Photo by Yvonne Kemp
Milwaukee’s own Ko-Thi Dance Company has reached an incredible milestone in 2019. This veritable artistic gem, Milwaukee’s ‘best kept secret’, celebrates 50 years!
Always working to build community while addressing the challenges of our community through dance and the arts, this ensemble, founded and led by Ferne Yangyeitie Caulker, has literally reached thousands of communities nationwide through its Educational Outreach Program in schools – DRUMTALK – and the amazingly vibrant professional Ton Ko-Thi Children’s Ensemble. Since 1969 the Company has toured Japan, Canada, all over the United States, Dance Africa/BAM, Lincoln Center’s OUT OF DOORS Festival and Ravinia Festival/Illinois.
And now, celebrating their 50th anniversary, Ko-Thi will bring Milwaukee the phenomenal dance performance JUBA-LEE!
JUBA-LEE! will highlight a number of dances from within the diaspora including tap, jazz and traditional African pieces representing six countries: Haiti, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and the United States. The show features choreography by ensemble members: Artistic Director DeMar Walker, Sonya Thompson, Tisiphani Mayfield, and LePierce Eubanks, with orchestration by Musical Director, Kumasi Allen; both ensembles, Ton and Adult, promise to provide a stimulating educational and entertaining evening of original dance and drumming continuing the Ko-Thi artistic legacy.
JUBA-LEE! will be held August 2, 3 and 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 4, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Peck School of the Arts’ Mainstage Theater, 2400 E. Kenwood Blvd. Milwaukee, WI 53211
The company is extremely excited to present this new work to and for the community. Please join us, as we celebrate our past, present and future.
Tickets are available through the UWM Peck School of the Arts at uwm.edu/arts/box-office or by phone at 414-229-4308.
For further information: contact Ko-Thi Dance Company’s Sharon Patterson, Board Member, (414) 587- 7950, sdpatterson6556@ gmail.com.
