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| African American Dance Ensemble | |
|---|---|
| Name | African American Dance Ensemble |
| Formation | 1974 |
| Founders | John Parks; George Faison |
| Headquarters | New York City |
| Location | Harlem |
| Genre | Dance company; modern dance; Horton technique; Afro-modern |
African American Dance Ensemble The African American Dance Ensemble is a professional touring company founded in 1974 in New York City that fused modern dance with African dance traditions and jazz aesthetics to advance African American cultural expression on national and international stages. Drawing on the artistic milieus of Harlem, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Lincoln Center, the Ensemble developed a repertory that toured with support from institutions such as the National Endowment for the Arts and collaborations with museums and presenting organizations including the Apollo Theater, Kennedy Center, and Smithsonian Institution. Over decades the company worked alongside choreographers, musicians, and cultural leaders from communities linked to Harlem Renaissance, Black Arts Movement, and contemporary performing arts networks.
The company emerged in the aftermath of the Civil Rights Movement and during the flourishing of the Black Arts Movement, when artists sought platforms at venues like The Public Theater and festivals such as the Spoleto Festival USA and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. Early seasons featured dancers from institutions including Juilliard School, Bennington College, and companies like Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Garth Fagan Dance. In the 1970s and 1980s the Ensemble received project support from the Ford Foundation and participated in residencies at Lincoln Center and community partnerships with organizations such as Dance Theatre of Harlem. During the 1990s and 2000s the Ensemble expanded international tours to regions connected to the African diaspora including performances in West Africa, Caribbean nations, and European cultural centers such as Paris and London.
The Ensemble’s style combined elements from choreographers and techniques associated with Katherine Dunham, Lester Horton, and Martha Graham, while integrating rhythms and movement vocabularies influenced by traditional practices from Nigeria, Ghana, and Cuba. Repertoire showcased thematic works addressing narratives found in The Harlem Renaissance, Great Migration, and historical events like the Emancipation Proclamation anniversary commemorations, as well as abstract pieces inspired by composers and collaborators including Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Nina Simone, and contemporary composers from African Union-related cultural initiatives. Works often had dramaturgy linked to poets and playwrights such as Langston Hughes, Amiri Baraka, and Lorraine Hansberry, and incorporated scenography influenced by designers who worked with Maya Angelou-era productions.
Founded by choreographers and cultural organizers who trained with artists from Alvin Ailey, Pearl Primus, and Katherine Dunham School of Dance, the company’s leadership included artistic directors with affiliations to institutions like Rutgers University, New York University, and Cornell University. Key dancers and choreographers moved between companies including Philadanco, Donald McKayle Dance Company, and Eleo Pomare Dance Company. Collaborators included musicians and composers from ensembles connected to Max Roach, Art Blakey, and world music practitioners linked to Babatunde Olatunji and Youssou N'Dour.
The Ensemble performed at major venues including Apollo Theater, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Jacob’s Pillow, and international stages such as Sadler's Wells and the Festival d'Avignon. Tours included state department cultural exchanges to countries like Senegal, Benin, and Ghana, as well as festival appearances at Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Montreal International Jazz Festival. The company participated in curated seasons alongside organizations such as New York City Center and toured with presenters including Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and regional arts councils tied to the National Performance Network.
Education programs were developed in partnership with public schools, community centers, and institutions like The New York Public Library and arts education initiatives associated with Americans for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Outreach included master classes, workshops, and lecture-demonstrations at conservatories such as Juilliard School, universities including Howard University and Spelman College, and youth programs modeled after outreach by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Residencies connected to cultural heritage initiatives involved collaborations with museums like the Museum of Modern Art and the Brooklyn Museum.
The Ensemble and its members have been honored with awards and fellowships from bodies including the National Endowment for the Arts, New York Foundation for the Arts, the Bessie Awards (New York Dance and Performance Awards), and state arts councils. Company artists received fellowships from institutions like the Guggenheim Foundation and recognition from civic entities such as the City of New York cultural commendations. The Ensemble’s educational impact was acknowledged by partnerships with foundations including the Ford Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
The Ensemble influenced successive generations of companies and artists within networks including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Philadanco, and contemporary choreographers working across institutions like The Joyce Theater and Ailey Citigroup Theater. Alumni have held faculty positions at conservatories such as BAM/NYC Conservatory, Boston Conservatory, and universities including Temple University and University of the Arts. The company’s integration of diasporic movement vocabularies contributed to curricula used in programs connected to the Black Arts Movement scholarship and to festivals celebrating African diasporic culture such as Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute.
Category:Dance companies in New York City Category:African American arts organizations