Evidence, A Dance Company will host its 9th Annual Gala on Monday, March 25, at New York City’s The Plaza Hotel in celebration of the life and legacy of Beth Young, a phenomenal dance enthusiast and supporter of Evidence, A Dance Company, and to support the dance company’s mission to promote understanding of the African Diaspora through dance, music and storytelling. Goldman, Sachs & Co., Valentino D. Carlotti will receive the 2013 Corporate Philanthropy Award for their support of the arts, the community and work of Evidence, A Dance Company. All proceeds from the gala will benefit Evidence’s outreach programs.Carlotti, a Senior Partner of Goldman Sachs, will accept the award on behalf of the global investment banking and securities firm. Distinguished guests from the arts and entertainment industry and business community will attend the star-studded benefit gala. The black-tie affair will begin with an elegant cocktail reception, followed by dinner, a special performance by Evidence, dessert and Evidence’s signature “Dancing with the Dancers”. The evening will also feature “Evidence After Dark”, a Young Patron reception, which begins at 8:30pm. Actor and director Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee will serve as the gala’s Honorary Chairs. Actress Lynn Whitfield will lead the awards gala as the Evening Host. Reginald Van Lee, Executive Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton and Chairman Emeritus of the board of Evidence, A Dance Company, is this year’s Gala Chair. The Torch Ball will present Evidence’s performance of its latest work, Torch, in honor of the legacy of Beth Young. Choreographed by Founder and Artistic Director Ronald K. Brown, this fervent dance tribute was created as a celebration of her perseverance and self-determination. Young studied with the dance company for over 15 years before losing her battle with cancer on January 6, 2012.
The dance company, which blends African, modern, ballet and social dance styles to tell stories about the human experience, will perform the work to the music of various artists including DJ Zinhle. “Evidence is deeply humbled to present ‘Torch’ at our annual benefit gala,” said Brown. “This new work seeks to understand legacy and the idea of passing the torch. We are dancing to celebrate Beth’s legacy. We dance for her, with her, and are the torch that pays homage to everything that she is and was.” “There are so many Evidence supporters whose light provide fuel for our efforts, and I am eager to share this dance of exaltation and thanks,” said Brown. An internationally-acclaimed and highly sought-after choreographer, Brown was the choreographer for Tony Award-winning THE GERSHWINS’ PORGY AND BESS on Broadway where he won the Fred and Adele Astaire Award for Outstanding Choreographer for a Broadway Musical. He has also choreographed works for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Jeune Ballet d’Afrique Noire, Ko-Thi Dance Company and Philadanco, among others. Evidence board members include: Ronald K. Brown, President; Zaid Abdul-Aleem, Chairman; Larry Satterfield, Treasurer; Gail Monroe-Perry, Secretary; Reginald Van Lee, Chairman Emeritus; Alvin Adell; Dwayne Ashley; Monica F. Azare; Reginald Canal; Spike Lee; Leslie Mays; James Sullivan; Jocelyn Taylor and Dr. Ancy Verdier For tickets to the gala performance and dinner, please visit www.evidencedance.com or call The JFM Group LLC at 914-235-1490 x11 or email evidence@thejfmgroup.com for more information. Individual tickets begin at $1,000, table packages begin at $10,000.
