To Abdel R. Salaam and Dyane Harvey-Salaam, dance and choreography must be aesthetically beautiful — but more than that, it must convey a message and inspire thought. Hear the couple describe their work at the 2010/2011 Fall Kick-Off of Mount Morris Talks! Thursday, October 7, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM.

Forces of Nature Dance Troupe

Abdel and Dyane Harvey-Salaam along with Olabamidele Hart-Husbands joined forces more than 28 years ago to create the Harlem-based Forces of Nature Dance Theatre. In the nearly three decades since, they’ve used their performances, their choreography and their youth education and outreach work as a language to discuss the history and culture of the African diaspora and to motivate people to help preserve the planet.

Based at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church on Lenox Avenue and W 122nd Street, Forces of Nature blends modern dance, traditional West African dance, ballet, house and hip-hop forms along with music and the martial arts. The company has toured throughout the United States and abroad. Among its many achievements, it led the procession for Nelson Mandela during his first appearance in the United States, in 1990.

Abdel Salaam

Abdel Salaam, the company’s executive artistic director and co-founder, is a Harlem native who began his artistic training at age five with the piano, xylophone and glockenspiel. At Lehman College he became one of the first dance majors, while also being active in the Lehman Black Student Organization. He performed as principal dancer and soloist with a number of companies in the U.S. and abroad, and ultimately became associate artistic director of the Chuck Davis Dance Company.

The winner of numerous awards, commissions and fellowships as well as a dancer or choreographer in dozens of stage and TV shows, Salaam has made a commitment to environmental health a core part of his work. He served as a delegate for the Artists in Ecology’s International Summit at the Sundance Institute; the Conference on Third World Arts and European Theater in Oxford, England; and at the Festival for Peace in Moscow.

Dyane Harvey-Salaam

Among Dyane Harvey-Salaam’s many Broadway, Off-Broadway, film and TV credits are appearances in the original stage and TV versions of The Wiz, the Paris production of Your Arms Too Short To Box with God, the PBS special Free to Dance, and the CBS special Celebrate Ellington. She also was assistant choreographer for Spike Lee’s film School Daze.

Dyane has taught at Princeton University, where she helped develop a course that explores the influences of Africanize dance practices in American dance, and at several other colleges, universities and dance programs and festivals. She also has served as a panelist for the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York Foundation for the Arts, among others.

Please join Abdel R. Salaam and Dyane Harvey-Salaam to hear the stories of their inspirations, challenges and rewards Thursday, October 7, from 6:30 to 8 PM at the Harlem Branch of the New York Public Library, Community Room 3rd floor, 9 West 124th Street.

MMPCIA is proud to sponsor this series and offers it free of charge to the community.