Yes, my heart just stopped too. 

We’re talking 1990s Los Angeles. 

FILA. Bucket hats. And bright colors.

Street dancers. Pac. And box braids.

But most importantly the raw, authentic choreography of Fatima Robinson.

Right now the show is untitled and in the early stages of development, but what we do know is we’re in for a treat as we travel back in time to see the birth of hip-hop dance. 

Robinson is what we like to call a “heavyweight” in the industry. Revered as “one of the most sought-after hip-hop and popular music choreographers in the world” by the New York Times, she has worked with Michael Jackson, Aaliyah, Black Eyed Peas, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Leona Lewis, Sade, Prince, Rihanna, Cheryl Cole, Snoop, and  Mary J. Blige.

She was the mastermind behind the 2011 Super Bowl Halftime show with the Black Eyed Peas, 2012 Coachella Tupac Hologram, and HBO Inauguration event for President Barack Obama. Robinson made history as the second Black woman to choreograph the Oscars in 2007 and 2009. As if  that wasn’t enough WERK to fill a career, her film choreography includes the mega hit Dreamgirls, as well as Sparkle, Charlie Wilson’s War, American Gangster, Public Enemy, Ali, and Confessions of a Shopaholic.

I think NBC has struck gold yet again. The Robinson-Meron-Zadan team has worked so well in the past— The Oscars, The Wiz Live!, and well, let’s hope the third time proves to be a charm.

The post Close Up: Fatima Robinson Dance Drama Coming to NBC appeared first on Broadway Black.

A spokesperson for the company told the New York Times “Mr. Williams was found dead in his apartment on Sunday. No cause was given, but the medical examiner’s office said the death was not considered suspicious.”

Dudley Eugene Williams was born in East Harlem to Iban Leroy Williams and Austa Beckles, on Aug. 18, 1938. His brother, Iban Jr., is his only immediate survivor.

At the age of 12 Dudley took his first dance classes at Sheldon B. Hoskins’s theater school, which he paid for by selling copies of The Amsterdam News.

As the budding dancer began to make his dream a reality a knee injury he suffered in the 1960s lead doctors to tell the dancer he would never walk again. Williams’ resilience defied the odds and was back onstage two weeks after.

It was in 1963 that Alvin Ailey himself recruited Williams as a last-minute replacement for an Ailey troupe member.

During that time Williams had several memorizing leading performances in Ailey’s “Reflections in D” , Louis Falco’s “Caravan” , which solidified Williams as central member of the company.

He became known for his virtuosity in performances such as Ailey’s 16-minute solo “Love Songs”, his comedic “backwoods huckster” role in Ailey’s “Blues Suite” and his riveting solo “I Want to Be Ready” in Ailey’s renowned “Revelations”.

Williams performed with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater until 2005.

After that he danced with Paradigm, a trio of older dancers he formed with Carmen de Lavallade and Gus Solomons Jr., and taught at The Ailey School in Manhattan, until he died.

In 2013, at age 75, Williams, made a triumphant return to the stage for an Ailey company New Year’s Eve performance of “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham,” the finale of the troupe’s classic “Revelations,” which was choreographed by Ailey.

In 2003 Williams described his passion for dance to the New York Times.

“It’s a hunger — doing it until you do it right,” he added. “It’s a nervousness that puts me on the stage, it’s palms sweating, feet sweating, wondering, ‘Am I going to hit this position?’ ”

Dudley Williams you will be missed but your passion and dedication to the art of dance will live in through the many people you have impacted.

Dudley Dances from Chris Thompson on Vimeo.

The post Rest In Poise: Alvin Ailey Dancer, Dudley Williams, Deceased At 76 appeared first on Broadway Black.

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was founded in 1958 with a mission to bring African-American cultural expression and the American modern dance tradition to the world. This mission was first carried out with the creation of Ailey’s masterpiece, Revelations, in 1960. A school was established in 1969 and the following year, both school and company found a home in Manhattan. In the years to come, the company gained national and international acclaim as the ensemble grew and Ailey collaborated with the Metropolitan Opera (Carmen) in 1972, performed at the Duke Ellington Festival at Lincoln Center with the Ellington Orchestra in 1975, and performed for President Carter at the White House in 1978. In 1987, Alvin Ailey received modern dance’s greatest honor, the Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival Award

The following year, he was the recipient of The Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime contribution to American culture through the performing arts. Shortly before Ailey’s untimely death in 1989, Judith Jamison, a company member since 1965, was named Artistic Director. Jamison continued to take the company further causing Dance Magazine to call the Ailey company “recession-proof” due to its worldwide success in 1992. Under her leadership, the company has continued to tour all over the world and dancers from all over the world have come to study at the Ailey School. In 2011, Jamison became Artistic Director Emerita and choreographer Robert Battle became the active Artistic Director, continuing a legacy of dance that has become vital in the artistic fabric of America.

Check out Alvin Ailey’s REVELATIONS below!

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will perform at Lincoln Center at the David H. Koch Theater June 10-21.
For tickets and more information, visit www.alvinailey.org

The post Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at Lincoln Center appeared first on Broadway Black.

Last year saw a successful turnout at Delacorte, the outdoor venue, so the show has been brought back for another showing. This year will feature performances from Hubble Street Dance Chicago, two-time Tony Award choreographer Bill T. Jones and the Arnie Zane Dance Company, as well as Lil Buck and another artist that has yet to be named.

Tickets for the September 12th and 13th shows will be distributed on the day of that show and through a virtual ticket lottery with each recipient getting two passes.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Fall for Dance back to the Delacorte again this year,” said Public Theater Associate Artistic Director Mandy Hackett to Theater Mania. “Partnering with Fall for Dance is a beautiful collaboration as our organizations share common goals and vision of making the arts and culture accessible to all New Yorkers. Experiencing such extraordinary work from the world of dance on the Delacorte stage is utterly thrilling.”

Get more information on the shows here and be sure to check back in with us and report on how they were!

The post Delacorte Presents Free Nights of “Fall for Dance” appeared first on Broadway Black.