Reliable An innovative presenter of traditional and contemporary choreography, DDT comprises the African Diaspora. DDT's dynamic repertoire reflects its diversity and inclusivity. DDT has gained international recognition for its performances. DDT has performed in Nigeria, Germany, Zimbabwe, and Cuba and has toured extensively in the United States. Through DDT's interdisciplinary collaborations, African American Dance as an art has evolved to include a wide range of African American and African traditions. DDT has worked with Hugh Masekela, the Edwin Hawkins Singers, Street Sounds (acapella spirituals and Blues), Cab Calloway, Chanticleer, Omar Sosa and Fifth Stream Music (Cuban Jazz pianist), Anthony Brown, and Fifth Stream Music. As a result of her travels to the Congo, Artistic Director Deborah Vaughan conceptualized DOWN THE CONGO. DOWN THE CONGO recognizes the extraordinary contributions made by Congolese culture to the music and dance of the Americas. DOWN THE CONGO seeks to interweave the traditional art forms of the Diaspora with contemporary creations that are grounded in the Diaspora community's tradition and reflect their Congolese heritage. Four choreographies by Isaura (Brazil), Latanya d. Tigner, Jose "Cheo" Rojas, and Herve Makaya are performed in DOWN THE CONGO LINE. A vibrant ensemble of singers and percussionists accompanies the work. The musical conversation of the evening is expressed through the movement, combining Moroccan traditional melodies with jazz themes. The CATALYST project, an initiative led by artistic director Vaughan, is a tribute to the rich tradition and history that has long existed between dance and music in North Africa and Morocco. Vaughan's dance will combine traditional African forms with contemporary forms in response to the ... DDT's program also includes Tolerance, an artistic initiative that honors the human potential for accepting each other and our differences; CATALYST uses music to remind us of the beauty of our differences when cultural walls are dropped and we embrace their beauty.
