Dansc4Nia’sAn Evening of Purpose

Annual Gala Event

Saturday, June 28, 2008The Pyramid Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

BOOKING INFORMATION

Inviting you to experience our innovative, extraordinary and passionate brand of concert dance, Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble specializes

in ...

ToursPerformances

Artist in Residency ProgramsMaster Dance Classes

Workshops Lecture Demonstrations

As Well as Collaborations with Other Organizations and Artists

To book Danse4Nia Repertory EnsembleContact Founder, CEO and Artistic Director

Antoinette M. Coward-Gilmore

267. 987. 5581 | 215.438.4140 ext. 2537 | 215. 927. 5753- fax

antoinette@danse4nia.org www.danse4nia.org

Uplifting, Advocating & Exposing the Value of Dance & the Performing ArtsD

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Saturday, July 12, 2008, 11:00am

The New Freedom Theatre1346 North Broad StreetPhiladelphia, PA

General Admission starts at $20, $15 for students

Beautiful... Passionate...Bold... Conniving... Vindictive... Scandalous...

How do African-American men REALLY feel about women? This honest, candid exploration includes multimedia effects, drawing from African, modern and post-modern dance. We invite all ethnicities to join us. Who knows? Our next exploration may be of YOU.

The first show will be presented on the final evening of the reknown Philly Fringe Festival with an oncore performance and reception on the following evening - both at Freedom Theatre`s John E. Allen, Jr. Theatre.

Saturday, September 13th at 8pm & Sunday, September 14th at 4pmTickets: $25 advance purchase ($30 at the door)

www.danse4nia.org | 215.438.4140 ext. 2537 | 267.987.5581

A Contemporary Modern & West African dance workshop for all ages!

featuring Abdel Salaam, Founder/Artistic DirectorForces of Nature Dance Theatre Company

New York, New York

STAFFRhonda Anderson - Legal Advisor Accra Cyntje - Marketing and Event PlanningJen Filer - Grant WriterJacquelyn Gilmore - Assistant to the Founder/ CEOMarquiese Gilmore - Rehearsal VideographerMarie Graham - Intern Pamela Hobson - Production Manager Takiyah Nur Amin - Director of Administration DJ Razor Ramon - Resident Collaborating Artist & House DJShawn-Lamere Williams - Resident Choreographer Choreographers 2008 - Zane Booker, Itola Byrd, Wayne St. David, Benjamin Cannon, Jumatatu Poe

2008- 2009 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kim Avant-Babb - Resigning Chairperson Jamahal Boyd - Co-ChairpersonJoyce D. Brown - SecretaryCamari Ellis - TreasurerCarrie M. Coward - ParliamentarianRob Davis - DirectorRosemary Jordan - DirectorMildred Swann - DirectorM. Christine Wiggins - Director

ADVISORY BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dr. Andre Ford, ChairRuth AdriennePhillipia AshbyJames CaldwellValerie Dorsey- AllenDella Harris-SmithAdenrele OjoChristine PierangeliCarloyn Sims-NesmithPearl Schaffer

“An Evening of Purpose”honoring

Dr. Kariamu Welsh and Robert E. Leslie, Sr. featuring

Live Performances Jazz Lounge

DancingSilent Auction

Raffles

6:30 p.m. Award Presentations & Dance Performance by Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble

7:00 p.m. Songstress Joilet Harris in her portrayal of Ella Fitzgerald

9:30 p.m. Raffle & Silent Auction Winners

DANSE4NIA

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

Carrie Coward- Co-ChairCamari Ellis- Co- ChairDionne BrownRob DavisTamara JacksonCharity JonesPriscilla LewisJill MurphyStacey MuseLavaina MuseRichard Sutton

Greetings, and welcome to “An Evening of Purpose”, the first Annual June Gala to celebrate Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble Inc., the company that dances for purpose.

As many of you may recall, this time last year we hosted our “Unveil-ing Extravaganza” that introduced Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble as a tax-exempt, 501c3 non-profit professional Contemporary Modern dance company. With our focus and goal of becoming a national and international touring dance company, Danse4Nia gives back to the community through offering community dance classes, artist-in-resi-dency programs, workshops and seminars that focus on ensuring the

quality and legacy of dance and the performing arts.

During our Unveiling Extravaganza, we honored our extraordinary dancers, dynamic resident and guest choreographers, amazing collaborating artists and our motivated founding board of directors. We made a heavy impact on our supporters welcoming each and every one of our guests into our world - a world full of purpose and promise through dance. We made a profound statement that Danse4Nia is here and here is where we will stay.

This year during our first annual gala “An Evening of Purpose”, we continue to honor the above named people, and we add to the ranks our steadfast administrative staff, enthusiastic fundraising committee, and a brand new energized advisory board. All help to build a strong foundation for Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble. However this evening, we not only celebrate the infrastructure of Danse4Nia, but we also honor the people before us who set the bar and standards upon which Danse4Nia was created.

Please join me in paying homage to Dr. Kariamu Welsh, founder of the Umfundalai Technique and Chairperson of the Dance Department of Temple University, as well as Mr. Robert E. Leslie, Sr., Co-Founder of The New Freedom Theatre. These are our trailblazers, leaders and elders of our community, but most of all givers to the legacy of art for all.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am humbled and in awe that Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble can salute our living legends and take the time now to give them their accolades.

How do you give back to those who have given so much to so many? You simply say thank you, we honor you and we love you.

So as we mix, mingle and celebrate Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble on this 28th day of June 2008, we also celebrate our living legends. Thank you all, God bless and always remember to live, breathe and dance for purpose.

Antoinette M. Coward-GilmoreFounder, CEO, Artistic DirectorDanse4Nia Repertory Ensemble

DANCERS

Talia BarrowsEnsemble Member

Gabrielle HilliardEnsemble Member

Jamey LongEnsemble Member

Caroline O’BrienEnsemble Member

Aliyah JonesApprentice

DANSE4NIA

Welcome!

On behalf of the Advisory Board members of Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble, we welcome you to this “Evening of Purpose” in celebration of the second annual Gala to support founder, Antoinette Coward-Gilmore’s vision to uplift, advocate and expose the value of dance and performing arts to the under served and society at large.

“Dance is for everybody. I believe that the dance came from the people and that it should always be delivered back to the people.” Alvin Ailey

Andre H Ford, PhD, President Advisory Board, Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble, Inc.

Remember the slogan “To Dance for purpose is to Danse4Nia!”

Dear Danse4Nia Guests:

Welcome to the Danse4Nia’s Evening of Purpose Annual Gala Event. This evening will to be filled with entertainment, glitter and promise as Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble showcases its talent and applauds industry pioneers.

As founding Board Chair, I have learned a lot during my brief involvement with Danse4Nia; I’ve worked with a group of dedicated individuals committed to growing this organization, and I’ve ex-perienced the artistry of dance from the inside. Although I will no longer be involved day to day with Danse4Nia, I will indirectly support the company in every way that I can and I hope that you will too.

I see a bright future for Danse4Nia as it carves its place in the local, national and international dance landscape. I wish the company well and pray that God guides their every step forward.

Enjoy the evening!

Peace & Blessings,Kim Avant-BabbFounding Board Chair, Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble, Inc.

DANCERS

Antoinette Coward-GilmoreFounder, CEO, Artistic Director

Adrienne Bell-HallRehearsal Director

Leslie TrammellCo-Rehearsal Director/ Company Liason

Shavonne S. MurphyDirector of Apprenticeship Program/ Ensemble Member

Janelle ArderlyEnsemble Member

DANSE4NIA

DONATIONS/CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS WELCOME

Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble (Danse4Nia) is a non-profit professional dance company dedicated to the uplift, advocacy and exposure of the value of dance and performing arts to the underserved, and to society at large.

Quoted as ‘one of the city’s most affecting dance companies’, Danse4Nia empowers audi-ences and change lives by offering culture-based, socially conscious performances and artist in residency programs to the community.

We invite you to help support the arts by becoming a Danse4Nia sponsor! In support of our September show, Through Their Eyes, presented at the 2008 Philly Fringe Festival, we welcome your advertisement in our show’s program book.

If you wish to offer additional support, there are several levels of Danse4Nia sponsorship. Whether sponsoring the show itself, placing an ad in our quarterly newsletter, or hosting a Danse4Nia performance at one of our area’s many schools, your company will benefit from the knowledge that your support helped to promote the power of dance and the arts in our area, thus contributing to the power of purposeful, positive community living for our society and youth.

For more information, please contact us at 267.987.5581 or info@danse4nia.org.

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RDR. KARIAMU WELSH Founder of the Umfundalai Technique & Chairperson of the Dance Department of Temple University

Kariamu Welsh is a professor in the dance department at the Temple University. Welsh has received numerous dance and choreography fellowships two Fullbright Awards, both to Zimbabwe to work with National Dance Company of Zimbabwe, the Guggenheim Fellow-ship and Pew Fellowships. She is currently a Senior Fullbright Specialist. As a choreogra-pher and artist, Welsh has worked with African art, music, textiles and dance for most of her career. From this interest and study, she began to experiment with dance in a holistic manner using total body movements, music, song, poetry and ululation. Umfundalai, which means “essential” or “essence” in Kiswahili, is the result of her experimentation. Stand-ing on the shoulders of Katherine Dunham and Pearl Primus techniques, the Umfundalai technique is a contemporary dance technique that continues to expand and grow as one voice among many.

*Reference from Boyer, Temple University Concert Series, Faculty Dance Concert

ROBERT E. LESLIE SR.Co-Founder of New Freedom Theatre

Robert E. Leslie Sr., Co-Founder and General Manager of Freedom Theatre was re-sponsible to oversee all aspects of Freedom Theatre’s daily and financial operations. In 1966, John Allen, Jr. and Robert E. Leslie founded Freedom Theatre, seeking to quench a burning desire for African-American representation in the theatrical arena. That vision blossomed into a firmly rooted community theatre offered both quality performances and a forum for social and political change. In 1972, Leslie’s insight expanded the vision to include the Performing Arts Training Program (PATP), devoted to training students in the performing arts classes and promoting human development through the exploration of self, others and the environment.

Leslie’s impact on the Philadelphia community has not been limited to the Freedom The-atre. He co-founded the Coalition of African-American Cultural Organizations; and remains ever active with the broader cultural community, including the North Philadelphia Empow-erment Zone Cultural Committee, the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance and Avenue of the Arts Advisory Committee.

In 1992, when Allen took a leave from Freedom Theatre, Leslie became its General Manager and ran it alone for nearly three years. During that time, Mr. Leslie made several innovations. He initiated what is now a main component of the theatre: drama classes for young people. Through arrangements with Temple University, he was able to hold classes both at Freedom Theatre and at Temple’s main campus.

Mr. Leslie announced his retirement from Freedom Theatre effective June 1, 1996. His commitment to the community is evidenced by his involvement and arts organizations.

* Reference from program book of A Tribute to Bob Leslie, Co-Founder Freedom Theatre

The musical stylings of

Joilet Harrisin her portrayal of Ella Fitzgerald

Accompanied By Pianist

Farrid Barron

In-Studio Photo Package for Family of 1-3*

Black Eye Soup Photography

‘Rapsody’Richard J. Watson

‘Organized Chaos’Bernard Collins

‘Misty’Bernard Collins

Disney’s Pirate of the Caribbean

Genuine Leather Jackets

Adenrele Ojo

Men’s LargeBrown

Women’s SmallBlack

African Inspired Jewelry & Fabric

The Silk Tent

Multi green Asian influenced 100% Silk

Sundress. Fabric design by Anna Sui, dress created

by Ameenah Designs. Women’s Large*

Ameenah Designs

AUCTION ITEMS AUCTION ITEMS continued...

RAFFLE ITEMS

32” Flatscreen Television*Dr. Andre Ford

I-Phone*James Caldwell / AT&T

One Full Day AdmissionDanse4Nia Meets Forces of

Nature Dance Workshop

DVD Player*Rosemary Jordan

Two Tickets toDanse4Nia’s September Production

‘Through Their Eyes’ How do African American Men Really

Feel Feel About Women

Two Tickets to theEAGLES*

*The fabric for the sundress is accurate, the style will be

different.

*While descriptions are accurate, images with the asterisk are for visual reference

only and may not depict the physical presentation of the actual prize item.