A Movement Odyssey Celebrating The Life And Legacy Of Muhammad Ali
"I came. I saw. I loved" - Marlies Yearby
Tony Award winning choreographer of RENT on Broadway
TEAM
Al Shaw Ki Producer / Director of Marketing & Strategic Partnerships
Al Shaw Ki (pronounced al swa key) Al Shaw Ki is the owner and principal partner for production company 245 Media, and founder of TAON, a multimedia publishing company and independent record label.
Al Shaw Ki is not only a visionary creative, dancer and choreographer, he is a profound writer and producer with over 20 years of professional entertainment industry and production experience. With multi-dimensional sensibilities, his talent ranges from executive producing to tour management, directing, creative writing, conceptualization, journalism, marketing, promotions, brand activation, advertising, digital content media & public relations, artist management and event coordinating. Al Shaw Ki has worked for years as a studio manager for the legendary Chung King Recording Studios, NYC and has performed various production roles on several film and television projects including The Million Second Quiz, Brooklyn’s Finest, All Good Things, Great Expectations, Project Runway, She’s Got The Look, Lipstick Jungle, Make Me A Supermodel, Royal Pains, Smirnoff’s Master Of The Mix as well as various commercials and music videos that featured such talents as Ciara, Outkast, Aaliyah, DMX, Nas, P. Diddy, Jeezy, ACDC and many others.
Al Shaw Ki is an advocate of purposeful creativity, rooting himself in artful endeavors designed to uplift humanity and the human spirit through collective efforts, community activation and empowerment. Thus, he established the Urban Recovery Group organization to develop entertainment projects that impact the community via outreach programs.
Email: theopulenceofintegrity@gmail.com
Freddie Hendricks Production Supervisor / Consultant
Freddie Hendricks, of Atlanta, GA., is a 1976 graduate of Lincoln Memorial University, is the founder and former Artistic Director of The Freddie Hendricks Youth Ensemble of Atlanta (YEA). He has created over 20 critically acclaimed productions that tackle contemporary issues such as child abuse, teen pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, youth violence and apartheid. The productions feature self-empowerment for every generation as their underlying mission is to create art that inspires positive social change.
As one of Atlanta’s international artist groups, his company has performed in Belgium, Holland and South Africa. Hendricks has conducted workshops, directed and created productions throughout Europe. His critically acclaimed production of “What’s Going On,” a tribute to Marvin Gaye, toured Europe for six months.
Hendricks has performed on many stages across the country, though his greatest joy comes from his work with youth. His work inspired the formation of The Youth Ensemble of Soweto (YES) in South Africa. A leader in the arts for decades, Hendricks was honored as a distinguished teacher of America in Washington, D.C. by President Bill Clinton in 1996 and 1998. He was awarded the Abby Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts in 2002. Hendricks was the 2012 Alumnus of the Year at Lincoln Memorial University.
Hendricks, a humble and honest creator, has worked with several world names, and more importantly has helped shape some of today’s most accomplished artists. Hendricks was the mentor and acting coach of Charity Jordan from the movie "Selma", stars Saycon Sengbloh and Sahr Ngaujah of "Fela!". These artists exude the teachings and passion of Freddie Hendricks. Several more artists have been shaped by Hendricks, and give him the credit for molding their talent, including: D. Woods, Young Money’s star SnL (Shanell), Saturday Night Live star Kenan Thompson, and National Theatre star Jahi Kearse. As an acting coach, Hendricks has coached actors on BET, MTV, ABC, and Nickelodeon.
In 2008, Hendricks formed a new company, Premiere Acting Crew (P.A.C.), which is gearing up for its first highly anticipated season in 2011-2012. Hendricks remains one of the most innovative and inspiring artists. He has been a leader in the arts for decades, and will continue to create world-changing art to help heal the world. Art must have a purpose to be great, and Hendricks’ purpose is to create art that inspires positive social change and that is a purpose that leaves a legacy.
Christal Brown Creator / Choreographer / Founder INSPIRIT Dance Company
Christal Brown is creator and director of The Opulence Of Integrity, Founder of INSPIRIT, Project: BECOMING, the creator of the Liquid Strength training module for dance and the Chair of Dance at Middlebury College. Brown is a native of Kinston, North Carolina, where she remembers cleaning up on Saturday mornings as a child to the music of the Chi-Lites, Marvin Gaye, and Shirley Caesar. These rituals innately produced a strong desire in her to make all work melodic, sensual, meaningful and set to music. Brown has danced since she was released from the confines of piano lessons at age 9. By navigating her way through narrow corridors of segregated understandings onto the stages of beautiful theaters, community centers, churches, classrooms, and cultural epiphanies, Brown has found the true meaning of grace. Her path of self- discovery has been influenced by trailblazers such as Chuck Davis, Bill T. Jones, Andrea E. Woods, Liz Lerman, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. Through these conduits of movement matter she was given the opportunity, permission, and responsibility to move and move others. She is a mover, a warrior of change and transformation, living out experiences her double amputee father recounted from his war-ridden dreams. The melodies in her body are melancholic and brought to life through the music; seen rather than heard through her choreography. Brown combines her athleticism, creativity, love for people, and passion for teaching to create works that redefine the art of dance and the structure of the field.