#BlackDance #BlackHistory #DrGloryVanScott

#BlackDance  #BlackHistory  #DrGloryVanScott

"A Note from Green Diamond" *Excerpted from the book GLORY: A Life Among Legends by Dr. Glory Van Scott

When I think of  Dr. Glory, I am reminded of Miss Katherine Dunham.  Both of these ladies captured the hearts of thousands through their work and have lived with a commitment to stretch the boundaries of possibility.  Both shared the qualities of being artistic, keenly compassionate, exquisite in understanding, mystical, powerful, persistent, receptive, and hugely talented. 

Perhaps this is why when I acted as an assistant to Miss Dunham, she would speak of Dr. Glory, who seemed to constantly be planning some event at Symphony Space to salute Miss Dunham or some other dance legend. 

Often Miss Dunham would say "Call Glory." When she wanted something special or needed an opinion, it was "Call Glory." When she needed transportation, it was "Call Glory." Dr. Glory would arrange for her lighting designer, Bugsy (Leonard Buggs, affectionately known as the “black knight”) to transport Miss Dunham around New York City.

When Oprah Winfrey named Miss Dunham as one of her LEGENDS, Miss Dunham shared the exquisite invitation with me and said, "Call Glory." And when Miss Dunham ascended on May 21, 2006, ten days after she had finally achieved her wish of meeting and speaking to Oprah and Gayle King  face-to-face; and twenty days after the Boule Blanche, held at Riverside Church and produced by Dr. Glory to honor the publication of Miss Dunham’s last book, Kaiso!, I received a phone call immediately. 

It was as if Miss Dunham was speaking from the Heavens. I was asked to "Call Glory."

Through performance and producing, #DrGloryVanScott has honored the legacies of Miss #KatherineDunham, #SyvillaForte, #AgnesDeMille, #TalleyBeatty, #PearlReynolds, #FredBenjamin, #LouisJohnson, #JoanPeters, #LorettaAbbott and several others. 

Dr. Glory is the keeper and purveyor of good memories of those she has been affiliated with in the artistic community. I was given the privilege of seeing pictures, memorabilia, and writings about her life as a dancer, a model, and a Broadway performer. 

Melony McGant

Group Photo by #TyroneRasheed