The document is a press kit for a dance performance titled "12 Years a Slave: The Dance" choreographed by Anthony W. Johnson. It provides glowing reviews praising the emotional and powerful storytelling of the performance, which retells the story of Solomon Northup's kidnapping and 12 years of enslavement through music and dance. The performance utilizes spirituals and features an original cast in stunning costumes with visual projections to honor the soul and passion of enslaved people.

1. “Brought tears to my eyes.... Such a powerful piece... Gave me a shot in the arm of that raw, authentic
inspiration & passion for "the dream".
Michael Baez Producer
12 Years a Slave
THE DANCE
DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER
PRESS KIT ANTHONY W JOHNSON

2. THE Show
DIRECTOR /
CHOREOGRAPHER
12 Years a Slave
THE DANCE
Johnson takes the audience on a serious journey through life of Solomon
Northup, his capture and struggle to accept his new life and the people who
came to hurt and aid him on his dynamic odyssey. This incredible drama is told
through music and dance. By doing so, it captures the soul of the people and
the passion that has long journeyed its way to freedom. This is story of a
survivor. His name is Solomon Northup.
SYPNOPSIS
In his home town of Saratoga, New York, Solomon Northup, a free Negro who was a skilled
carpenter and violinist, was approached by two circus promoters. They offered him a brief,
high-paying job as a musician with their traveling circus. Without informing his wife, who was
away at work in a nearby town, he traveled with the strangers to downstate New York and
Washington, D.C. Soon after arriving in the capital, he awoke to find himself drugged, bound,
and in the cell of a slave pen. When Northup asserted his rights as a free man, he was
beaten and warned never again to mention his free life in New York.
Transported by ship to New Orleans, Northup and other enslaved blacks contracted
smallpox and one died. In transit, Northup implored a sympathetic sailor to send a letter to
his family. The letter arrived safely, but, lacking knowledge of his final destination,
Northup's family was unable to effect his rescue.
Northup's first owner was William Prince Ford, who ran a lumber mill on a bayou of the Red
River. Northup subsequently had several other owners, less humane than Ford, during his
twelve-year bondage. At times, his carpentry and other skills contributed to his being
treated relatively well, but he also suffered extreme cruelty. On two occasions, he was
attacked by a white man he was leased to, John Tibeats, and defended himself, for which he
suffered severe reprisals. After about two years of enslavement, he was sold to Edwin
Epps, a notoriously cruel cotton planter. Epps held Northup enslaved for 10 years, during
which time he assigned the New Yorker to various roles from cotton picker, to hauler to
driver, which required Northup to oversee the work of fellow slaves and punish them for
undesirable behavior.
After being beaten for claiming his free status in the slave pen in Washington, D.C., Northup
in the ensuing 12 years did not reveal his true history again to a single person, slave or
owner. Finally he confided his story to Samuel Bass, a white carpenter and abolitionist from
Canada. Bass, at great risk to himself, sent letters to Northup’s wife and friends in
Saratoga. A white shopkeeper, Parker, sought the assistance of Henry B. Northup, a white
attorney and politician whose family had held and freed Solomon Northup's father, and
with whom Solomon had a longtime friendship. Henry contacted New York state officials. As
the state had passed a law in 1840 to provide financial resources for the rescue of citizens
kidnapped into slavery, the governor appointed Henry Northup as an agent to travel to
Louisiana and work with law enforcement to free Solomon. Once in Louisiana, Henry Northup
hired local Avoyelles Parish attorney, John P. Waddill, to assist in securing Solomon
Northup's freedom. After a variety of bureaucratic measures and searches were
undertaken, the attorney succeeded in locating Solomon and freeing him from the
plantation. Northup later filed charges against the men who sold him into slavery but was
unsuccessful. He returned to New York and reunited with his family there.
Northup concludes his narrative with the following statement:
My narrative is at an end. I have no comments to make upon the subject of Slavery. Those
who read this book may form their own opinions of the "peculiar institution." What it may be
in other States, I do not profess to know; what it is in the region of Red River, is truly and
faithfully delineated in these pages. This is no fiction, no exaggeration. If I have failed in
anything, it has been in presenting to the reader too prominently the bright side of the
picture. I doubt not hundreds have been as unfortunate as myself; that hundreds of free
citizens have been kidnapped and sold into slavery, and are at this moment wearing out their
lives on plantations in Texas and Louisiana. But I forbear. Chastened and subdued in spirit by
the sufferings I have borne, and thankful to that good Being through whose mercy I have
been restored to happiness and liberty, I hope henceforward to lead an upright though
lowly life, and rest at last in the church yard where my father sleeps.
—Solomon Northup
ANTHONY W JOHNSON, has performed as a soloist in his own right for many
prestigious Ballet/Modern/Opera companies throughout the world including: The Lyric
Opera of Chicago, Los Angeles Opera Company and Ballet Theatre of Chicago. He has
also had an exceptional acting career, working in both Chicago and Los Angeles
Johnson’s creative directing and choreography has been lauded by the likes of Master
Magician Lance Burton, renowned illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer and of whom
entertainment writer Diane Monroe of The Beverly Hills Outlook wrote: “Ballet
Magique’s “Ring of the Rose” was the most thoroughly developed work on the
program; their level of performance was much higher than the others.”
Mr. Johnson was the original rehearsal director and teacher of the singing group the
Backstreet Boys and has toured with the likes of the legendary “Sir Paul McCartney, as
well as performed on Arista records 25th Anniversary special with songstress Monica,
he can also be seen in several movies like Hoodlum, Black Limousine, Pirates of the
Caribbean Dead Man’s Chest and The Jackson’s An American Dream.
As a master teacher, Mr. Johnson has taught dance throughout the United States and
abroad, He currently on the dance faculty at IDA, he has spent most of his teaching
career in Los Angeles at the renowned Millennium Dance Complex, the Los Angeles
County High School for the Arts, The Edge Performing Arts, Westside School of Ballet
and the International Dance Academy in Hollywood where he teaches currently. Anthony
has been a judge for several dance competitions such as “Showstoppers Dance
competition, and I love Dance.
Johnson was the featured person of interest in Dance Spirit Magazine, about Lyrical
dancers with professional careers with top stars
Mr. Johnson continues to inspire and mentor students and professionals alike, most of
whom have gone on to perform with the likes of Janet Jackson, Madonna, American
Ballet Theatre, School of American Ballet, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Alberta Ballet,
Cirque Du Soleil, and the incomparable Béjart Ballet Lausanne; On Broadway in The Lion
King, The Color Purple, Come Fly Away, and Mama Mia, So you think you can Dance, Dancing
with the Stars, Step 1, 2, & 3 as well countless schools and colleges such as School of
American Ballet, The Boston Ballet School, The Rock School of Ballet, The Ailey
School ,Béjart Rudra, Boston Conservatory, and Juilliard to name a few.
As The Founder and Director one of what is considered by many, the most unique
companies that has ever graced a stage, Ballet Magique, Johnson received four Lester
Horton Award nominations for one of the shows he created titled “Ring of the Rose”
including “Outstanding Achievement in Choreography” and “Outstanding Achievement in
Costume and Lighting Design.”

3. The Design
The Music (Running time 9 Minutes)
Illuison Design
Award winning Czech Born illusionist
Vaclav Havlik
12 Years a Slave
THE DANCE
DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER
ANTHONY W JOHNSON
“Roll Jordan Roll” Topsy Chapman feat. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Cast
“Soon AH will be done” Conspirare, Company Of Voices, Craig Hella Johnson
“Sinner Man” Alvin Ailey
“Mothereless Child” Family One Choir
“Drums of Kenya” Soukouss Ta: African Drums and Music
“Night Fight” Tan Dun & Yo-Yo Ma
“Solomon”
Vaclav have been performing his illusions around the world for over
16years. With nearly 4,000 shows under his belt, he's entertained
everyone from Hollywood celebrities to CEO's of Fortune 500
companies. Vaclav has made a name for himself by combining his unique
style, quick wit, and completely original magic and illusion, and is a
regular entertainer for corporate and private events, as well as for
clubs, theaters, hotels, casinos and colleges.
PROJECTION DESIGNS BY RICH MCCARTER
Johnson felt strongly that the dance should rining in the ears and hearts of
the audience long after they have left the theatre. The Negro spiritual which is
the heart and soul of the african american Slaves has its story buried in the
hyms the their faith. It is through their faith, It is through that hope that we can
discover Solomon and his passion to live , his patience to endure and his courage
to fight.
*Spirituals (or Negro spirituals are religious (generally Christian) songs that
were created by enslaved African people in the United States.
Original Cast
Jeremiah Tatum Solomon Northup
Alexander Erickson Tebeats
Ashley Blanchard Patsey
Brandon Forest Bass/Jonus Ray
Christopher Nolen Sam
Dax Spanogle Edwin Epps
Dylan Kate Muller Emily
Ethan Rieder Benedict Cumberbatch/Captain
Jacquelyn Doggette Eliza
Jadon Cole Muller Michael
Jony Rommel Slave Buyer
Katina Childs- Muller Slave Buyer
Louis Williams Clemens
Marcus Hightower John
Natalie Garavelli Slave Buyer
Sarah Walker Mistress Ford
Vanessa Villalobos Anna/Mulatto Woman
Yelena Zerkovska
Mistress Epps

4. “It was wonderful. Great job!”
Judith FLEX Helle Director Luminario Ballet
12 Years a Slave
THE DANCE
DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER
ANTHONY W JOHNSON

5. “.....amazing! Just beautiful! I was in tears.....that piece was
very emotional!
12 Years a Slave
THE DANCE
DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER
ANTHONY W JOHNSON
Emily Pierce

6. 12 Years a Slave
THE DANCE
DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER
ANTHONY W JOHNSON
DIRECTOR /
CHOREOGRAPHER
12 Years a Slave
THE DANCE
DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER
ANTHONY W JOHNSON
“Absolutely phenomenal!!! “
Patrick Stinson Reelz TV

7. 12 Years a Slave
THE DANCE
DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER
ANTHONY W JOHNSON
“Very powerful piece which does exactly what art should do.
Bring out emotions and inspire...”
Vaclav Havlic Master Magician

8. 12 Years a Slave
THE DANCE
DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER
ANTHONY W JOHNSON
“ Beautiful!. You had me in tears!”
Shiva Bagheri

9. 12 Years a Slave
THE DANCE
DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER
ANTHONY W JOHNSON
“Breathtaking! Good job..you were all
phenomenal and it was my favorite piece.”
Krystle Oshon

10. “Beautifully choreographed & performed! Loved the 12 Years a Slave
costumes, music and visual projections on the screen
behind the dancers.”
THE DANCE
DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER
ANTHONY W JOHNSON
Michael Baez

11. 12 Years a Slave “Amazing work!!”
THE DANCE
DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER
ANTHONY W JOHNSON
Allen Walls Director

12. 12 Years a Slave THE DANCE
DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER
ANTHONY W JOHNSON
“Compelling storytelling, visually
stunning!”
Franco Sama Executive Producer
For More information please contact
310-600-1925 and or
anthony@balletmagique.com