The sounds of singer-songwriter, Bill Withers, are easily recognizable to most music lovers. If you can’t identify him by name, you certainly know his music. Think of his soulful rasp in songs like “Lean on Me,” or “Ain’t No Sunshine.”
For fifteen years Withers performed and recorded his songs. He won three Grammy awards and was nominated for several more. Artists in nearly every musical genre have covered his work, including Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Jimmy Buffett and Michael Jackson.
For one night only the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble (AWCDE) will perform “Suite Bill,” a nod to the renowned musical giant of blues and R&B.
The evening was inspired by the August Wilson Center’s theme this year, “Continuum,” which celebrates “Affrilachians,” or African Americans from the Appalachian region of the United States. All season, the center will pay tribute to prominent artists who came from the area.
Withers grew up in a small coal-mining town in rural West Virginia. After serving in the Navy for nine years, he made the move to Los Angeles where he pursued a career in music.
The hour long show will take place in the Center’s dance studio to give it a more up-close-and-personal feel. “Suite Bill” features ten dancers - seven company members and three apprentices. The dancers also took on the choreographic role, and have created each piece on the program.
Artistic Director, Greer Reed, says, “One of my goals for the company is to be a platform for choreographers, including the dancers themselves. I have amazing dancers, but they are great emerging choreographers as well. At any point I feel it is appropriate for them to stretch their arms in that way, I let them.”
Reed chose the songs and oversaw the process, sketching out the final order of the show which will include solos, duets, trios and group sections. Spoken word artist, Vanessa German of the August Wilson Center Theatre Company, will perform, shedding light on Withers’ history. Also, snippets from the Showtime Documentary “Still Bill” will provide an introduction to the evening.
In only their second official season, the AWCDE has already received national acclaim. Dance Magazine recently named them as one of their top 25 companies “to watch.” The technical prowess of the dancers alone has audience members talking (and gawking). Under the direction of Reed, once a dancer for the Alvin Ailey II company, the ensemble is headed towards a long reign in the Pittsburgh dance community.
When - January 21st, 8:00 p.m. at the August Wilson Center, 980 Liberty Avenue, Downtown.
Tickets - $25 and can be purchased online at www.culturaldistrict.org, by phone at 412.456.6666 or 412.338.874 (groups of 10 or more: 412.471.6930), or at the Box Office at Theater Square, 665 Penn Avenue, or at The August Wilson Center.
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