Dance Black America

This exciting cornucopia of modern Black dance contains excerpts from a four day festival held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1983. Geoffrey Holder narrates the program which features a wide range of styles, beginning with Charles Moore's interpretational dance "Ostrich," inspired by traditional African dance, up to Eleo Pomare's beautiful yet disturbing rendition of "Junkie." In addition to backstage interviews with the choreographers, the tape also includes vintage film clips of early Black dance in America, updated for the stage in the "Lindy Hop" performed by Mama Lu Parks' Jazz Dancers, and a remarkable impersonation of Earl "Snake Hips" Tucker by Al Perryman. There's also some fine brass band work, break dancing, and even Double Dutch jump roping in this broad celebration of the myriad forms of Black dance. Highly recommended. (Available from: Princeton Book Company, 12 West Delaware Ave., Pennington, NJ 08534-0057;1-800-326-7149.)