Alternate Title Celebration of the Past, Crossroads Traveller, Dance Africa 1979

Production Language English

Country of Origin United States, South Africa, Mali, Guinea

Description Over the course of two weekends in June 1979, several of the biggest African American dance ensembles gathered for the second annual DanceAfrica festival. The opening night began with drum calls and a pouring of libations in a salute to the past and celebration of the present—a ceremony that would kick off the opening of many DanceAfricas to come. The festival ended with the performance of Crossroads Traveler, a fantasy/mystery piece of dance-theater performed by ensembles led by Dinizulu, Charles Moore, and Chuck Davis, as well as the International Afrikan American Ballet. 
 

Identifier 1979s.01006

VenueOpera House

actorRosanna Carter, Luther Sulaiman Wilson, Jarawa Mwali, Richard "Blue" Joyner

artistic advisorObari Wali, Baba Chuck Davis

choreographerBaba Chuck Davis, Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu, Asadata Dafora, Zebedee Collins, Mickey Newby, Elsie Campbell, Charles Moore, John Blandford, Rhonda Morman

companyCharles Moore Dance Theatre, Chuck Davis Dance Company, International Afrikan-American Ballet, The Little Black Heritage Dancers, Dinizulu and his African Dancers, Drummers and Singers, The Ntore Dancers

costume designerUrsula Reed, Catti, Ethel Ruffin, Vicki Atkinson, Debra Beard

dancerMama Ella Thompson Moore, Ankobeahene Ajaibo, Joe Deas, Esi-Ayisi Dinizulu, Oyeni Woyoo Adzua, Amadoma Bediako, Nyo Dente, Baakan Dente, Kwesi Mantey, Omyamache Badu, Serwa Nsia, Ramona Candy, Janice Hart, Audrey Hubbard, David Pace, Jasper Prince, Carla McFarlane, Terrence Wyatt, Charles Moore, Donna Tait, Akua Kyerewaa, Botwe Donkor, Bonsu Nkromah, On Yamekye Badu Panyin, Tara Barnard-Williams, Michelle Fennelle, Cathy Jackson, Mama Jacqueline Coban Martin, Mama Linda Evans, Sandy Burton, Mama Normadien Woolbright, Roslyn Davis, Andrea Saunders, Lisa Dockery, Jennifer Jones, Cynthia Showard-Humphrey, Mama Adwoa Brown, Anita Lamberty, Chiqui Santiago, Jewel Melchoir-Love, Al Smith, Abdel R. Salaam, Eisen Hasan, Kevin Rainey, Rafael Francis, Jemal Hardeman, James Short, Raymond Brown, Tony Williams, LaVerne Anduze, John Blandford, Hazel Starkes Bryant, Rosa Connors Kincaid, Tima Fann, Joan Keturah Ferris, Tamu Freeland, Donna Gilliam, Gregory Ince, Lauren Dunner Ince, Rhonda Morman, Amaniyé Payne, Myrtle Primus, Oswald Simmonds, Jr., Clyde Wilder, Mama Amma Wiles McKen, Olukose Wiles, Sulé Wilson, Jawana Johnson, Leslie Powell, Adrienne Powell, Omar Morton, Darren Pointer, Mark Fields, Kweku Dapaa

lighting designerSauti Wills, Rhonda Morman

lighting operatorWilliam Mintzer, Katherine Reid, Gregory Chabby, Jeff Nash

musical directorBaba Chief Bey, Olukose Wiles, Baba Obara Wali Rahman Ndiaye

musicianBaba Chief Bey, Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu, Ralph Dorsey, Akua Kyerewaa, Amartey Dente, Mensa Dente Botwe Sawyer, Kamati, Louis Celestin, Ernest Huggins, Willie White, Yao Dinizulu, Okomfo Nyo, Baba Yomi Awolowo, Kolawole Balogun, Phillip Williamson, Stanley Robinson, Aby Shabazz, Vriel Charles, Freddie Rivera, Khalid Gatner, Daf !di-Coleman, Gregory Ince, Walter Ince, Obayana Olumide, Olukose Wiles, Baba Obara Wali Rahman Ndiaye

performerBaba Chuck Davis, Rosalyn Davis

photographerSulé Wilson, Paul Kolnik, Jerry Dantzic

production assistant/coordinatorMama Ella Thompson Moore, Muneer Mahmood, Obari Wali

set designer/decorJohn Blandford, Devere Ince

visual artistAenjai Graphics, Richard Barcliff, The Globus Brothers