Charles Moore - Master Class and Discussion
Company:
Clark Center NYC and From the Horse's Mouth
Clark Center NYC, the organization dedicated to preserving and continuing the legacy of the Clark Center for the Performing Arts, will present three tribute performances honoring African American dancer, choreographer, and teacher Charles Moore (1931–1986) plus a Master Class and Interactive Conversation at the Theater at the 14th Street Y, October 15–19.
Founded in 1959 with help from Alvin Ailey, the Clark Center provided vital opportunities for a generation of Black dancers and choreographers eager to showcase their work on concert stages but with little access to rehearsal or performance space. Today, Clark Center NYC carries that mission forward—archiving and honoring the past, championing the present, and building for the future.
This program is about reintroducing Charles Moore to new audiences. His artistry as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer helped to shape the New York dance scene of the 1960s, ’70s, and early ’80s, and his legacy deserves to be remembered and celebrated.
Moore was a pioneering artist who founded The Charles Moore Center for Ethnic Studies in 1974, dedicated to reconstructing African and Caribbean traditional dances and reviving works by African choreographers. His company, one of the oldest Blacks Arts Organization in Brooklyn, brought African dancers and musicians—including master drummer Chief Bey—to U.S. audiences and toured internationally from 1974 to 1985.
This special event marks the first collaboration between Clark Center NYC and From the Horse’s Mouth (FTHM), the acclaimed multi-disciplinary dance/theater company known for combining storytelling with exceptional dancing. The program will feature personal accounts and stories from Moore’s students, company members, musicians, administrators, and colleagues—those who knew him best.
CLARK CENTER NYC CELEBRATES CHARLES MOORE
MASTER CLASS AND DISCUSSION
· Wednesday, October 15 | 2:30–3:30 PM
Master Class with Audrey Madison and founding company members, featuring excerpts from the choreography of Charles Moore. This free dance class is open to all; however, registration is requested.
· Wednesday, October 15 | 4:00–5:30 PM
An Interactive Conversation exploring Charles Moore’s early years, dance career, company, and choreography. This program is free and open to all; however, registration is requested.
PERFORMANCES: From the Horse’s Mouth
· Friday, October 17 & Saturday, October 18 at 7:00 PM
· Sunday, October 19 at 3:00 PM
Venue: Theater at the 14th Street Y
344 E. 14th Street (at First Avenue)
New York, NY 10003
Box Office: 212-780-0800
Tickets: $25 General Admission | $20 Seniors & Students
Purchase tickets here: Eventbrite Link
ABOUT THE CLARK CENTER
The Clark Center for the Performing Arts fostered generations of artists through outstanding faculty, scholarships, and a commitment to accessibility. Students trained with master teachers—including Alvin Ailey, Fred Benjamin, Pepsi Bethel, Anna Sokolow, Marjorie Perces, Loremil Machado, and Charles Moore—and often performed in Clark Center-based companies. Classes were accompanied by renowned live musicians, enriching the environment and creating a lasting impact on the dance world.
ABOUT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH
Created by Tina Croll and Jamie Cunningham more than 25 years ago, From the Horse’s Mouth blends dance and theater to tell the personal stories of dancers. Each production is a unique, one-time-only, legacy-based event, acclaimed for its humor, honesty, and artistry. Presented across the U.S. and Canada—from Jacob’s Pillow to the American Dance Festival—over 1,000 dancers ages 13 to 94 have participated, including Deborah Jowitt, Mary Anthony, Brenda Bufalino, Carmen de Lavallade, Gus Solomons Jr., and many more.
The Los Angeles Times praised the series: “Heightened emotions and serendipitous dance moments mingle with belly laughs and bittersweet anecdotes.”
The New York Times called it: “Like dying and going to dancer’s heaven.”
Clark Center NYC thanks The Harkness Foundation for Dance for their generous support.
