When Katherine Dunham premiered her dramatic ballet “Southland” in Santiago, Chile, in 1951, opening night turned out to be closing night. One of the scenes depicted a lynching, and the American Embassy decreed that it was embarrassing to the United States and ruled there were to be no reviews — or future performances.
Two years later, “Southland” was performed to mixed reactions in Paris, and the hour-long show never made it to the stage again.
Until now.
“Southland” will have its U.S. premiere in Denver this fall, when Cleo Parker Robinson Dance offers performances Sept. 14, 15 and 16 in Gates Concert Hall in the University of Denver’s Newman Center for the Performing Arts. A national tour follows.
Julie Belafonte, who’d been a featured dancer in Dunham’s company before marrying Harry Belafonte 47 years ago, is in town this week to consult with choreographers, dancers, set and costume designers as they begin preparations for this historic occasion. She was welcomed at a reception held at the Cleo Parker Robinson theater and studio at 119 Park Avenue West.
Trustees, sponsors and special friends of the company were on hand for the intimate get-together for Belafonte, who is also believed to be the only surviving member of the original “Southland” cast.
Across town, in the Seawell Grand Ballroom, actor/comedian Bob Newhart was delivering the laughs at the annual Early Bird Special, a dinner and auction hosted by InnovAge, a family of nonprofit organizations dedicated to providing seniors with the services they need to remain independent.
Judi Wolf served as honorary chair for this event that saluted Donald Seawell, founder and chairman emeritus of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Seawell turns 100 on Aug. 1.
The Early Bird Special is so named because it begins with a “martini madness” cocktail hour at 4:30 p.m. and ends at 9. In between, there’s dinner, live and silent auctions and the show.
Proceeds this year go to the Johnson Adult Day Program, Seniors Inc. and Total Longterm Care.
Wolf’s son, Marco Chayet, was one of 20 on the benefit’s host committee, a group that also included Dr. A. Lee Anneberg, attorney Diana Wendel and InnovAge’s executive director, Leslie Karotkin.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and @GetItWrite on Twitter
