David Roussève/REALITY

Halfway to Dawn

Written, choreographed and directed by David Roussève and performed by his diverse nine-member company, REALITY, Halfway to Dawn is a vibrant multi-media dance/theater work. The core is African-American composer Billy Strayhorn’s music, interpreted through a dynamic dance vocabulary that melds jazz, modern/postmodern and social dance. To a lush soundtrack of famous Strayhorn recordings from the 1940s-50s, a complex portrait of this remarkably private artist emerges, touching on themes of fame, privacy, gay identity and the artist’s role as activist.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.The presentation of "Halfway to Dawn" was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts' National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.