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

Celebrating her 100th Book...Congratulations Brenda Jackson!

Now celebrating the milestone of her 100th original work, romance author Brenda Jackson releases “A Madaris Bride For Christmas” (Harlequin Kimani Arabesque Press); one of her many series’ books now in its 3rd generation of the Madaris family saga that millions of readers have come to know and love, since Jackson first introduced them in “Tonight and Forever” in 1994.

Read more here:  http://www.eurweb.com/2013/10/whoa-african-american-romance-writer-brenda-jackson-celebrates-her-100th-novel/

Racial Identity Development Across the Diaspora

We have often explored issues of Black racial identity of African-Americans.  Today I ran across a blog post that made me consider racial identity across the African Diaspora.

Quite simply put, identity is a person's comprehension of themselves as a discrete, separate entity.  Racial identity development as often discussed in America is actually not based on ethnicity alone, but on culture as well.  Since history has produced varied experiences across the African diaspora, we recognize that racial identity development varies as well.  But people of African descent experience it differently in other countries.

"in the US, “one drop” of “black blood”, or African ancestry, made one black regardless of their physical appearance, many believe that, in Brazil, one drop of “white blood”, or European ancestry, could make one non-black or in some cases, white."

Black Women in Brazil

Read one man's experience of racial identity development in Brazil on the Black Women in Brazil blog on these two blogs here:

http://blackwomenofbrazil.co/2013/08/29/when-i-took-my-blackness-out-of-the-closet-denial-recognition-and-pride/

https://medium.com/i-m-h-o/1000a1f141bb

These are both great blogs and provide perspectives that are often not considered in America.

What do you learn about your own racial identity when considering how it differs in other countries?