Choir performing original gospel music by Ysaye Barnwell, best known for her work with Sweet Honey in the Rock. In addition, Don Meisner has composed original "house" music which includes elements of rap, rhythm and blues, and pop music. The stage will be transformed into a series of settings, including the decayed elegance of New Orleans, and a sea of cornfields, by set designer Debby Lee Cohen. Lighting design will be by Tony Giovannetti, and sound design by Rick Sorois. Urban Scenes/Creole Dreams is the eighth and final segment of the series Pull Your Head to the Moon ... Tales of Creole Women which is based on the life stories of John and Thelma Arceneaux, David Rousseve's grandparents. In its entirety, the series follows a Creole woman's life from childhood in her hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana, to her death in Houston, Texas. Urban Scenes/Creole Dreams juxtaposes the losses of this woman's cousin and husband with present day losses to AIDS, and examines the timeless quest for spirituality and self-dignity in the face of loss and oppression. Dance magazine has called these pieces "astonishing ... stunning and vibrant work." The Village Voice refers to the works as "powerful dance theater with significance and emotion." Presented in New York and throughout the United States, the "Creole" series has attracted a large and diverse audience, imparting a message that "transcends racial and cultural boundaries," (Rocky Mountain Press). Performances have been presented at PS 122, The Kitchen, Danspace, La Mama ETC, Creative Time, Dixon Place, Henry Street Settlement and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council in New York City as well as venues in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston, San Diego and at the Colorado Dance Festival in Boulder. Urban Scenes/Creole Dreams had its world premiere at the Blackstone Theater in Chicago under the auspices of the Dance Center at Columbia College and Performing Arts Chicago. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed it "Haunting ... breathtaking ... brilliant ... a blast of freshness ... a turning point (in dance)." David Rousseve is a writer, director, choreographer and performer whose works fuse elements of dance, storytelling, and performance art with African American traditional and pop culture, creating a highly original form of expressionistic dance-theater. Born in Texas with Louisiana-Creole roots, he graduated Magna Cum Laude from Princeton University in 1981 and moved to New York where he danced with Stephanie Skura, Yoshiko Chuma and the School of Hard Knocks, Kathryn Pesin, Senta Driver/Harry, Toronto Dance Theatre and Jean Erdman. In 1986 he began creating his own movement/theater works, and in 1988 he formed REALITY, his dance company comprised primarily of African American women. more ... BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC 30 LAFAYETTE AVENUE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 1.1217 718.636.411.1. FAX: 718.857.2021 • 10th Anniversary/1992 NEXT WAVEFestival - David Rousseve/REALITY, page 2 . Mr. Rousseve has been awarded grants and fellowships from the National Endowmen t for t he Arts ( 1991-93), the New York Foundation for the Arts (1991), the New Yor k Stat e Council on the Ar ts, the Ford Foundation, the Jerome Foundation, and the American Dance Festiv a l. An accomplished teacher, Rousseve was twice the guest Artist-In-Residence at the University of Maryland in the Spring of 1989 and 1990. Last season Mr. Rousseve wrote and choreographed a commissioned work for the Pittsburgh Dance Alloy and Glori ous Rebirth Choir (in collaboration with composer Ysaye Barnwell) , and a film collaboration entitled Pull Your Head to the Moon for Alive TV. The film was broadcast nationally on PBS, and was awarded the IMZ Award for "Original Screen Choreography" at the Frankfurt Festival. He is presently on the faculty of Princeton University. B.J. Crosby started singing, in her hometown of New Orleans, in the Baptist church. As a teenager she was a charter member and soloist of the Gospel Soul Children winning many awards with the Gospel Soul Workshop of America conducted by Reverand James Cleveland. Embarking on a solo career, Ms. Crosby has performed in venues worldwide including Hong Kong, Milan, Rome, +and Sweden. Her stage performances include regional productions of One Mo' Time, and Ain't Misbehavin'. Her television appearances include The Long Hot Summer, The Cosby Show, The Arsenio Hall Show, and Family Matters. Lavender Light: The Black and People of All Colors Lesbian and Gay Gospel Choir was founded in 1985 with the purpose of keeping alive the Black Gospel Music tradition in an environment supportive of Lesbian and Gay people. The Village Voice has stated that Lavender Light is "a serious group whose combined enthusiasm is of nearly b i blical magnitude." Lavender Light has received tremendous energy and support from the Lesbian and gay male and Third World communities, and has been presented in numerous concerts since its inception including the historic National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Washington , D.C . highlighting the October 11th Morning Rally of the People­ Of-Color Caucus . The Choir's repertoire includes gospel old and new, spirituals and anthems. Ysaye Barnwell is a multifaceted woman with extensive and diverse training and experience. She grew up in New York City, and by the age of 17 had already studied the violin for 15 years. She holds the Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Speech Pathology, and the Doctor of Philosophy (with concentration) in Cranio-Facial Studies, and the Master of Science in Public Health. Barnwell has, since 1979, performed and recorded with the internationally renowned a cappella quintet, Sweet Honey in the Rock. She brings to the group an extraordinary vocal range and developed the group's practice of making their performances accessable to the hearing impaired through Sign Language interpretation. Dr. Barnwell appears on 18 recordings with various artists. She has composed music for Sesame Street and in 1991 was commissioned by the Dance Alloy in Pittsburgh to compose Crossings, with text and choreography by David Rousseve . In addition, Ysaye Barnwell is an actress whose credits include a principle role on the television series A Man Cal l ed Hawk. Don Meisner has been composing and performing his works since 1983. He began collaborating with playwright / director / performer Laurie Carlos and choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar in 1985. He has also collaborated with choreographers Marlies Yearby and Anita Gonzalez, and writer Carl Hancock Rux. His work has been presented in the United States and Europe. more . .. 10th Anniversary/1992 NEXTVAVE Festival - David Rousseve/REALITY, page 3. Previous segments of the 'Creole' series were commissioned by Dancing in the Streets, P.S. 122 and Danspace. This presentation has been made possible, in part, by a grant from The Harkness Foundations for Dance. Urban Scenes/Creole Dreams is supported, in part, with funds from the Greenwall Foundation, the Joyce Mertz -Gilmore Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts . This program is also supported, in part , by Materials for the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. The BAMfacility is owned by the City of New York and its operation is made possible, in part , with public funds provided through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs with support from the Brooklyn Delegation of the New York City Council and Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden. PERFORMANCEDATES AND TIMES FOR DAVIDROUSSEVE/REALITY - "URBANSCENES CREOLE DREAMS" NOVEMBER10 at 7 :00 PM and NOVEMBER12, 13*, 14 at 8:00 PM in the BAMMajestic Theater . *There will be a post-performance discussion with Mr. Rousseve about the complete Pull Your Head to the Moon . .. Tales of Creole Women series. Ticket Prices: $25, $15 and $10 may be purchased by calling TicketMaster at 212-307-4100 or at the BAMBox Office at 30 Lafayette Avenue in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn. For additional information please contact the BAMTicket Services Office at 718-636-4100 . BAMis located at 30 Lafayette Avenue in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn . ### .