Slim Mello By Dale Ricardo Shields July 2012 Slim Mello was born in Brazil (Salvador-Bahia). Salvador is considered the largest Black city outside of Africa with over 80% of the people being of African-Brazilian descent. “The city of Salvador is notable in Brazil for its cuisine, music and architecture, and its metropolitan area is the …
Louis Johnson Dancer ~ Choreographer ~ Director ~ Professor ~ Legendary ~ By Dale Ricardo Shields “Most renowned for his choreography in the timeless film, The Wiz, Johnson was one of the first African Americans to appear in a Broadway ensemble. Having been featured and learning from some of the dance greats, including Bob Fosse and Jerome Robbins, Johnson began creating …
ALDE LEWIS Actor ~ Dancer ~ Choreographer ~ Director Alde Lewis, Jr., began his career as a modern dancer with Dianne McIntyre’s Sounds in Motion Dance Company in New York City. He credits the late tap veteran Charles “Honi” Coles for inspiring him to become a tap dancer after Mr. Coles offered to mentor …
FRED BENJAMIN Dancer ~ Choreographer {September 8, 1944 – December 14, 2013} By Dale Ricardo Shields Fred Benjamin was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1944. He began dancing at age four at the Elma Lewis’ School of Fine Arts in Roxbury, Massachusetts. When the MacArthur Foundation initiated its so-called genius grants, Ms. Lewis was among the first …
