Inspired by Mel Watkins’ book, “On The Real Side: From Slavery to Chris Rock”, Spike Lee’s controversial movie, “Bamboozled”, and Dave Chappelle’s “dancing vs. shuffling” analogy, Mr. TOL E. RAncE celebrates the humor and perseverance of the Black performer and examines stereotypical roles dominating current popular Black culture. Through comedy, animation, theater, soul-stirring live music and poignantly retrospective dance vocabulary,this evening-length dance theater work speaks to the issue of tolerance- how much Black performers had to tolerate, and addresses-forms of modern day minstrelsy we tolerate today. Blending and contrasting the contemporary with the historic, Mr. TOL E. RAncE is a personal work that strives to engage community in a timely dialogue about where we have been, where we are and where we might want to be.

The creation and presentation of Mr. Tol E. RAncE is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts in cooperation with the New England Foundation for the Arts through the National Dance Project (NDP). Major support for NDP is provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with additional support from the Community Connections Fund of the MetLife Foundation. Support from the NEA provides funding for choreographers in the early stages of their careers. This work was created, in part, during a Creative Development Residency at the Bates Dance Festival and Kingsborough Community College. This work was also funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Bay Area Performances made possible through support of the NEFA, NDP and AAAPAC. Special thanks to Dimensions Dance Theater, ODC Theater, K*Star*Productions.