Camille A. Brown & Dancers, a New York City modern dance troupe known for its theatricality and fast-paced, jazzy moves, comes to campus Oct 23-25 as part of the Theater and Dance Department’s annual Stephanie C. Davis Dance Residency.
There will be a master class for all interested students Wednesday, Oct. 23, and a lecture/demonstration, open to the Union community, Thursday, Oct. 24.
Both events will take place in the Henle Dance Pavilion, 6:30-8 p.m.
In addition, on Friday, Oct. 25, 8 p.m., the company will give a public performance at The Egg theater, Empire State Plaza Center for the Performing Arts, in Albany. A limited number of tickets are free for Union faculty, students and staff with a Union ID. Round-trip bus transportation will be provided, with buses leaving from the Nott/Seward parking lot at 7 p.m.
A prolific, award-winning choreographer who has performed nationally and internationally, Brown explores real life situations from a contemporary female perspective.
“These talented dancers are mesmerizing performers who will surely engage our dance community,” said Dance Program Director Miryam Moutillet, who organizes the residency each year. “The dancers seek to connect with people.”
The show at The Egg will combine comedy, live original music and theater. Part of the program will include the company’s newest piece, “Mr. Tol E. RancE,” which speaks to the issue of tolerance, celebrates African-American humor and examines stereotypical roles dominating current popular black culture.
The work was inspired by the provocative Spike Lee movie Bamboozled, a political parody of minstrelsy, as well as by Mel Watkins’ book, “On The Real Side: From Slavery to Chris Rock,” and Dave Chappelle’s “dancing vs. shuffling” analogy.
Now in its sixth year, the Union dance residency is made possible by a gift from Sue and Gus Davis ’59 in memory of their daughter, Stephanie C. Davis, who was a modern dancer and environmental activist with a lifelong love of the performing arts.
“We are very grateful to the Davis family for giving our students these wonderful opportunities to work with and see a professional company with a unique brand of dance and point of view,” said Moutillet.
Tickets to the Egg performance are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. They may be picked up at the Yulman Theater Box Office weekdays, 12:30-1:30 p.m. and at the Visual Arts Building office, 3-4:30 p.m. For more information, call the box office at (518) 388-6545.