Ronald K. Brown/Evidence Marks 40th Anniversary With Guild Hall Performance

Ronald K. Brown/Evidence will celebrate its 40th anniversary season with a special fundraising performance at Guild Hall in East Hampton on Sunday, August 24, at 2 p.m. The performance is part of “On Our Toes in the Hamptons,” the company’s annual summer benefit, and is presented during “A Weekend of Cultural Elevation,” a three-day celebration of the arts.

The program will feature classic repertory and audience favorites, including “Grace” (2000), one of Brown’s signature works, and the company premiere of “The Call” (2018), a tribute to Alvin Ailey and Carmen de Lavallade. A live auction will follow the performance, featuring vacation packages, fine art, and exclusive experiences, and a print by photographer Ming Smith.

The weekend begins Friday, August 22, with “Apollo in the Hamptons,” a dinner at SíSí Mediterranean Restaurant in East Hampton at 6 p.m. On Saturday, August 23, programming continues with a vocal masterclass led by the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts at 11 a.m. and an Evidence dance workshop with Ronald K. Brown at 1 p.m., both held at the Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center. Also on Saturday, from noon to 5 p.m., “The 5th Annual Celebration: Creatives of Color” will feature an art show, sale and book signing at The Church in Sag Harbor. A VIP dinner, music and conversation will round out the evening at 6 p.m., with the location to be announced.

On Sunday, August 24, festivities begin with a brunch at 11 a.m. at Cittanuova in East Hampton, followed by the main performance, auction and reception at Guild Hall, 158 Main Street, East Hampton, at 2 p.m.

“On Our Toes in the Hamptons” supports Evidence’s education and outreach initiatives, which use dance, storytelling and cultural exchange to engage intergenerational communities. Founded in 1985, Ronald K. Brown/Evidence blends traditional African and contemporary dance with spoken word and music to tell stories of community, resilience and the human experience. The company’s work has been presented internationally and in major venues across the U.S., including commissions by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and The Joyce Theater.

Tickets to the August 24 benefit performance are $500 and can be reserved at guildhall.org/Evidence. All proceeds benefit Ronald K. Brown/Evidence’s community-based programming, which serves intergenerational communities through dance, storytelling and cultural exchange.