WS Chronicle

By Felecia Piggott-Long, Ph.D. 

Powerful dance groups, poets, singers, and spoken-word artists made their presence known at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration sponsored by the North Carolian Black Repertory Company (NC Black Rep) on Monday, Jan 20, at the HanesBrands Theatre in Winston-Salem. More than 200 supporters joined the celebration, bringing donations of non-perishable food items, ready to bless the less fortunate in the spirit of community.  

Brian McLaughlin served as the emcee for the evening. Award-winning performer Brian Cager did the honor of preaching the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech that revealed itself as a sermon at the March on Washington. 

McLaughln also directed two historical game shows which included the Civil Rights Act, the Freedom Riders, the Little Rock Arkansas Nine, Rosa Parks, the Fair Housing Act, Brown vs. Board of Education, several amendments to the Constitution, and the A&T Four. 

The Pointe! Company & Technique Conservatory wowed the crowd with their rendition of “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday. Their performance included movements from the genres of hip-hop, ballet, tap and jazz. They used red scarves to show the presence of blood that flows from a lynching. The stage was covered with dynamic movement and emotional responses. 

The Story Lady Renee Andrews joined with the Monica and Jerome International Dance Experience to present a tribute to the late Nikki Giovanni. Andrews performed the poem “The Genie in the Jar,” and the dance group presented dance moves to the words of the poem. The group danced to the song “Whisper” and closed with the Negro Spiritual “Wade in the Water.” 

The Greater Vision Dance Company was dressed in Army camouflage, ready to offer an act of remembrance, a political statement about the many youths who have been lost in the struggle for freedom. The backdrop for their movement was Micheal Jackson’s “They Don’t Really Care About Us.”  Before each name was remembered, they invited the audience to “Say his name, say her name.” Some of the names they included in their roll call included Ayanna Jones, Sandra Bland, Imani Gray, Micheal Brown, Emmett Till, Joan Cullen, Tommy Yancey, Aubrey Brooks, among many others. 

Triad Dance, Tumble and Cheer opened the performance with cheers and dances that defined what Dr. King believed. They used their leadership skills to tell a moving story of King’s vision. 

In Alice Bitting’s spoken-word narrative, she stepped into the character of the 16th Street Baptist Church where four young African American girls were bombed by the Ku Klux Klan after Sunday school in 1963. This house has “stood witness to the hopes and dreams of the people, to marriages, to homecomings. Dignity graced her pews.” However, on that fateful day the church stood witness as God called Denise McNair, Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley home. “I am so sorry I could not save you,” said the church. 

Odario Torrence presented a spoken word statement on independence. Ciltona Cawthorne presented an original poem called “Dear Black Woman.” Sydney Hughes took us to church with a gospel number called “I Know Where I’ve Been.”  McKinley Pate. who will be cast in the play “Fences,” presented her choice of “Wade in the Water” as a spoken word narrative from the point of view of a creative drama for children.  

“I am so excited about tonight’s program. Dr. King would have been 96 years old tonight if he had been in the house. Forty-one years ago, when Larry Leon Hamlin initiated this celebration, he said, ‘You don’t have to look farther than in your own backyard to find talent for this celebration,” McLaughlin said.   

McLaughlin recognized the board members of the company, the guild members, the Marvtastic members, and other Black Rep enthusiasts. When executive director Jackie Alexander came forward, he elaborated on the 2025 season which will include “Fences” by August Wilson (Feb. 28-March 16), “Blooming in Dry Season” (Aug.10), “Purlie Victorious“ (Oct. 3-19), and “A Motown Christmas” (Dec. 5-21).