The Voices of Dancers

My Mortality Matters: The Voices and Lives of Black Men

My guest on this episode is three amazing dancers; Zane Booker, Tommie-Waheed Evans, and Meredith Rainey. The conversation is riveting, honest, transparent, heartfelt, and liberating. Their truth about racism, discrimination, internalized homophobia, sexuality, and pride will make you want to hear more of their stories.

Zane Booker has performed in many companies including Philadanco, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Netherlands Dance Theater, just to name a few. He is most proud of the works and programs made for the Smoke, Lilies and Jade Arts Initiative, founded with Elaine and Brandi Booker in 2006 to raise HIV/AIDS awareness and honor dancers who lost their battle with the plague. In 2016, Mr. Booker created ZBE Productions through which he provides administrative and creative services. ZBE has worked as an artistic advisor and grant consultant with artists including John Dowell, Terrance Gore, and Philandanco. Recently, Intentionally Theatrical Conversations (ITC): a new performance and community engagement project was produced with and for SELF Inc, it highlights the talents of the homeless community. For more information: https://youtu.be/g0Fsmr_NL1w

Tommie-Waheed Evans is a proud recipient of the 2019 Princess Grace Honoria Award in Choreography. Born and raised in Los Angeles, began his formal training with Michelle Blossom at the Dance Connection. He continued his studies under the mentorship of Andrea Calomee and Karen McDonald at Hamilton High School before receiving a fellowship at the Ailey School, and a Master of Fine Arts in Choreography from Jacksonville University. His professional appearances include the popular sitcom; The Parkers, the Emmy Awards, HopeBoykinDance, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Lula Washington Dance Theater, The Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO) and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. He has created works for BalletX, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, PHILADANCO, Verb Ballets, Ballet Memphis, The University of the Arts, and Boston Conservatory at Berklee, among others. He is currently working on commissions with Lula Washington Dance Theatre and Louisville Ballet. In 2006 Tommie founded his Philadelphia-based company, Waheed-Works. For more information visit: www.tommie-waheed.com

Meredith Rainey began dancing at 15 in his hometown of Fort Lauderdale. In 1985 he joined the Milwaukee Ballet. In 1987, he was invited to join the newly formed Pennsylvania-Milwaukee Ballet, remaining with the Pennsylvania Ballet when the collaboration ended—the majority of the time as a soloist—until his retirement in 2006. Among other awards and fellowships, Meredith has been the recipient of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowship (1995 & 2002), the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Artist as Catalyst Grant (2001), the Independence Foundation Fellowship in the Arts (2002), a finalist for the Pew Fellowship in the Arts (2003), and a Pew Center for Arts and Heritage Grant (2010). Meredith has been commissioned to create works for Pennsylvania Ballet, Ballet X, Delaware Ballet, Hubbard Street 2, National Ballet De Cali, Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble, and institutions such as The University of the Arts, Drexel University, Stockton University, Goucher College, Swarthmore College, and Bryn Mawr College. His work has been performed in North and South America and throughout Spain. For information visit: www.meredithrainey.com

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