Arthur Hall Collection
materials provided by
Rev. Margo Blake
July 27, 2009
Margo Blake in Mexico with William Whitfield to her right
Steve Jackson in background
Elizabeth Roberts photograph #3727, April 1982
Margo provided three programs and eight photographs, mostly related to the
1984 - 1985
tour of Sweet Saturday Nite:
a program from Chautauqua County Arts dated May 4, 1984
a program from Dance Black America (Delhi College) dated May 3 (1984)
a flier from Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors with the program for Saturday, August 31, 1985
The schedule of programs lists Sweet Saturday Night (sic) opening the
August 6 through September 2 schedule, the AHAADE scheduled to perform from
Tuesday, August 6, through Saturday, August 10, 1985.
The schedule lists Les Ballets Africains du Guinee for Saturday, August 31, the engagement
which was covered by the AHAADE, including a performance of Guinea Harvest, based on LBA's
original.
six photographic prints, inscribed, and
paper copies of two photographs, also inscribed.
The 1984 tour of Sweet Saturday Nite through upstate New York was a collaboration
among the Arthur Hall Afro American Dance Ensemble, Mama Lu Parks Traditional Jazz &
Lindy Dancers, tapdancer Chuck Green, and the Rudy Stevenson Band. (See photographs below)
Personel listed in the 1984 programs:
Tap dancer Chuck Green with Arthur Hall
backstage during 1984 tour of Sweet Saturday Nite
Upstate New York
(Margo0001a.jpg)
Kalilah Allen, Mama Lu Parks, Kofi Asante
and Vangie Brown backstage
1984 tour of Sweet Saturday Nite
Upstate New York
(Margo0001b.jpg)
Top: Nana Korantema, Arthur Hamilton (trombone), Zane Paul (with clarinet),
Kalilah Allen, Jomo Amen-Ra,
Mama Lu Parks, Leonard Goines (trumpet), Frank Derrick, and Margo Blake
Middle: Candi Ya and Vangie Brown
Bottom: David Butts, Gloria Thompson, Kofi Asante, Debra Youngblood
(Margo0002.jpg)
The Rudy Stevenson Band
(Margo0003.jpg)
The Boogie Babies
Nana Korantema, Deon George, Leon Chesney, Ali Smith, Candi Ya
Freddie Almonte in foreground
(Margo0004.jpg)
"The Righteous Reverend" David Butts
Buena Vista Motel, Delhi, NY
(Margo0006.jpg)
Connie, Betty, and Carol
at Company BBQ (following tour)
at Margo's House on Hutchinson Street, Philadelphia
July 1982
(Margo0005.jpg)
Margo had left the company to return to Florida by the summer of 1985, but she returned
for the Lincoln Center performances of Sweet Saturday Night. We do not have a program
for the August 6 through 10 performances. The program we do have for August 31, covering for
Les Ballets Africains, is from the company repertoire. Margo is not listed in the personel,
but she was there dancing.
(Margo0018.jpg)
William Whitfield
on tour bus (1980s)
William was Margo's dance partner.
They came together from Freedom Theater
to join
the Arthur Hall Afro American Dance Eensemble.
(Margo0007.jpg)
Please address corrections or additions to
Bruce Williams
or see
Contacting us
for street addresses and additional
email addresses