The 7th Annual “On Our Toes in
The Hamptons” featuring the internationally
acclaimed Evidence, A Dance Company under
the direction of founder Ronald K. Brown
and honoring Prince Kunle Omilana
of Nigeria and his wife Princess
Keisha Omilana for their support and
dedication to The Company will take place at
the home of Gala Co-Chairs The Honorable
Bernard Jackson and Joyce
Mullins Jackson, newly elected Chairman
of the Board of the dance company, Water
Mill, N.Y. on Saturday, August 21, 2010 from
4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
The mission of Evidence, A Dance Company is
to promote understanding of the human
experience in the African Diaspora through
dance and storytelling and to provide
sensory connections to history and tradition
through music, movement, and spoken word,
leading deeper into issues of spirituality,
community responsibility and liberation. The
Company is currently celebrating its 25th
anniversary this year. Highlights have
included a four-week tour to Africa
sponsored by the U.S. State Department,
performances at the Vancouver International
Dance Festival and a smashing season at
Harlem Stage in New York.
The benefit committee of what has become “
the premiere African American cultural event
of the Hamptons’ social season” includes
Reginald Van Lee, Chair; Zaid Abdul-Aleem,
Monica F. Azare, Veronica Claypool, Joanne
E. Hill, Andrea Hoffman, Leslie Mays, Gail
Monroe Perry, Lauren Roberts, Jennifer
Streakes, Dr. Ancy Verdier, Kathleen Vita
and Lisa Walker. Young Professionals
Committee includes BJ Coleman, Keenan
Davis, Estelle, Mignon Espy, Dr. Erika
Faust, James Nixon, Nkumera Pierre and
Phillana Williams.
Silver Anniversary Committee includes T.
Troy and Keisha Dixon, Maurice
and Andrea DuBois, Noel
Hankin and Moet Hennessy USA, Judith
Jamison, Pamela J. Joyner
and Alfred J. Giuffrida, Debra Lee
and BET Networks, Terry McMillan
Rhonda Mims
and ING, Ms. Baraka Sele, Marva
Smalls and MTV Networks
René Syler,
Susan Taylor and Khephra Burns,
Tamara
Tunie,
Cicely Tyson,
Reginald Van Lee
and Booz Allen Hamilton and Lynn
Whitfield
The late afternoon event will feature
signature cocktails by Moet Hennessey USA,
hors d’oeuvres by Kyle’s, a luxury online
auction on CharityBuzz.com, a special
performance by Evidence of “Ebony Magazine:
To a Village” and dancing with the dancers.
In addition to being one of the most elegant
parties of summer, the highlight of the gala
is always the electrifying performance of
Evidence, A Dance Company and this year will
be no exception as the piece they will
perform has special relevance to the
company’s roots – “Ebony Magazine: to a
Village”. Set to
an original score by Wunmi and choreographed
by Ronald K. Brown, "Ebony Magazine: to a
Village" begins with a parade of individuals
preoccupied with their own facade and
beauty. The mantra in the score, "do you see
what I see" is a challenge to question one's
perceptions. The movement allows the dancers
to shift from their self-consciousness to a
physicality that is more connected to the
ground and ultimately to each other. "Ebony
Magazine: to a Village" was originally
commissioned and performed by Cleo Parker
Robinson Dance Ensemble in 1996 and became a
part of the EVIDENCE repertory in March
1998.
Costumes are by Omotayo Wunmi Olaiya
and
Lighting Designer is Brenda Gray.
This year saw The Company performing,
teaching and serving as cultural ambassadors
in Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa.
Evidence appeared at the Olympic Arts
Festival in Vancouver and at prestigious
venues in California and Washington D.C. As
well, Ronald K. Brown performed at the 2010
Fred & Adele Astaire Awards in June and
Brown’s career was celebrated with an
exhibit at the Peg Alston Fine Arts Gallery
in NYC. The company’s New York City season
took place at Harlem Stage and will next
appear as part of the prestigious annual
“Fall for Dance” series at New York’s City
Center.
Honoree Prince Kunle Omilana of Nigeria
and his American born wife Princess
Keisha Omilana (nee Bolden) head up the
Wonderful Brand a multi-faceted business
which includes Wonderful TV a network of
television stations across Europe, fashion
and internet holdings. His wife Princess
Keisha Omilana is a fashion designer and
model who is known as the ‘Pantene Girl,’ as
she is the first African American woman to
be featured in three consecutive
commercials. Originally hailing from
Inglewood, California, she earned her
fashion degree in Chicago and soon began a
successful career as a fashion model. Keisha
has worked with major brands such as
L’Oreal, Maybelline, Revlon and Cover Girl.
Along with her success in the world of
fashion, Keisha has appeared in Zoolander,
30 Rock and Saturday Night Live.
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
Please visit our online Luxury Auction site
at
http://weblink.donorperfect.com/On_Our_Toes_in_the_Hamptons
More about the Honorees:
Prince Kunle Omilana – Founder & CEO
Wonderful Media
Kunle Omilana is the managing partner and
chief executive of WONDERFUL MEDIA;
his blueprint for the company’s growth
combines the flexibility and entrepreneurial
culture of an independent studio with the
strategic global relationships of a major
satellite network, drawing upon his over
10-year career in the international business
and television industry.
Kunle Omilana has established himself as a
pioneer in the Satellite Television
Industry. This is evident in his
establishment of the Inspiration TV Network,
the first ever 24 hour Christian Television
Network in Europe. He also holds the
accolade of being the first black person
to have his own television network in
Europe. His expertise comes from bespoke
training in Satellite Technology acquired
during training as a helicopter pilot in the
specialist Oxford Flying School, based in
the famous university town of Oxford in the
United Kingdom. This qualification, coupled
with over a decade of pioneering various
projects, has given Kunle Omilana a Midas
touch anywhere he gets involved in satellite
television. During his exemplary career
Kunle has made key mutual and business
associations with BSKYB, ARQIVA, EUTELSAT,
SES, and the UNITED NATIONS.
Another project which he has single handily
established is the Wonderful TV Network,
broadcasting to the whole of Europe. A key
element of Kunle Omilana’s managerial style
is the uniqueness of packages he is always
keen to offer. Over the past 10 to 12 years,
Kunle Omilana has shown an ability to move
from the status quo and create new
dimensions in broadcasting. His string of
successes is expressed in the international
viewership Kunle Omilana commands over the
continents of world.
As Kunle Omilana moves from one project into
another he is developing a platform in
Africa offering electronic program guide (EPG)
to over 250 channels; Music, Sport,
News, Fashion, Education, Business and
Economy will be on offer through channels
providing unique and innovative content.
Potential clients have expressed their
excitement by signing up for what will be
the first of its kind in Satellite
Television Platform services in Africa.
Kunle is lining up state of the art
technologies for play-out to the rest of the
world; guaranteed satellite capacity (GSC),
Multiplex and Uplink and Downlinks, EPG
provision and Internet Streaming
Princess Keisha Omilana
From the runway to the big screen and
everything in between, Keisha Omilana is a
bona fide force to be reckoned with. She
hails from Inglewood California and earned
her fashion design degree in Chicago,
Illinois. While in college, she filled in
for a fashion model during a show. In the
blink of an eye, Keisha went from designing
clothes to the catwalk. She later discovered
her true passion for fashion and set her
sight on the Big Apple. Keisha is most
recognized as "The Pantene Girl" becoming
the first African American women to be
featured in three consecutive commercials.
Unique in her own right, she has solidified
herself as a statuesque beauty from head to
toe.
As an accomplished parts model, Keisha has
worked with clients such as L'Oreal,
Maybelline, Revlon and Cover Girl. Along
with her success in the world of fashion,
Keisha has appeared in Zoolander, 30 Rock
and Saturday Night Live. She showcased her
pioneering ability by spearheading the
launch of Urban Sports, an urban twist to
ESPN's The Hot Seat. Keisha is currently
taking the business world by storm by
teaming up with her husband and business
partner. Together, they own Wonderful Brand.
Wonderful is a multi-faceted business
encompassing Fashion, Television and the
Internet. You can also find Keisha
conducting red carpet interviews at some of
the most celebrated award shows and events.