Karel Shook, co-director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, was the recipient of an Award for Excellence and Dedication signed by President Carter and Secretary of Education, Shirley Hufstedler at a White House celebration Salute to Learning last month. Shook was nominated for the award by Arthur Mitchell, founder and director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem who described Shook as his mentor and first ballet teacher. A performance of Mitchell’s ballet, The Greatest was also offered at the celebration.
The Marie Brooks Dance Research Theatre hosted the Wulomei Dance Company of Ghana at the United Nations in May. The company performed the folk opera Sasbonsam to international dignitaries at the Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium, The Wulomei company’s performance reflected their desire to preserve the music and culture of Ghana and share it with the rest of the world. Their UN appearance marks the company’s second trip to the United States. They toured here in 1975 at the invitation of the Smithsonian Institute.
The Wulomei Dance Company is under the direction of Saka Acquaye, noted sculptor, artist and musician, who is also a member of the Arts Council of Ghana.
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater brought their recent spring engagement at City Center to a rousing conclusion, after treating New Yorkers to two weeks of fine dancing, featuring works by Kathryn Posin and leading Ailey dancer Ulysses Dove.
Posin choreographed a group work entitled, Later That Day, to a section of Phillip Glass‘s opera, Einstein on the Beach. Dove recently made his New York choreographic debut with a work created for the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble. For the spring season, he created a solo for Judith Jamison, entitled Inside [Between Love…and Love] performed to a commissioned score by Robert Ruggieri, with special poetry by Robert Maurice Riley. Alvin Ailey’s group work Memoria was well received as were such popular Works as Revelations, Suite Otis, Masekela Language, Cry, Night creature, and Flowers. Ailey’s performances in New York are always a special treat and dance lovers are already looking forward to their speedy return.
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