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Photo Flash: Lynn Whitfield, Ronald K. Brown and More at EVIDENCE, A DANCE COMPANY's Torch Ball
By: BWW News Desk Apr. 01, 2013
Evidence, A Dance Company paid tribute to the life and legacy of Beth Young, a dance enthusiast and long-time supporter of Evidence, A Dance Company, and recognized Goldman, Sachs & Co. and, Valentino D. Carlotti for supporting the arts and community outreach at The Torch Ball on March 25 at New York City's The Plaza Hotel. Proceeds from the black tie affair support Evidence's mission to promote understanding of the African Diaspora through dance, music and storytelling. Scroll below for photos from the event!
Hosted by actress Lynn Whitfield, nearly 300 distinguished guests from the arts and entertainment industry and business community attended the 9th annual gala. The evening began with an elegant cocktail reception, followed by dinner, and two special dance performances by Evidence. The evening concluded with dessert and guests dancing on the dance floor for Evidence's signature "Dancing with the Dancers".
Reginald Van Lee, Executive Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton and Chairman Emeritus of the board of Evidence, A Dance Company, served as this year's Gala Chair. Actor and director Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee were the Honorary Chairs.
Goldman, Sachs & Co. was presented with the 2013 Corporate Philanthropy Award for their support of the arts and commitment to building and stabilizing communities. Valentino D. Carlotti, Partner and head of Goldman Sachs' Securities Division Institutional Client Group, accepted the award on behalf of the global investment banking and securities firm.
In a moving tribute to the legacy of Beth Young, Evidence Founder and Artistic Director, Ronald K. Brown presented Karin Young, twin sister of Beth, with the posthumous 2013 Community Activist Award. Beth studied with the dance company for over 15 years before losing her battle with cancer on January 6, 2012.
Choreographed by internationally-acclaimed Brown in Young's honor and in homage to other friends and family who have passed away, Evidence dancers performed the deeply spiritual work, Torch, to the music of various artists including DJ Zinhle. The dance company blends African, modern, ballet and social dance styles to tell stories about the human experience. Brown was the choreographer for Tony Award-winning THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS on Broadway where he won the Fred and Adele Astaire Award for Outstanding Choreographer for a Broadway Musical.
A live auction and bricks and mortar auction raised nearly $55,000 to support the dance company. Evidence supporters will have an opportunity to bid on auction items on CharityBuzz. Auction items include private dinners, tickets to a taping of BET's "Black Girls Rock 2013", and a shadow day with Susan L. Taylor, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus of Essence Magazine, among others. The auction runs until April 4 and can be accessed at www.charitybuzz.com/torchball.
Founded in 1985 by internationally-acclaimed choreographer Ronald K. Brown, Evidence, A Dance Company's mission 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. For more information, visit www.evidencedance.com.
Photo Credit: Getty Images for Evidence, A Dance Company.
Senior Partner of Goldman Sachs Valentino D. Carlotti
Artistic Director Ronald K Brown
Julianne Malveaux
Gail Monroe-Perry and Chairman Emeritus, of the board of the Evidence Dance Company and Executive Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton Reginald Van Lee
Chairman Emeritus, of the board of the Evidence Dance Company and Executive Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton Reginald Van Lee
Evidence, A Dance Company board members Dwayne Ashley, Gail Monroe-Perry, Dr. Alvin Adell, Artistic Director Ronald K Brown, Larry Satterfield, Leslie Mays and Chairman Emeritus, of the board of the Evidence Dance Company and Executive Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton Reginald Van Lee
Chairman Emeritus, of the board of the Evidence Dance Company and Executive Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton Reginald Van Lee, FrEddie Jackson and Artistic Director Ronald K Brown
CEO of BET Debra Lee
Jeanine Downie
Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman
Brie Bythewood
Artistic Director Ronald K Brown (4th from left) and Evidence, A Dance Company
Chairman Emeritus, of the board of the Evidence Dance Company and Executive Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton Reginald Van Lee, Kathleen Battle, Jessye Norman and Artistic Director Ronald K Brown
Associate Artistic Director Arcell Cabuag and Loida Nicolas Lewis
Willis Burton and Peg Alston
Annette Mitchell Scott, Chairman Emeritus, of the board of the Evidence Dance Company and Executive Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton Reginald Van Lee and Donna Williams
Jeanine Downie and Michael Heningburg
Phumzile Sojola and Andrea Jones-Sojola
Alicia Bythewood and Brie Bythewood
Phumzile Sojola, Andrea Jones-Sojola, Lisa Nicole Wilkerson and Artistic Director Ronald K Brown
Evidence, A Dance Company board members Dwayne Ashley, Gail Monroe-Perry, Dr. Alvin Adell, Artistic Director Ronald K Brown, Larry Satterfield, Leslie Mays and Chairman Emeritus, of the board of the Evidence Dance Company and Executive Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton Reginald Van Lee
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