TOUCH OF RED

Photo Credits – Tyler Blint-Welsh; STUDIO AURA, courtesy of Northrop; Jason Smith, courtesy of Hancher

The “RED Series” continues Shamel Pitts research to propose and share the colorfulness within blackness. “I have met a multitude of performers from various countries of the African diaspora and this has widened my understanding as to the diversity of black people as well as formed my realization that we find home through a shared platform” – Shamel Pitts

Touch of RED is a multidisciplinary performance duet inspired from the rapid-fire footwork of boxing, the African-American jazz dance style Lindy Hop, Gaga movement language and Nightlife culture. Set in a stylized ring, designed by the MacArthur Fellow Mimi Lien, this dance duet examines the way Black men are perceived and perceive themselves in contemporary society and how masculinity and vulnerability can be reconsidered and reconciled in a non-combative, compassionate, and healing way.

Bold. Boiled. Blood.

2024 Bessies Winner for Outstanding Choreographer/Creator:
Shamel Pitts | TRIBE
Touch of RED at New York Live Arts

Artistic Team

Concept Direction & Choreographer: Shamel Pitts

Performers: Channce Williams & Shamel Pitts

Artistic Production Manager & Lighting Designer: Rus Snelling

Video Light & Mapping Designer: Lucca Del Carlo

Scenic Design: Mimi Lien

Costume Designer: Dion Lee

Costume Stylists: TT Britt & Tushrik Fredericks

Shoe Apparel: Fulton Cobbler (Brooklyn, NY) – customized “gloves”

Original Musical Score: Sivan Jacobovitz

Additional Music: Ben Frost – A Single Point of Blinding Light Burial – Forgive

Dramaturge: Ashley Pierre-Louis

Lindy Hop Instructor: LaTasha Barnes

Cinematographer: Taylor Antisdel

Photographers & Cinematographers: The Adeboyé Brothers

Stage Manager: Kaz Russell, Chanel Pinnock

Lighting Associate: Nita Mendoza

Creative Director: Mirelle Martins

Artistic Administrator: E Katrina Lewis

Managing Director: Brittany Wilson

Development Director: Eric Umble

Digital Creative & Development Associate: Pam Panozzo

Press Agent: Kamila Slawinski

Worldwide Bookings: Lotus Arts Management, Sophie Myrtil-McCourty, sophie@lotusartsmgmt.com

PDF: Touch of RED | Work Description

Touch of RED: RECOLLECTION – The Film

Photo Credit – Taylor Antisdel

Touch of RED: RECOLLECTION is an ethereal dance documentary following MacArthur fellow Shamel Pitts, as he embarks on a storied journey of discovery through multiple art residencies with members of his Brooklyn-based arts collective TRIBE. The documentary directed by Taylor Antisdel weaves together the threads of memory and experience as we witness Shamel creating his live work, Touch of RED.

O.K.

Digital Artwork by Shamel Pitts, Tushrik Fredericks and Edson Pavoni. Presented by Jacob’s Pillow.

Photo Credit – Edson Pavoni

O.K. Artistic Team

Artists: Shamel Pitts, Tushrik Fredericks, and Edson Pavoni 

Curator: Pamela Tatge

Choreographer: Shamel Pitts 

Dancers: Shamel Pitts & Tushrik Fredricks 

Film Director: Edson Pavoni

Assistant Director: Arjun Hassard

Director of Photography: Jamie Ellington

Editing, Audio and Color: Edson Pavoni

Special Thanks:
Jazia Hammoudi, Aaron Santiago, Matthew Niederhauser and Matt Toups, from Onassis ONX team

David Imani, Jared Fine, Nick Kepley and Bonnie Spann, from Jacob’s Pillow team

Brittany Wilson, E Katrina Lewis, Eric Umble and Mirelle Martins from TRIBE’s team

Media

"Another person challenging the traditional views on Black masculinity is Shamel Pitts, one of the most acclaimed dancers/choreographers of his generation and a shining example of Black excellence."

"Touch of RED held me in its grasp from the second I entered the venue, from the twisting route to my seat, to the stark intimacy immediately on display. It set all my nerves on fire, still burning as I recall the experience."

"It’s a dazzling show.”

"Since leaving Batsheva Dance Company, choreographer Shamel Pitts has been provoking audiences with multidisciplinary dance works that push against the boundaries of identity."

"So often I felt like my vulnerability and sensitivity and fragility was a weakness. But I wish to share with people, particularly other Black boys and men, that there is power within vulnerability."

"Touch of RED project is collaborative all the way through: from the process at TRIBE, which Shamel, 36, founded as a multidisciplinary group of BIPOC artists where each member is a valued co-creator."

Funding Credits

Touch of RED is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation, Development & Artist Engagement Fund Project co-commissioned by Jacob’s Pillow, YoungArts, Miami Light Project, UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance, New York Live Arts, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and NPN. The Creation & Development Fund is supported by the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation. For more information, visit www.npnweb.org. Touch of RED is also made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation. Developmental support and the world premiere presentation is made possible by co-presenters Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) and Jacob’s Pillow. Developed with residency support from the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.