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A black and white photo of dancer Donna Wood in mid-performance. She is wearing a long, flowing dress and a headscarf. One leg is raised high to the side, and her arms are extended, creating a dynamic and graceful pose. The background is dark, highlighting her figure.

Repertory

Black, Brown and Beige

COMPANIES

CHOREOGRAPHER

WORLD PREMIERE

Lincoln Center, 1976

MUSIC

Duke Ellington

DÉCOR

Rouben Ter-Arutunian

COSTUMES

Randy Barcelo

LIGHTING

Chenault Spence

MUSIC STYLE

Jazz

Alvin Ailey choreographed Black, Brown and Beige in 1976 as part of Lincoln Center’s Bicentennial Celebration. Duke Ellington’s music was his inspiration, and he used five Ellington pieces to celebrate the composer: “Work Song,” “Come Sunday,” “West Indian Dance,” “Emancipation,” and “Sonnet for Caesar.” The work was a sweeping portrayal of African American history—from slavery and emancipation to the present.