Ronald K. Brown / EVIDENCE, A DANCE COMPANY

Evidence Dance Company

Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE in She Is Here – Dancer: Annique Roberts – Photo credit: David Torrence

About the Company

Founded by Ronald K. Brown in 1985 and based in Brooklyn, EVIDENCE, A DANCE COMPANY focuses on the fusion of African dance with contemporary choreography and spoken word. This work provides a unique view of human struggles, tragedies, and triumphs. Brown uses movement as a way to reinforce the importance of community in African American culture and to acquaint audiences with the beauty of African forms and rhythms. EVIDENCE tours to some 30 communities in the United States annually. The company has traveled to Cuba, Brazil, England, France, Greece, Hungary, Hawaii, Ireland, Holland, Mexico, Columbia, South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, and in 2010 joined the U.S. State Department’s DanceMotion USASM tour to perform works, teach master classes, and conduct demonstrations. Annually, the company reaches an audience of more than 30,000.

Click here to learn more about Ronald K. Brown / EVIDENCE, A DANCE COMPANY.

Mission

The mission of Evidence 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.

Overview

Founded by Ronald K. Brown in 1985 and based in Brooklyn, New York, Evidence, A Dance Company focuses on the seamless integration of traditional African dance with contemporary choreography and spoken word. Through work, Evidence provides a unique view of human struggles, tragedies, and triumphs. Brown uses movement as a way to reinforce the importance of community in African American culture and to acquaint audiences with the beauty of traditional African forms and rhythms. He is an advocate for the growth of the African American dance community and is instrumental in encouraging young dancers to choreograph and to develop careers in dance.

Brown’s choreography is in high demand. He has set works on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, Cleo Parker Robinson Ensemble, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Jennifer Muller/The Works, Jeune Ballet d’Afrique Noire, Ko-Thi Dance Company, Philadanco and others. He choreographed Regina Taylor’s award-winning play, Crowns and won an AUDELCO Award for his work on that production.  “I hope that when people see the work, their spirits are lifted. I am interested in sharing perspectives through modern dance, theater and kinetic storytelling. I want my work to be evidence of these perspectives,” says Brown.

Evidence now tours to some 25 communities in the United States and abroad.  The company has traveled to Cuba, Brazil, England, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Mexico, Senegal, Nigeria, South Africa and Canada to perform, teach master classes and conduct lecture/demonstrations for individuals of all ages. Evidence brings arts education and cultural connections to local communities that have historically lacked these experiences. Annually the company reaches an audience of more than 25,000.

Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE, A Dance Company – Artistic Director Ronald K. Brown & Associate Artistic Director Arcell Cabuag – photo credit Quinn B Wharton

Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE, A Dance Company – Artistic Director Ronald K. Brown & Associate Artistic Director Arcell Cabuag – photo credit Quinn B Wharton

About the Artistic Directors

RONALD K. BROWN (Founder/Artistic Director) raised in Brooklyn, NY, founded EVIDENCE, A Dance Company in 1985. He has worked with Mary Anthony Dance Theater, Jennifer Muller/The Works, as well as other choreographers and artists, and has been on the faculty of The Juilliard School. Brown has set works on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Jeune Ballet d’Afrique Noire, Ko-Thi Dance Company, Philadanco, Muntu Dance Theater of Chicago, Ballet Hispánico, TU Dance, and Malpaso Dance Company.

He has collaborated with such artists as composer/designer Omotayo Wunmi Olaiya, the late writer Craig G. Harris, director Ernie McClintock’s Jazz Actors Theater, choreographers Patricia Hoffbauer and Rokiya Kone, composers Robert Een, Oliver Lake, Bernadette Speech, David Simons, and Don Meissner, and musicians Jason Moran, Arturo O'Farrill and Meshell Ndegeocello.

Brown is the recipient of the 2020 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award. His other awards and recognitions include the AUDELCO Award for his choreography in Regina Taylor’s award-winning play Crowns, two Black Theater Alliance Awards, and a Fred & Adele Astaire Award for Outstanding Choreography in the Tony Award winning Broadway and national touring production of The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, adapted by Suzan Lori Parks, arranged by Diedre Murray, and directed by Diane Paulus.

Brown was named Def Dance Jam Workshop 2000 Mentor of the Year and has received the Doris Duke Artist Award, NYC City Center Fellowship, Scripps/ADF Award, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts Choreographers Fellowship, New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, United States Artists Fellowship, a New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award, Dance Magazine Award, and The Ailey Apex Award.

Brown is Co-Artistic Director of Restoration ART Youth Arts Academy Pre-Professional Training Program / Restoration Dance Youth Ensemble and a member of Stage Directors & Choreographers Society.

ARCELL CABAUG (Associate Artistic Director/ Dancer) is a Filipino American native of San Jose, California where he trained with Charlie McGowan, Debbie Wilson, Keith Banks, and Soozi Childers. In 1995, he moved to New York City and attended the Alvin Ailey School where he was first introduced to Ronald K. Brown and EVIDENCE, A Dance Company. His professional experience prior includes dancing in: Rock the House for Paramount Pictures, The Shoji Tabuchi Show in Branson, MO, the Richard Rodgers Centennial Production of The King and I, the episode Choreographed on Law and Order SVU, and a Codorinu Cava commercial with Pilobolus shot and aired in Barcelona.

Arcell serves the dance community teaching master-classes and setting EVIDENCE repertory to dance institutions including; Boston Conservatory, University of the Arts, Coker College, NYU TISCH, University of Massachusetts, Connecticut College, Marymount Manhattan College, Kent State,The Alvin Ailey  BFA Program, the Jikei School Dance International Program throughout Japan, the Peridance Certificate Program, Dance Attack Studio, the Center of Creative Arts of St. Louis, the New Orleans Ballet Association Summer Intensive, and as the resident teacher and co-director of the National Choreography Institute.

Arcell was a professor at Long Island University, (Brooklyn Campus) and a Co-Directs the Bedford Stuyvesant Center For Arts & Culture Youth Arts Academy Pre-Professional Training program/Restoration Dance Youth Ensemble.

Arcell has assisted in setting original works on Philadanco, MUNTU Drum and Dance Company, Ballet Hispanico, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, MalPaso of Havana Cuba, TU Dance Company and was the Associate Choreographer for the Tony Award winning production of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess (Broadway and National tour). 

Arcell became the first EVIDENCE apprentice in 1996,  joined the company in 1997 and was appointed as the Associate Artistic Director in 2004 and when he also was awarded the New York Dance and Performance “BESSIE” Dancer Award.

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