Join us for a House Party celebrating Clark Center!

Date: October 21st 2017 
Time: 6pm – 10pm
Place: El Barrio Artspace PS109
215 East 99th Street
Between 2nd and 3rd Avenues
​
Bring your family, friends and memories as we raise funds to preserve our history.
Enjoy DJ, wine, refreshments and friends.



Honorary chairs:
Ella Thompson Moore
Nat Horne
Hope Clark
George Faison




Can't attend? Donations can be made at: http://clarkcenternyc.org/571191/guest-book-donate

From the folks at the Bessies:

​The NY Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, New York City’s premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, announce the lineup of special guests for the 33rd annual Bessie Awards. The ceremony, hosted by performance artist/entertainer Shernita Anderson and American Ballet Theatre principal dancer James Whiteside, will be held on Monday, October 9, at 7:30pm, at NYU’s Skirball Center for the Arts. Doors open at 6:30pm for red carpet and pre-show celebrations.
 
This year’s Bessie Awards presenters include notable members of the dance and performance community including Reid Bartelme, Paul Bartlett, Yanira Castro, Gray Davis, Thomas DeFrantz, Lauren Grant, Carl Hancock Rux, Jerron Herman, Dianne McIntyre, Ron “Prime Tyme” Myles, Pamela Sneed, and Cassandra Trenary.
 
The evening will include performances by Bessie Award-winning choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar in an excerpt from her 1987 solo Bitter Tongue, the Trisha Brown Dance Company in an excerpt from Groove and Countermove (2000), with a score by jazz composer Dave Douglas, and a musical tribute to Baba Chuck Davis, performed by Abdel Salaam and Forces of Nature.

​This year’s Bessie Awards will be live-streamed on The Bessie Awards Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thebessies/
 
Tickets for the 2017 Bessie Awards start at $12 and can be purchased online here. NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts is located at 566 LaGuardia Place, New York, NY 10012.
 
Tickets for this year’s pre-ceremony Angel Party honoring Mikki Shepard are available at www.bessies.org.
 
The annual Bessies After-Party will be held at Judson Memorial Church directly following the ceremony, featuring DJ LVJjay (Larissa Velez-Jackson) and sponsored by Two Boots Pizza.
Produced in partnership with Dance/NYC, The Bessies recognize exceptional and groundbreaking work in choreography, performance, music composition, and visual design. A list of 2016−17 Bessie nominees can be found here: nominees.

From the folks at IABD

Dear IABD Family,

It is with deep regret that we inform you about a recent loss to for the Duke Ellington School of the Arts community. On September 10, 2017 Mr. Neil Whitehead, a beloved dance instructor passed away suddenly. The faculty, students, and staff of Duke Ellington wish to extend their deepest sympathy and heart-felt condolences to the family, relatives and many friends of Mr. Whitehead.  This loss is sure to raise many emotions, concerns, and questions for the entire school, especially their students. Neil had recently participated in his first IABD Conference and Festival this past January 2017 in Dallas, TX.
Neil was born in Baltimore, MD and at age 12 began dancing at the Peabody preparatory school located in Baltimore, MD. After two years of studying dance, Neil was invited to train in Baltimore Dance Theater and came to be the youngest member. He studied musical theatre at Morgan State University. After he left Baltimore to go to Washington D.C., he studied and danced with Jones Haywood School of Dance and Capitol Ballet. Neil also trained in New York City with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Dance Theatre of Harlem and traveled internationally to China, Japan, and Mexico. Mike Malone, one of Duke Ellington School of the Arts founders, transformed his life from a classical ballet dancer to an exceptional dancer of many genres. His performance credits include "The Wiz", (Yellow Brick Road), "Bubbling Brown Sugar" (Checkers), and "San Kafa" (Snake).

Information regarding Neil Whitehead's services are forthcoming.
Sincerely,
Duke Ellington School of the Arts

International Association of Blacks in Dance

Workshop on Workers’ Comp Essentials here on 9/19 from 12:30-2:00 pm on the 12th floor.
 
Register here with Eventbrite 

Support Group for Injured Dancers
Thursdays, September 14–November 16 | 11:00 am–1:00 pm
The Actors Fund, 729 Seventh Avenue, 10th Floor
RSVP via email or 212.221.7300 ext. 166

A 10-week group for professional dancers who are dealing with or recovering from an injury. Through open discussion and the sharing of resources and healthy coping strategies, this group will provide a safe space for dancers to support one another at all stages of the healing process. As a program of The Dancers’ Resource, this group will reduce isolation caused by injury and help dancers navigate their changing relationships with their bodies and dance.

Dancers’ Resource social worker Catherine Drury will be leading the group and is seeking dancer participants to meet at 11:00 am–1:00 pm each Thursday starting September 14 and ending on November 16. All meetings will be at The Actors Fund, 729 Seventh Avenue on the 10th floor.

Please give Catherine a call at 212. 221.7300, ext. 166, or email cdrury@actorsfund.org to learn more about the group and to get started.

All services at The Actors Fund are free and confidential, so please spread the word to your friends and colleagues.

FROM Catherine Drury, @ The Actor's Fund
​
Hello!

I am reaching out to recent dancer clients of The Actors Fund to let you know that The Dancers’ Resource’s support group for injured dancers will be resuming its weekly sessions on September 14. If you or anyone in your dance community is facing the physical and emotional challenges of healing from an injury or illness, please refer to and pass along the information listed below. Individuals who are interested in joining the group can contact me directly for a brief interview.

Sincerely,

Catherine Drury, LCSW
Dancers’ Resource Social Worker

FROM THE FOLKS AT IABE: – The International Association of Blacks in Dance, Inc., (IABD), an international dance service organization that preserves and promotes Dance of African ancestry and/or origin, is proud to announce and welcome its newest staff members, Carol Foster, Omar Ingram, Gregory A. King, Aja Roberts, and Ashon T. Mask. In January 2017, the IABD Board of Directors appointed Denise Saunders Thompson, President and CEO from the position of Executive Director/Chairperson that she held for 7 years.

This is a landmark and historic achievement for the 27-year-old organization, that will now employ two full time and four part time staff members/contractors. Its upcoming 30 year anniversary of the annual international conference and festival will take place in Los Angeles, CA. Joan Myers Brown, Founder and Honorary Chair, hosted the first International Conference of Blacks in Dance, 1988 in Philadelphia, PA.

Denise Saunders Thompson
President and CEO
Denise Saunders Thompson has extensive experience in non-profit and for-profit, established or start-up organizations. She has advised organizations on administrative, programmatic and fundraising issues including strategic plans, policy and procedures, communications programs, budgeting and contracts. 

Carol Foster
Executive Associate to the President and CEO
Carol Foster founded The D.C. Youth Ensemble in 1980. Ms. Foster worked in the D.C. Public School System for thirty-seven years and has recently retired. She has worked as the Arts Coordinator for the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. In addition, she has taught visual arts in DCPS and was on staff as Adjunct Professor of Dance at the University of the District of Columbia. 

Omar Ingram
Special Assistant, Programs
Omar Ingram, originally from Atlanta, Georgia, serves in the capacity of Special Assistant, Programs for the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD). Most recently, he was the General Management Assistant at the Tony-Award winning Public Theater in New York City. 

Gregory A. King
Creative Communications Coordinator
Gregory King received his MFA in Choreographic Practice and Theory from Southern Methodist University.  In addition, he is certified in Elementary Labanotation.  His dance training began in Washington DC at the Washington Ballet and later at American University.  

Aja Roberts
Development Associate
Aja Roberts strives to be consistent and persistent in everything she does. With a background in hospitality management, musical theatre performance and six years working in event management, Aja is now extending her passion into the arts management arena. 

Ashon T. Mask
Bookkeeper
Ashon Mask is native of Lansing, Michigan and an alumnus of Howard University where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts Administration. His studies focused on stage & event production, marketing/branding, finance/budget planning, and personnel management as they relate to arts organizations. 

"The expansion of the IABD team strengthens our ability to meet the needs of the Black dance community," noted Denise Saunders Thompson, President and CEO of IABD. "Each team members unique skills and gifts will greatly benefit IABD, as the organization continues to fulfill it mission for our network of members, and constituency."
Yvonne Walker, Board Chair, states, “We are extremely pleased to have all of these wonderful and committed people on the team, and look forward to a prosperous future with them.”

​The IABD offices are open Monday - Friday, 10:00am - 6:00pm, along with some weekends. The staff can be reached at (202) 899-3859 or via email through the website: iabdassociation.org/meet-the-iabd-team.

LULA WASHINGTON DANCE THEATRE
is hosting the 30th Annual International Conference and Festival of Blacks in Dance
Los Angeles, CA
January 23-28, 2018
​

Welcome Conference Delegates!
The Lula Washington Dance Theatre (LWDT) is proud to host the 30th Annual International Conference and Festival of Blacks in Dance in Los Angeles in 2018. We know that this year's conference and festival will be a valuable experience that will give you tools to further your personal and professional development in dance. We look forward to your participation and enjoyment of the 2018 Conference and Festival in Los Angeles. -- Lula Washington, Tamica Washington-Miller
REMINDER: Only current IABD Members may register for the Member price. If you have not completed your membership online for the membership cycle period of January 1 - December 31, you are NOT a current member. To join IABD, please click here.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

FULL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION INCLUDES:

• Awards Luncheon: Friday
• Evening Performance: Thursday, Friday, Saturday
• Post Performance Receptions: Thursday, Friday, Saturday
• Late night performances
• Closing Ceremony and Breakfast: Sunday
• Keynote Speakers
• All Panels and Workshops
• Bus Transportation
• Conference kit
  **** PLEASE NOTE: THE DANCE MASTER CLASS SERIES IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION PACKAGE. THESE CLASSES ARE AN ADDITIONAL AND SEPARATE COST.

For more information about The International Association of Blacks in Dance and its 30th Annual International Conference and Festival hosted by Lula Washington Dance Theatre visit www.iabdassociation.org or call (202) 899-3859.