Harlem Stage, the world-renowned performing arts institution championing the artistic freedom of artists of the Global Majority, will close out the 2025 season with its iconic signature dance series E-Moves Festival: A Movement. For more than 25 years, E-Moves at Harlem Stage has convened the world’s leading choreographers, dancers, companies artists, and musicians of color in an exploration of movement and message. With over a month of programming planned, the festival will include a special night of conversation and performance with When We Dance, The Son Also Rises: Black Men in Dance – An Evening of Conversation, Choreography, and Cocktails. Curated by Ronald K. Alexander (Faculty, Ailey School) and Calvin Royal III (Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre), the event will offer reflections by Black male artists in the field of dance as they look back at what has been, acknowledge the here and now, and envision what lies ahead. This conversation will serve as a moment to contemplate the complexity, intersectionality, and beauty of diversity of Black men in dance, while also recognizing shared values and commonalities.

Participants include: Ronald K. Brown, Founder and Director of Evidence Dance Company; Robert Garland, Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Harlem; Desmond Richardson, Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet; and Matthew Rushing, Interim Artistic Director of The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. The evening includes a special tribute to the late Joanne Robinson Hill, a former dancer, esteemed member of the arts education community, and advocate of the arts and a performance by Babatunji Johnson, a dance artist and choreographer from Alonzo King LINES Ballet. A wine reception will follow the discussion.