Ronald k. Brown (Founder, Artistic Director and Dancer) and Arcell Cabuag ( Associate Artistic Director, Dancer) - Evidence Dance Company, in their studio and office space at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation in Brooklyn, where the company is based. Their next work will open at the Joyce Theater on January 16, 2024. They will present Walking Out the Dark, a quartet, as well as Torch.
1) How old are you?
Ron is 57 years old. Evidence is 38 years old.
2) What did you want to be when you were a child?
From 2nd grade I wanted to be a choreographer so maybe 8 years old at 12 years old, I wanted to be a writer or Playwright/Journalist.
3) What has been an influential experience in your life ?
There have been several defining experiences; when I went on a school trip in second grade to see the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and when I traveled to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire for the first time in 1995 to teach contemporary dance are two life defining moments. Both of these experiences were life changing and impacted my personal and professional life in majestic ways.
4) Can you talk about the foundation of your artistic Collaboration?
I believe the foundation is rooted in familiarity. We have known each other for approximately 30 years and worked together professionally for 25. We have worked together very closely with Evidence, Ailey, Philadanco, Malpaso, Ballet Hispanico, Muntu Dance of Chicago and for Institutions across the US and abroad, so we know each other very well as artists, teachers and men who are dedicated to education and performance.
5) Do we activate better chances at positive change when history is brought in theConversation?
Yes, I think we understand what changes might be necessary when we bring history and life circumstances into conversations.
6) Can you tell us about your upcoming project at the Joyce Theater in New York
Evidence opens at The Joyce Theater on January 16. We will present Walking Out the Dark, a quartet, as well as Torch.
7) Your favorite place in New York?
The Brooklyn Museum and then my favorite restaurants; Philippe Chow, Love Joy Club and Brooklyn Crab.
8) Favorite soundtrack while working?
Currently, I am playing Jazz vocalist, Samara Joy and Gospel singer/composer Jonathan McReynolds.
9) Would you agree that a dance floor is never simply a dance floor?
I definitely believe a dance floor is more than a dance floor. I think the dance studio is a sacred space and the dance floor becomes our sacred common ground.
10) Will you ever leave NY? And if yes, where would you go?
We won’t leave New York totally but we could have residence in other locations. Many years ago I thought it would be Abidjan. Now I believe it could be Cuba, Hawaii, San Jose or a town/state close to New York , with more space and clean air.
1) How old are you?
49
2) What did you want to be when you were a child?
I always knew I wanted to be a performer. My sister was in dance classes when we were young and I always loved watching her classes and performances. In the 4th grade I performed in the talent show and at that moment, I knew I loved being on the stage performing.
3) What has been an influential experience in your life?
The first time I witnessed Ronald K Brown in rehearsal at the Alvin Ailey School. I was observing classes and saw him working with some dancers in the studio. I had never seen a dance style like this before. I was amazed and knew right away that I wanted to be in that studio to learn how to do that dance style. It ended up influencing my dance career and my life’s work.
4) Can you talk about the foundation of your artistic collaboration?
Ron and I have been working with each other for two and half decades. Not only do we have a bond through dance and work, but we are very close friends and partners. When we are rehearsing a group of dancers together, we often have those moments where we finish each other s thoughts and sentences. It is the same with dance when Ron is creating a dance phrase and piece. It also happens quite often when giving notes to the dancers when he is not in the room. I already know from watching, what notes and corrections to share, because instinctually I know what he wants to see and what he doesn t and what he is going to say.
5) Do we activate better chances at positive change when history is brought in theconversation?
Absolutely, our ancestors paved the way for us, and so when we look back on history we recognize how nothing is impossible and how resilience is in our blood and bones.
6) Can you tell us about your upcoming project at the Joyce Theater in New York?
January 16 - 21, 2024 EVIDENCE will perform two works at the Joyce Theatre. One is an evening length piece titled “Walking Out the Dark” this work was created in 2001 and ultimately is about relationships between two people who are challenged with communicating with each other, until they connect with their spirit and discover freedom, joy, love and bliss. We will also perform “Torch” created in 2012, which is an ode to all the people who we have lost from cancer. This work is dedicated to an incredible dancer and supporter Beth Young. In March we will return to the Joyce where we will premiere an evening length work choreographed in honor of Brooklyn native and music composer Max Roach who would be 100 years old this year.
7) Your favorite place in New York?
Over the past 10 years, Ron and I have become “foodies”, and so my favorite place in New York would be one of our favorite restaurants, Philippe Chow.
8) Favorite soundtrack while working?
I am a huge fan of music from the 1990’s. My favorite soundtrack is from the movie “Love Jones . It is also nostalgic to me because I saw this movie during one of my early years living in NYC, this is back in the day before iPhones, when we had CD walkmans. This soundtrack was all that I listened to on the subway and walking around NY. The music in this soundtrack reminds me of my personal journey here in NYC
9) Would you agree that a dance floor is never simply a dance floor?
To us as dancers, the dance floor is our haven. It is where we share, learn, discover, grow and live. Never has it meant so much to us, as when we were in the middle pandemic and away from it for so long. Sure, we found a way to dance in our homes on zoom, moving furniture around and connecting on our devices... but there is nothing like physically being on the dance floor where you feel safe to move and express yourself. It is the place where we are the most vulnerable and free.
10) Will you ever leave NY? And if yes, where would you go?
Yes, I do love New York, most of all because my work is here and the dance field thrives here. However, having the experience of traveling all over the world, I do see us having homes in other places in the world. I am originally from the Bay Area/ San Jose in California. I would love us to have a home there when I visit my family. My favorite places on earth are Hawaii and the Philippines. I do see Ron and I retiring at some point and living a simple life on an island having fresh fruits, surrounded by lush vegetation and the ocean with a living a relaxed lifestyle around a community of happy people where we feel safe and free
Ron Brown, Arcell Cabuag and Domenica Bucalo in conversation.
