Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish, returns to the stage to perform in Alvin Ailey's "Revelations

The voice on the phone belonged to Masazumi Chaya, the associate artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and he had a startling proposition. Would she — Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish, 55 years old, former Ailey superstar and current artificial-hip owner — come out of retirement to dance at a special performance on New Year’s Eve?

“Are you kidding me?” 

Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish (NY Times Photo)

she responded.

No he was not kidding and Roxas-Dorbrish has come out of retirement along with other alumni Guillermo Asca, Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Renee Robinson, Donna Wood Sanders, and Dudley Williams, are returning to the stage to perform in the Alvin Ailey classic, "Revelations" on December 31 at 7pm.

Watch Elizabeth Roxis-Dobrish here:

http://www.nytimes.com/video/arts/dance/100000002619817/returning-to-the-stage-at-55.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20131225

Read the full article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/25/arts/dance/with-willing-spirit-a-reprise-for-ailey-dancers.html

REVELATIONS
The first performance of Revelations was on January 31, 1960 in New York's Kaufman Concert Hall. This enduring classic is a tribute to that tradition, born out of the choreographer’s “blood memories” of his childhood in rural Texas and the Baptist Church. But since its premiere in 1960, the ballet has been performed continuously around the globe, transcending barriers of faith and nationality, and appealing to universal emotions, making it the most widely-seen modern dance work in the world.

http://www.alvinailey.org/about/company/alvin-ailey-american-dance-theater/repertory/revelations#

Real Diversity or Token?

Kerry Washington hosting SNL last month

SNL has taken a bit of heat about the lack of diversity among its cast members over the last several years. One of their responses has been to hold casting calls for African-American women.  It seems we may be seeing a new face or two pretty soon.  Even so, we all know the challenges of being the first and/or the only....what about the challenges of being the "token."  Will the people they hire always feel like they were hired just because they were black?  At what point do you transition from being the "token" hire to the real value added hire?   Either way, I wish them very much success.  Maybe now the African-American men in the show won't have to play women anymore.

Read the story here:

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/entertainment&id=9358676

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/13/business/media/snl-to-add-black-female-cast-member-in-january.html

Happy Independence Day to Kenya!

The first direct elections for Africans to the Legislative Council took place in 1957. Despite British hopes of handing power to "moderate" African rivals, it was the Kenya African National Union (KANU) of Jomo Kenyatta that formed a government shortly before Kenya became independent on 12 December 1963, on the same day forming the first Constitution of Kenya.  On 12 December 1964 the Republic of Kenya was proclaimed, and Jomo Kenyatta became Kenya's first president.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya