May Program Schedule

Modern Dance Pioneer Katherine Dunham to Appear in Free Program, May 1 at the Library for the Performing Arts

Events Featuring Jean-Léon Destiné; Grant Johannesen; Frances Sternhagen; Richard Easton & Hayley Mills Round Out the Month's Free Offerings

New York, NY, April 22, 2004 -- When Katherine Dunham brought home the rhythms and abandon of primitive ritual dance from the Caribbean seventy years ago, she soldered the African identity to legitimate American modern dance forever. On Saturday, May 1 at 3:00 p.m., the legendary dancer, choreographer, anthropologist and social activist will appear at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center to speak about her seminal work in Haiti, as part of the Library's celebration of the 200th anniversary of Haitian independence. The free program will also feature screenings of Ms. Dunham's archival films of native Haitian dance. Part of the Library's regular series of free public programs, the event will be held at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at 111 Amsterdam Avenue at 65th Street.

One week later, Afro-Haitian dance master Jean-Léon Destiné -- who toured memorably with Dunham in 1946 -- will present the lecture-performance "Dances, Chants and Drum Rhythms of Haiti." Also in May at the Library for the Performing Arts: Pianist Grant Johannesen plays Brahms from the composer's own manuscripts; Richard Easton, Simon Jones and Hayley Mills perform a fanciful tribute to the 50-year friendship between John Gielgud and Noël Coward; Frances Sternhagen discusses her acting career with Joan Vail Thorne; and Margot Fonteyn lives, on film, in a rare screening of her landmark performance in the Sadler's Wells Ballet's 1949 production of The Sleeping Beauty.

Katherine Dunham
Born in Chicago in 1910, Katherine Dunham co-founded the first black concert dance group, the Ballets Negré, in 1931 while pursuing anthropology studies at the University of Chicago. A 1935 Rosenwald Foundation grant to study on site the dances of Haiti, Jamaica and other Caribbean cultures set the course of Dunham's life and lasting influence. Forsaking anthropology for dance performance, she launched the Dunham Dance Company in 1938 with the island-infused ballet L'Ag'Ya; its success led to collaborations on stage with Duke Ellington and on Broadway with George Balanchine (Cabin in the Sky). The troupe toured worldwide throughout the 1940s and 1950s, and appeared in the films Stormy Weather and Star-Spangled Rhythm.

In 1963, Dunham caused a stir with her provocative choreography and designs for Aida at New York's Metropolitan Opera Company. That same decade, Dunham became an active force in civil rights and African arts initiatives, twin passions she fused by establishing the Performing Arts Training Center in East St. Louis. Katherine Dunham received the Albert Schweitzer Music Award in 1979 and the Kennedy Center Honor in 1983. Today, she continues her advocacy for the poor of Haiti and the United States.

Free public programs of music, theater, film and dance are offered in May 2004 at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza. All programs are held in the Library's Bruno Walter Auditorium. Admission is free and seats are generally available on a first-come basis, although tickets are required on May 10. For further information, telephone 212.642.0142 or e-mail lpaprog@nypl.org.

Saturday, May 1, 3:00 p.m.
An Afternoon with Katherine Dunham.
In celebration of the 200th anniversary of Haitian independence, the venerable dancer/choreographer will speak about her immersion in Haitian dance and ritual, begun in the 1930s. The program will also feature screenings of Ms. Dunham's archival films of Haitian dance.

Thursday, May 6, 6:00 p.m.
Grant Johannesen, piano, plays Brahms in his own hand.
Mr. Johanessen will present a program including Three Intermezzos, Op.118; 51 Exercises, WoO 6 (a demonstration), and Variations of a Theme by Paganini, Book I. The original Brahms manuscripts for the Exercises and the Variations are in the Library's Music Division. Part of the ongoing series, Treasures of the Music Division.

Saturday, May 8, 3:00 p.m.
Jean-Léon Destiné: Dances, Chants and Drum Rhythms of Haiti.
The celebrated Afro-Haitian dancer, choreographer and folklorist -- and friends -- will offer a lecture-performance as part of the Library's celebration of the Haitian independence bicentennial.

Monday, May 10, 6:00 p.m.
Johnny G and Noël C: A Conversation Piece About a 50-Year Friendship.
Richard Easton, Simon Jones and Hayley Mills star in an original stage piece by Barry Day about the personal and professional collaboration between John Gielgud and Noël Coward, including scenes from The Constant Nymph, Nude with Violin, Private Lives and The Vortex, and continuing the Library's Ages of a Man: A Centennial Tribute to Sir John Gielgud. Tickets, which are free, are required for this program and will be distributed, one per person, from 4:00 p.m. on the day of the program.

Thursday, May 13, 6:00 p.m.
Frances Sternhagen.
Joan Vail Thorne of The League of Professional Theatre Women interviews the two-time Tony award winning stage and screen actress.

Thursday, May 20, 5:30 p.m.
Margot Fonteyn in The Sleeping Beauty.
The legendary prima ballerina is seen in her U.S. debut in a screening of Victor Jessen's surreptitiously filmed full-length document of the 1949-50 Sadler's Wells Ballet production. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition, Margot Fonteyn in America: A Celebration, opening May 18, 2004 and running through September 3, 2004 in the Library's Vincent Astor Gallery.

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts gratefully acknowledges the leadership support of Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman. Additional support for exhibitions has been provided by Judy R. and Alfred A. Rosenberg and the Miriam and Harold Steinberg Foundation.

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Contact: Herb Scher or Lindy Regan at 212.704.8600.