PARTNERSHIPS & RESIDENCIES
Ronald K Brown/evidence
Ronald K Brown/ Evidence has called Restoration Plaza home for over twelve years. The Billie provides Ronald K. Brown/Evidence with 100% subsidized rehearsal, office, and performance space, marketing and development support, and an annual honorarium for performances and community workshops.
Evidence performs a weekend concert series in September on The Billie’s main stage. Each August Evidence conducts its signature two-week summer intensive which culminates in an outdoor community performance.
TOUGH LOVE TUESDAYS
Tough Love Tuesday is a weekly program designed to strengthen your mind, body, & soul with group fitness. Classes provided by Alwayz Fit 4 Lyfe Founder & Wellness Coach Nakisha Ross-Smith
CHOREOQUEST
Launched in 1991 in response to a dearth in affordable rehearsal space in NYC, the program has since served over 40 choreographers with a focus on emerging choreographers of African descent.
The Billie provides 100% subsidized space including a minimum of 50 hours of rehearsal space annually, performance opportunities throughout the year, and marketing-administrative supports. In return, our choreographers host master classes and choreographic showcases. Each year ChoreoQuest Fellows are selected to receive an annual honoraria. 2022 Fellows were Nathan Trice and Edissa Weeks.
NOVA FRONTIER FILM FESTIVAL
The Billie has partnered with Nova Frontier since its inception in 2018. The NOVA Frontier Film Festival is an aptly-timed film festival and non-profit youth lab committed to enhancing and incubating the works of filmmakers and artists from the African Diaspora, the Middle East, and Latin America.
This year’s partnership also included for the first time Laurel Channel TV. Founded by filmmaker Theodore Adams, Laurel is a streaming platform that presents films which have won awards at vetted film festivals around the world.
COMMUNITY CLASSES BROOKLYN YOUTH CHORUS
Founded in 1992, Brooklyn Youth Chorus is regarded as one of the top youth choruses in the United States, noted both for its artistic rigor and its high-quality musical training.
SUMMMERFEST
The Billie’s Summer Fest is a much-anticipated series of free outdoor events taking place in Restoration Plaza each July and August. Programming includes weekly film screenings, Soul Summit dance parties, concerts featuring partners like the Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium, and dance workshops and performances including our lead resident, Ronald K Brown/Evidence.
SKYLIGHT OPEN
Launched in 2018, Skylight Open’s is The Billie’s monthly music and spoken word series featuring cutting edge Brooklyn-based talent. Some 6 musicians and spoken word artists are presented each month with past artists including Alia Pierre, Inaya Day, Tai Allen Phoenix, and Keisha Gaye Anderson, to name a few.
EXHIBITS
Each year The Billie is pleased to bring Central Brooklyn 3-4 visual arts exhibits focusing on themes of racial equity and social justice. Past exhibits have included Luba Lukova, whose works are on permanent display at the MOMA, and Aaron Simms.
