On Our Toes in the Hamptons, the annual performance and fundraising gala featuring Evidence, A Dance Company one of the world’s premier professional dance companies, returns for the sixth year. Founded by Ronald K. Brown, Evidence, A Dance Company is rooted in African dance fusing Contemporary, Jazz and Ballet with the rhythms and sounds of the African Diaspora and Caribbean cultures. The late afternoon gala will take place at the Watermill residence of The Honorable Bernard Jackson & Joyce Mullins-Jackson Saturday August 22 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Former CBS’ “The Early Show” co-anchor & best-selling author Rene Syler will be the event’s emcee. Media Sponsor is Hamptons.com.

In just six years, On Our Toes in The Hamptons, the dream of Susan L. Taylor (author & Editorial Director Emerita Essence Magazine) and Reginald Van Lee (Sr. V.P., Booz Allen Hamilton) in bringing Black culture to the Hamptons, has evolved to become the only continuous, major African American cultural event of the Hamptons summer season. The mission of Evidence is to promote understanding of the African Diaspora through dance and storytelling

Alicia Bythewood of Sag Harbor and New York is Chairman of what has become the premiere African American cultural event of the season. Her committee includes fashion designer b Michael, Harriet Michel, Brian and Mira Mullins, Donna Williams. Reginald Van Lee, Neil R. Lowe, Joyce Mullins-Jackson, Reggie Canal, Leslie Mays, Zaid Abdul-Aleem, Dwayne Ashley, Monica F. Azare, Joanne E. Hill, Andrea Hoffman, Sandra D. Jackson-Dumont, James Sullivan, Jocelyn Taylor, Ancy Verdier and Lisa B. Walker.   

Now celebrating its 24^th year, EVIDENCE, A Dance Company under the direction of founder, choreographer and dancer Ronald K. Brown has grown to become the pre-eminent African American dance company in the world. The company has garnered critical acclaim internationally and extraordinary praise for its creator. “Ronald K. Brown has emerged as one the strongest, most distinctive choreographers around” noted John Rockwell in the New York Times (February 9, 2006).

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Unusually sensitive to the human condition, Brown creates dances that attest to life’s struggles but continue to connect the individual to community with promises of redemption. New York Times dance critic Anna Kisselgoff noted “his themes are spiritual, even those who do not believe that there is a promised land might agree  that Mr. Brown makes a journey in that direction look persuasive and powerful.” She went on to add “Brown has moved into a class by himself.”

The company will celebrate its 25^th season in 2010. Highlights include a four-week tour to Africa sponsored by the U.S. State Department and performances at the Vancouver International Dance Festival.

The late afternoon event will feature cocktails courtesy of Moet Hennessey; hors d’oeuvres and several Paella stations from The Seafood Shop of Wainscott; silent & live auctions of luxury items and one-of-a-kind packages auction, performances by the company and dancing with the dancers. Select auction items will be available for advance bidding on www.CharityBuzz.com.  The event is coordinated by The JFM Group.

Tickets are $250 & $500: Sponsor packages are $25,000, $15,000, $10,000, $7,500, $5,000 and $2,500. For tickets and sponsorships contact Alexandra Diaz, JFM Group at 914.235.1490 ex. 16 or alexd@thejfmgroup.com. For more information on Evidence, A Dance Company and the event visit www.evidencedance.com

The Performance Program for On Our Toes in The Hamptons will include the following:

FOR YOU (2003)

Choreography by Ronald K. Brown; Music by Donny Hathaway “A Song For You” ; Music performed by Gordon Chambers; Costumes by Omotayo Wunmi Olaiya .Performed by Ronald K. Brown. “For You” was originally choreographed in memory of Stephanie Reinhart, co-director of the American Dance Festival.  A tribute to all of those we have loved and lost too early in their journeys.

WALKING OUT THE DARK (excerpt, 2002)

Choreography Ronald K. Brown; Music performed by Farai Malianga; Costumes by Carolyn Meckha Cherry. Performed by Tiffany Quinn, Clarice Young, Arcell Cabuag, Otis Donovan Herring.

Walking Out the Dark was co-commissioned by the American Dance Festival with support form the Doris Duke Awards for New Work and Philip Morris Companies, Inc., the Bessie Schonberg/First Light Commissioning program of New York’s Dance Theatre Workshop with funds from the Joyce Mertz-Gilmore Foundation and the Greenwall Foundation with additional funds provided by Chase Manhattan Bank; the National Endowment for the Arts; the Aaron Davis Hall Fund for New Work,  and The University of Texas at Austin Topfer Endowment for the Performing Arts.

Walking Out the Dark was made possible by the Doris Duke Fund for Dance of the National Dance Project, a program administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Philip Morris Companies, Inc.

About Evidence, A Dance Company

The mission of Evidence, Inc. is to promote understanding of the human experience in the African Diaspora through dance and storytelling. The Company’s performances provide sensory connections to history and tradition through music, movement, and spoken word, leading deeper into issues of spirituality, community responsibility and liberation. In addition to public performances, Evidence sponsors outreach programs, workshops, master classes and educational activities for dance enthusiasts of all ages.

 Evidence, A Dance Company is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit organization founded by Choreographer and Artistic Director Ronald K. Brown. The company tours to some 30 communities around the world annually.  It has also traveled overseas to Cuba, Brazil, England, France, Greece, Hungary, Mexico and Senegal to perform, teach master classes and conduct lecture / demonstrations for young people. Evidence will celebrate its 25th anniversary season in 2010.  Highlights include a special four-week tour to Africa, sponsored by the U.S. State Department and performances at the Vancouver International Dance Festival, sponsored in part by the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Para Olympic Winter Games, among other events. 

Evidence, A Dance Company Credits:

CHOREOGRAPHER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, Ronald K. Brown

ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, Arcell Cabuag;  THE COMPANY: Ronald K. Brown, Arcell Cabuag, Otis Donovan Herring, Tiffany Quinn, Clarice Young; COSTUME DESIGNERS Carolyn Mechka Cherry, Omotayo Wunmi Olaiya; TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, Dalila Kee; WARDROBE DIRECTOR, Carolyn Meckha Cherry.