JOAN MYERS BROWN
Ms. Brown is an artist, a visionary, and an entrepreneur. Founder of the Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO) in 1970, and The Philadelphia School of Dance Arts in 1960, In addition to her own companies, she serves as honorary chairperson for the International Association of Blacks in Dance, an organization she established in 1991, which received a Bessie in 2000. She is a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of the Arts, which bestowed upon her an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Ursinus College, and is a member of the dance faculty at Howard University. She also received an honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania. She has made significant contributions to the national and international arts communities.
Joan Myers Brown has served a broad range of regional and national organizations, including NEFA’s National Dance Project, the United States Information Agency, Arts America, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arts Councils of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, Nevada, and Ohio and the National Forum for Female Executives. Locally, she has been a part of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, the Minority Arts Resource Council, the Philadelphia Mayor’s Cultural Advisory Council, the Philadelphia Dance Alliance, The Woman’s Heritage Society, the Coalition of African American Cultural Organizations, Dance USA/Philadelphia and many other organizations.
In 1988, she founded the International Conference of Black Dance Companies and subsequently convened four others. Joan Myers Brown’s extraordinary legacy continues through her daughters Dannielle, Marlisa, and Ashley, teachers at The Philadelphia School of Dance Arts. She is also the proud grandmother of six.
Her efforts for dance excellence are only part of her contribution to society and Philadelphia in particular. Ms. Brown’s efforts on behalf of dance excellence belie a much larger contribution to the arts and the community. She remains a tireless advocate and spokesperson and is a model of tenacity, hope, and discipline.
KEN PAGE may be best known as the voice of MR. OOGIE BOOGIE in Tim Burton’s cult classic film, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. Since 1997 he has supplied his vocals for all the subsequent products and at all the Disney Parks. For the past few years, he has performed in sold out engagements of the score sung live at THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL and BARCLAY CENTER N.Y. and most recently toured the UK, Glasgow Scotland, London England (SSE Arena Wembley) and Dublin, Ireland. Film: DREAMGIRLS (Max Washington), TORCH SONG TRILOGY (Murray), ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN (V.O. King Gator). Mr. Page’s television appearances are numerous. Ken made his Broadway debut in GUYS AND DOLLS as Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the all-black revival, (THEATRE WORLD AWARD). He recreated that role at THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL were he also performed the role of SEBASTIAN in THE LITTLE MERMAID live to film. Some of his other Broadway and New York, London credits include Tony Award winning musicals CATS (OBC & Video/Film Casts -Old Deuteronomy, GRAMMY AWARD), AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ (OBC, L.A, Paris, EMMY AWARD Winning NBC T.V Special, DRAMA DESK AWARD- Best Actor, GRAMMY AWARD), THE WIZ, (Lion) WIZARD OF OZ (Cowardly Lion,). In LONDON’S WEST END Ken starred in CHILDREN OF EDEN (Father), MY ONE AND ONLY- Palladium Concert – (Rev. Montgomery) Mr. Page’s one-man concert, PAGE BY PAGE is performed across the country and has been recorded live and released on CD (LML Music). Ken can be heard on seventeen compilation or Original Broadway Cast or Soundtrack recordings. Ken recently directed a critically acclaimed production of CAROUSEL with UNION AVE. OPERA of St. Louis and performed with OPERA THEATRE ST LOUIS as Major Domo in ARIANDNE AUF NAXOUS. His productions of CAFÉ CHANSON and SUBLIME INTIMACY (writer/ director) received a total of six St. Louis Theatre Circle Award nominations including Best New Play and Best Director. He has performed his Cabaret show with JAZZ ST. LOUIS at THE BISTRO and FIENSTIEN’S 54 BELOW where he also performed in the 40th Anniversary concert of AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’. Mr. Page is a 2021 nominee for the L.A. OVATION AWARD as Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance as Chuck Barrels in GRUMPY OLD MEN the Musical with La Mirada Performing Arts Center/McCoy Rigby Prod.
Actor, Singer, Dancer, Director, Producer, TAMARA TUNIE is a star of Film and Television with memorable performances in Law and Order: SVU, THE RED ROAD, BLACK EARTH RISING, ALMOST FAMILY, DIETLAND and many, many more. She has joined the cast of AppleTV’s SEE for Season 2, and NETFLIX’S new action series COWBOY BEBOP, both arriving 2021. Broadway credits include DREAMGIRLS and JULIUS CAESAR, OH KAY!, LENA HORNE: THE LADY AND HER MUSIC. Other theatre credits: FAMILIAR (Obie Award), AMERICAN SON (Berkshire Theatre Award), BUILDING THE WALL, THE TEMPEST, 42ND STREET, THE ROOMMATE, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, LES LIASONS DANGEREUSE, ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. Films include A JOURNAL FOR JORDAN (DECEMBER 2021), FLIGHT, THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE, THE CAVEMAN’S VALENTINE, CITY HALL, EVE’S BAYOU, IRREPLACEABLE YOU, FALL TO RISE, BAD VEGAN, and more.
Ms. Tunie’s first “role” as Broadway producer, was on the team responsible for the Tony Award-winning musical "Spring Awakening." She also produced August Wilson's Tony Award nominated "Radio Golf", and “Magic vs Bird”. Off-Broadway, Ms. Tunie produced The Dutchman at The Cherry Lane theater, and the world premiere of FROG KISS at Virginia Stage Company in Norfolk Virginia.
She produced and directed the feature film "See You in September," starring Justin Kirk and Estella Warren. Shooting on the streets of New York City, the film surrounds a woman who forms a support group for abandoned patients when all their therapists go on vacation in August and finds true love.
Ms. Tunie also directed and co-wrote the world premiere of JAZZLAND at THE HARLEM SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, and is directing the new musical DOROTHY DANDRIDGE, about the life of the legendary Hollywood movie star, and another new musical in development, entitled LOVE AND SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT.
Ms. Tunie is an acclaimed vocalist, and her debut album “Dreamsville” launched at the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival.
In 2005, Mayor Bloomberg awarded her the "Made in New York Award" from the City of New York, for her support and commitment to Film, Television and Theater in Manhattan.
Ms. Tunie is a Carnegie-Mellon University Musical Theatre Alumna and is a member of its Board of Trustees.
Sarita Allen
Dancer, Choreographer, Master Pilates Teacher, Ailey Ambassador
Sarita Allen, world-renowned dancer, actor and all around performing artist, began her training at the acclaimed Cornish School of the Arts in Seattle Washington, she later received a scholarship to the Dance Theater of Harlem in New York City. An accomplished dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The Jamison Project, Complexions and Paradigm. As Alvin’s muse, Sarita Allen was the inspiration for many
classic ballets for the Ailey Company. Currently she holds positions as Artistic Advisor for Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Ailey Ambassador, where she advances their dance education agenda as well as teaches Pilates and Ailey Barre across all disciplines and demographics. As part of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Sarita performed at The Paris Opera, the Acropolis, the Great Pyramids of Giza, also The Kennedy Center, and the White House for two Presidents. Her affiliations also include Warner Media, where she designed and implemented the Pilates program for HBO, CNN, WARNER BROTHERS and CINEMAX and others.
Though she’s pivoted to teaching Zoom classes, she misses seeing her friends and clients in person.
Sarita developed a dual interest in both performance and fitness and began studying Pilates Technique with Kathy Grant. Grant is regarded as one of two “grand dames” in the technique, and was personally taught and certified by technique founder and fitness innovator Joseph H. Pilates.
for appointment DM on Instagram @sarita_allen_movement
Join Sarita every Saturday morning at 9am est for Ailey Barre at Ailey Extension on-line @aileyextension
Masazumi Chaya
Masazumi Chaya began dancing with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in 1972. After
years of performing, he was appointed associate artistic director by Judith Jamison in 1991.
In this role, he's served as an invaluable connection to the past and an exceptional resource
for the dancers and artistic team alike. In 2019 he was the recipient of The Dance
Magazine Award, which has long celebrated living legends who've made a lasting
impact on dance. In January of 2020 Mr. Chaya stepped down from his role with The Ailey
Company, handing his current role to longtime dancer Matthew Rushing.