By Edward Kliszus
Tonight’s event at Lincoln Center was a commemoration and celebration of Juneteenth on the eve of its 158th anniversary of independence. Lincoln Center is the apposite venue for an essential and memorable multi-dimensional artistic experience.
The celebration took place on the entire campus of Lincoln Center, with the audience moving from venue to venue for immersion in site-specific performances. Beginning at Hearst Plaza, a tree-lined space bathed in gentle Zen intones, the audience gathered around the reflecting pool with flowers floating gently on the water to a quiet breeze.
Mezzo-Soprano Alicia Hall Moran, blues and soul singer Martha Redbone, actress Trazana Beverly and Pianist Aaron Diehl guided the audience through a spiritually conceived sojourn of movement, poetry, and music. The nature scape formed the milieu for a fusion of creative, colorful costuming, visual art, dance, poetic and musical artistry, and staging for a transformative experience.
Lincoln Center map for Summer For the City. from SummerFortheCity.org
Dancers from Ronald K. Brown’s Brooklyn-based dance company Evidence were assembled on the stage in The Oasis at Josie Robertson Plaza as the audience filed in and found seating. This next stop in tonight’s sojourn was an energetic, passionate performance of traditional African dance with contemporary choreography and spoken word. This inspiring dance coterie of eight master artists shared their essence as they connected with the spellbound audience through excerpts of their extensive repertory of visual poetry through movement.
Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber performed next at the band shell stage in Damrosch Park– an improvisational band with Grammy winner Cedric Burnside. Poetic, powerful, inspiring.
The evening culminated with a Silent Disco Dance party at The Oasis, hosted by the Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis. Through gospel music reimagined by Rimarkable and highlights of African American contributions to modern music, Rev. Lewis inspired all to dance toward freedom.
Tonight’s Juneteenth Celebration at New York’s Lincoln Center was a reflective, fresh, and vibrant source of inspiration for all participants. This nonpareil venue inspired artistic expression and creativity with its lustrous modernist designs, magnificent facades, soaring columns, and capacious plazas. It was a celebration of elegance, sumptuousness, and breathtaking transcendence.
Artistic
Conceived, Curated, and Directed by Carl Hancock Rux
Performances by Aaron Diehl, Alicia Hall Moran, Martha Redbone, Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber with special guests Vernon Reid and DJ Logic, Morley Kamen with music by Chris Bruce, and Ronald K. Brown / EVIDENCE Dance Theater.
Silent Disco: Let Freedom Dance hosted by Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis with music by Rimarkable.
Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City – June 24-August 12
For information, go to this link.
If you have any questions about this event, please get in touch with Guest Experience at 212-875-5456 or guestexperience@lincolncenter.org
Readers may also enjoy our reviews of The Music Man at the Winter Garden, Intimate Apparel at Lincoln Center, La Bohème at the Metropolitan Opera, and Madama Butterfly at the Metropolitan Opera.
