UMS Concert Program, October 23, 24, 25, 1964: Chamber Dance Festival -- Jean Leon Destine

Season: Eighty-sixth
Rackham Auditorium Ann Arbor, Michigan

1964 Eighty-sixth Season 1965
UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Charles A. Sink, President Gail W. Rector, Executive Director Lester McCoy, Conductor
Chamber Dance Festival
THE PAUL TAYLOR DANCE COMPANY
JEAN LEON DESTINE
and his HAITIAN DANCE COMPANY
THE FIRST CHAMBER DANCE QUARTET
October 23, 24, 25, 1964
Rackham Auditorium Ann Arbor, Michigan
Second Program Complete Series 3440
ARS LONGA VITA BREVIS
JEAN-LEON DESTINE
and his HAITIAN DANCE COMPANY
featuring
Eddy Walrond Shirley Spiceur
Marianne Marvellia Noble Ewje Edner Calvin and Robert Berne, Drummers
Herblee, Flutist Albert Nancis, Steel Drum Player
Saturday, October 24, 1964, 8:30 p.m.
PROGRAM
Village Festival.....Jean-Leon Destine and the Company
The harvest accomplished, the villagers now turn to festivities.
Calypso Melodies..........Albert Nancis
Baptism of the Drum Shirley Spiceur with Eddy Walrond and Noble Ewje
The drum is considered a sacred instrument. It is to be used only after a special ceremony of purification and dedication.
Slave Dance...........Jean-Leon Destine
Beginning with an invocation to the gods, in which the slave tells of his sor?rows, this dance symbolizes the struggle for freedom of the slaves of Haiti.
Yoruba Bakas.......Eddy Walrond and Noble Ewje
Bakas are believed to be the half-man and half-goat creatures of an African legend.
Fantaisie Musicale............Herblee
Drums........Edner Calvin and Robert Berne
For centuries the beating of the drums has been a means of communication in many parts of Africa and was similarly used in the Caribbean.
Witch Doctor Jean-Leon Destine, Marianne Marvellia, and the Company
A voudun dance in which the evil spirits are exorcised from the body of a possessed woman.
INTERMISSION
Bal Champetre.....Jean-Leon Destine and the Company
Contredance: (Haiti, Guadeloupe, Martinique)
A Creole minuet marked by French influence. The costumes are of the eighteenth century.
Limbo: (Trinidad, Jamaica)...........The Company
Banda: (Haiti).........Jean-Leon Destine and the Company
An old man feels young again at Carnival time.
Caribbean Serenade..........Albert Nancis
Mazurka Creole Jean-Leon Destine, Marianne Marvellia, Shirley Spiceur
The strong influence of the European in Caribbean folklore is evidenced in this dance.
Afro Chant............Robert Berne
Spider Dance..........Jean-Leon Destine
Drum Conversation..........Edner Calvin
An argument between the "mama" and the "papa" drums.
La Legende de L'Assotor (New work).....The Company
A Voudun ritual for the consecration of the Assotor, a magistral drum which is believed to be interlocutor between man and his ancestral gods.
Houngan (High Priest)...........Jean-Leon Destine
Hounsis Kanzo (Initiates).....Shirley Spiceur, Marianne Marvellia
Houngenikons (Worshippers).......Eddy Walrond, Noble Ewje
Choreography and Direction .... Jean-Leon Destine
Costumes executed by .......Ellie Antoine
Stage Sets......... Bernard Dayde
Elektra Records Company . . . Destine and Ensemble "Festival in Haiti" (LP 130)
Jean-Leon Destine and his Afro-Haitian Dance Company have thrilled audiences through?out the world with their colorful and exciting interpretations of native Haitian folklore.
The culture of Haiti is unique in the Western Hemisphere and the dances of Haiti are unlike those of any other country, combining as they do the primitive rituals of the African hinterland with the fiery Spanish temperament and the elegant social dances of the Eighteenth Century French Court. At worship, at work, and at play Haiti is a dancing nation.
Until recently the dancing, drumming, and singing of the religious ceremonies (Vodun) of the mountain folk were regarded as barbarous and were declared tabu by the "elite" of this Caribbean island and by many foreigners.
Monsieur Destine was among the first to recognize the Vodun dances as great art. He saw in them the exquisite blending of the rhythmic power and beauty of African folk art with that of European culture. Through his magic gift of dance he revealed his findings.
On the bi-centennial of the founding of Port-au-Prince, the republic of Haiti appointed Monsieur Destine to create and direct the first "Troupe Folklorique Nationale." Twice decor?ated by his government, he wears the Cross "Officer Honneur et Merite," the highest honor Haiti has bestowed upon an artist.
UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATIONS OCTOBER
28 SOCIETA COEELLI
NOVEMBER
4 Leonid Kogan, Violinist
9 Irina Arkhipova, Mezzo-soprano (American debut)
14 Raduga Dancers, from six Soviet Republics
17 New York Chamber Soloists
20 Die Fledermaus (Strauss) New York City Opera Company
22 Merry Widow (Lehar) New York City Opera Company (2:30 p.m.)
22 Faust (Gounod) New York City Opera Company
JANUARY
20 fSEGOViA, Guitarist
30 Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan, Conductor
FEBRUARY
8 Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra,
Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Conductor 14 Paris Chamber Orchestra
23 Polish Mime Theatre
27 Netherlands Chamber Choir
MARCH
1 Rosalyn Tureck, Pianist 7 Chicago Little Symphony 12 Robert Merrill, Baritone 30 Solisti di Zagreb
APRIL
3 National Ballet of Canada
Tickets: $4.50--$4.00--$3 .SO--$3.00--$2.25--$1 .SO Standing room only t Sold out
Messiah (Handel).........Saturday, December 5
and (2:30 p.m.) Sunday, December 6 Tickets: $2.00--$1.50--$1.00--$.75 (Now on sale) (All presentations are at 8:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.)
In Rackham Auditorium CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Budapest String Quartet . . February 17, 18, 19, 20, (2:30 p.m.) 21 Beethoven cycle (S concerts)
Series tickets: $12.00--$9.00--$7.00
Single concerts: $3.50--$2.50--$2.00
(On sale November 5)
For tickets and information, address UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY, Burton Tower