In the early 1990s a former lover of Brown’s died of AIDS, leading him to make a firm commitment to dealing with AIDS issues in his work. Among such works are Dirt Road (1994), on themes of cultural assimilation and loss of loved ones; Combat Review/Witches in Response (1994), replete with images of a community dealing with loss; Lessons (1998), set to texts by Sandye Wilson, Colin Robinson and Essex Hemphill, the late gay black poet who died of AIDS, and featuring movements that evoke sickness, such as wiping mucous from the mouth or checking the body for lesions; and Better Days (1998), named for a New York dance club particularly popular among black gay men.

KEY CONTACT PERSON(S)/EXECUTOR OF ESTATE:
Ronald K. Brown
Evidence
P.O. Box 20389
London Terrace St.
New York, NY 10011
718-797-5171
kbevidence@aol.com

Renee Redding-Jones, associate director
201-837-8296

HUMAN REPOSITORIES OF THE WORK
(name and contact info, relationship to the artist and the work, assessment):
Ronald K. Brown

Renee Redding-Jones, dancer

Cheryl Boyce Taylor, poet

VIDEO DOCUMENTATION
(location, format, condition, assessment):
The Dance Collection of the New York Public Library holds three videotapes documenting Ronald K. Brown’s AIDS-related works:

Combat Review: Witches in Response (1994)—compilation video, with choreography by Ron Brown; presented by Dance Theater Workshop and Performance Space 122 on 22 October; music by Don Meissner; VHS (72 min); call number MGZIA 4-2403.

A Concert of Works by Ron Brown: "In Response" (1992)—compilation of excerpts including No More Waiting and Combat Review; presented by the Danspace Project; videotaped at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery, New York, January 23-26; performed by Brown's company, Evidence; one videocassette (81 min); call number MCZIA 4-3022.

Dirt Road (1994)—presented by Dance Theater Workshop and Performance Space 122 at DTW's Bessie Schonberg Theater, New York, 29 October; VHS (73 min); call number MGZIA 4-2361.

Jacob’s Pillow holds documentation of Brown’s Dirt Road and Better Days, videotaped in performance.

PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION
(location, format, condition, assessment):
The Dance Collection of New York Public Library holds photographs of Brown's "Evidence Dance Company." The collection notes one folder of black and white prints (25 x 20 cm or smaller) of Combat Review, Lessons, and Dirt Road; the dancers portrayed in the photographs include Brown, Renee Redding-Jones, and Earl Mosley; call number MGZEA.

MOVEMENT NOTATION
(location, type [including notes taken by dancers], assessment):
None identified.

PRODUCTION MATERIALS
(scores, sound recordings, set/costume designs):
The company holds production materials.

ORAL HISTORY:
None identified.

A Night at the Joffrey (1989)—television program aired 28 April; co-produced by WNET, New York, and Danmarks Radio; ballets directed by Thomas Grimm; interviews directed by Judy Kinberg; produced by Judy Kinberg and Thomas Grimm; executive producer, Jac Venza; writer, Holly Brubach; one 3/4 in. videocassette (60 min.); call number MGZIC 9-1966.

PERSONAL PAPERS:
(location of newspaper clippings, printed programs, press releases, notes, files, diaries; assessment):
The Dance Collection of the New York Public Library holds a clippings file on No More Exotica, which is a segment of Brown's work Lessons, call number MGZR.

IMMEDIATE NEEDS:
(archival assistance? storage? other?):
None identified.

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:
In an email dated 4 November 2000, Brown writes: "I think with very few exceptions all of my work has been influenced by the amount of loss that I have experienced personally due to the AIDS epidemic. Loss remains a constant theme in my work that I use to direct us towards a productive, service-filled, and peaceful walk."

LIST OR OVERVIEW OF WORKS:
Brown’s work related to AIDS includes:

Dirt Road (1994)

Combat Review/Witches in Response (1995)

Lessons (1998)

Better Days (1998)

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

• Gladstone, Valerie. 1999. "Breaking Through to the Top at a Single Bound." New York Times (26 September).
• Kisselgoff, Anna. 1998. "Dance Review: Telling Stories of Love, Loss and Racism." New York Times (15 January): B5.
• West, Cynthia. 1995. "Combat Review: Witches in Response." Attitude 10 (4) (fall/winter): 42, illus.