Featuring the works of six African-American choreographers, the show is an unabridged broadcast honoring black traditions in modern dance. Asadata Dafora's
Ostrich (1932), Katherine Dunham's
Barrelhouse Blues (1938), Pearl Primus's
Strange Fruit (1943), Talley Beatty's
Mourner's Bench (1947), Donald McKayle's
Rainbow Round My Shoulder (1959) and Bill T. Jones's
D-Man in the Waters - Section 1 (1989) will be shown together for the first time; they were originally recorded as excerpts for
Dance in America's 2001 Emmy Award-winning documentary series,
Free to Dance.
Peformers include the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company; Talley Beatty, formerly of the Katherine Dunham Company; G.D. Harris of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company; and Dawn Marie Watson of Philadanco.
PBS's Great Performances will air Dance in America: Dancing in the Light, hosted by actor Taye Diggs, between Wednesday, June 20 — check your local listings.