Wednesday, November 29, 2017
2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Hearst Dance Theater, Lewis Arts complex
FREE; open to public to observe
As part of Dyane Harvey-Salaam’s fall dance course, “The American Dance Experience and Africanist Dance Practices,” Mickey Davidson gives a lecture/workshop on “Authentic Jazz and Swing Dance” in the Hearst Dance Theater at the Lewis Arts complex. Free and open to the public to observe.
Photo courtesy Mickey Davidson
MICKEY DAVIDSON’s performing experiences include affiliations with Dianne McIntyre’s “Sounds In Motion Dance Co.”, “Norma Miller’s Lindy Hoppers”, Frankie Manning, Charles “Cookie” Cook, “Savoy Swingers”, “Roots Of Brazil”, Cecil Taylor, Sun Ra, Jeanne Lee, Newman Baker, Frank Owens, Oliver Lake and the Makanda Project to name a few.
Ms Davidson has been affiliated with Lindy Hop since 1985 when she started rehearsing with Norma Miller and her Jazz Dancers. Since Norma’s return to Las Vegas, Mickey has maintained the group under the name “Savoy Swingers”. Not only does the group maintain Ms Miller’s choreography, they perform other diverse jazz styles such as Tap and Modern Jazz in addition to floor and aerial Lindy Hop. Shows presented have been “Swingin’ Sisters”, Swingin’ In Time”, “Great Dancing Ladies” and Swingin’ At the Savoy”. Mickey teaches special Lindy Hop and Lindy related workshops nationally and internationally. Ms Davidson frequently partnered and assisted Lindy Hop legend Frankie Manning in workshops, video (“Everybody’s Dancing”), TV (Swingin’ with Duke, PBS) and during live performances.
Mickey is primary choreographer and director for Mickey D. & Friends, a group of dancers and musicians that explores and performs the interlocking relationship between music and dance. In 1993- 2013 Ms. Davidson took over the leadership for the arts-in-education dance company, “Okra Dance Co.”, this company presents multi-cultural dance programs in the states of N. Y., N.J., Pa., and Ct. Ms Davidson taught Jazz Dance and Tap , as a Visiting Lecturer at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Ct. for 17 years.
In theatre Ms. Davidson has enjoyed a collaborative relationship with poet/playwright Ms. Ntozake Shange for over six-teen years. Under Ms Shange’s direction Mickey choreographed “For Color Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf”, ”Beneath the Necessity of Talking and “Love Space Demands”. For Oddfellows Playhouse production of “Spunk”, Hartford Theatre Works production of “Paul Robeson”, European Tour of the Broadway production of “Black and Blue” Ms D. sets and maintains the Swing and Blues choreography inherited from Mr. Manning and Jazz Power Initiative’s “Holding the Torch for Liberty” being the latest.
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The Hearst Dance Theater is located at the forum level of the Wallace Dance Building in the Lewis Arts complex.
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