American Masterpieces Archive

The Mid Atlantic American Masterpieces Artistry & Influence Tour, celebrated the legacies of three women founders of seminal performing arts companies with deep ties to the Mid Atlantic region.  The Foundation provided support for the presentation of the companies founded by Joan Myers Brown, Martha Graham, and Bernice Johnson Reagon.  As part of the Artistry & Influence Tour, these groups presented works from their repertoire that exemplified and celebrated the rich evolution of modern dance and choral music.

Click here to view the American Masterpieces: Artistry and Influence Tour Brochure.

2007-2008 American Masterpieces Artistry and Influence Tour Roster

PHILADANCO
The Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO), founded by Joan Myers Brown in 1970, is a modern contemporary dance company that tours nationally and internationally. Celebrating its 35th Anniversary Season, the company has traveled the country and the world, performing before sold-out audiences of diverse people of all ages, creed, ethnicity and cultural traditions.

Since its inception PHILADANCO has had a significant impact on the dance world. As a cultural ambassador representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia, its artistic direction and renowned national and international guest choreographers have developed a reputation of producing a dance repertory with passion, power, skill and diversity.  The unique blend of dance styles of PHILADANCO, and its roster of 50-60 concert performances and 45 residencies annually has made them one of the most sought after modern companies in the United States.  PHILADANCO will perform a number of pieces from their repertory of innovative works by renowned American choreographers such as Talley Beatty, Ron K. Brown, George Faison, Donald McKayle, Elisa Monte, Pearl Primus and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. www.philadanco.org

Martha Graham Dance Company
The MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY is the oldest and most celebrated contemporary dance company in the world. Noted as an American genius, Graham is widely acclaimed as the founder of modern dance. She created an art form and a repertory of 181 works – putting her creative output on a par with Picasso and Stravinsky. Since its inception, the MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY has received international acclaim from audiences in over 50 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Martha Graham Dance Company will tour a program of such renowned works as Appalachian Spring, Acts of Light, and Sketches from Chronicle, as well as Prelude and Revolt, a special program chronicling Graham’s emergence as a singular artist.

For venues with technical challenges, a core company of 5-6 dancers and technical crew will offer a range of smaller works and excerpts.  A full range of residency activities is available for all presenters. www.marthagrahamdance.org

Sweet Honey in the Rock
Founded by Bernice Johnson Reagon in 1973 at the D.C. Black Repertory Theater Company, Sweet Honey In The Rock, an internationally renowned a cappella ensemble, has been a vital and innovative presence in the music culture of Washington, D.C., and in communities of conscience around the world. Now in her fourth decade, the Grammy® Award-winning ensemble moves forward, following Bernice Johnson Reagon’s retirement in February 2004, continuing the legacy begun thirty-three years ago.

Rooted in a deeply held commitment to create music out of the rich textures of African American legacy and traditions, Sweet Honey In The Rock possesses a stunning vocal prowess that captures the complex sounds of Blues, spirituals, traditional gospel hymns, rap, reggae, African chants, Hip Hop, ancient lullabies, and jazz improvisation. Sweet Honey’s collective voice, occasionally accompanied by hand percussion instruments, produces a sound filled with soulful harmonies and intricate rhythms. 

Sweet Honey will perform its full range of works in this tour offering, including songs inspired by the American Civil Rights movement, the distinctive “call and response” style of African and African-American composition and performance, hymns, gospel music and spirituals of the black church as well as jazz and blues.

Sweet Honey In The Rock is Arnaé, Ysaye Maria Barnwell, Nitanju Bolade Casel, Aisha Kahlil, Carol Maillard, Louise Robinson, and Shirley Childress Saxton. www.sweethoney.com

Funding for these tours is made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces Program.