Creativity, Movement, Music, Theater, Film, Determination, Cognition, Critical Thinking, History, Equality, Timing, Space, Duration and Rhythm!
Montclair Academy of Dance and Laboratory of Music and Drama, a 501-c-3, celebrates 25 years since jazz legend Reggie Workman and Maya Milenovic’s (writer, choreographer, director) founding! Going strong into the future.
MaDLOM Education:
Leaders
Executive Director, co-founder: Reggie Workman
Artistic Director, co-founder: Maya Milenovic
Mission
Montclair Academy of Dance and Laboratory of Music and Drama is a multidisciplinary after-school “Arts Laboratory”, dedicated to the creative development of students ages 3-18. At Madlom we use drumming, poetry, theater, movement, choreography, ballet, film, images from Visual Arts, and the tales of Anansi to expand our understanding of the diverse world we live in; to help us shape or design our own creative work, and to understand that collaboration builds a better community. Developmentally appropriate and joyful process allows individuals to understand performing arts. During the early years of development of a young person, there is a window of opportunity for creative abilities to be cultivated and imagination unleashed. We address every child individually and use multiple intelligences. Long-time students share the message with younger generations and teach with the support of teachers.
Board of Directors: Amira Williams, Beth McLeod, Lena Domovskaya Ruth, & Maya Milenovic
Chair of the Board: Reggie Workman
Honorary Board: Kathryn Arabia (Early Childhood Educator), Linda Brumbach (Art Producer), Andrew Cyrille (Legendary Drummer), Philip Glass (Composer), Kenneth Tharp (Dancer/Choreographer, London), Nasheet Waits (Drummer)
Friends: Alicia Lukachko, Eleni Luna, Gail Lambie, Selena Persico, Kathryn Arabia, Tracy Allen, Nick Lewis, Zachary Kirsimae, Garret Burroughs, Grant Burroughs, Lilly Charlotte Stern
Social Media: Zachary Kirsimae, Maya Milenovic
Constant Contact: Zack Kirsamae, Maya Milenovic
Web Design: Aajay Murphy (2024), Garret Burroughs (2021)
Studio location: St. John’s Episcopal Church 55 Montclair Ave., Montclair, NJ 07042
Mailing address: 41 Watchung Plaza # 324, Montclair, NJ 07042
Inquiries: Madlommail@gmail.com (973) 626 6130
Immortal, the Musical Crusade of Reggie Workman DOCUMENTARY FILM IN MAKING
Mission
In this thought-provoking intimate documentary, Reggie Workman, a bass legend, and American Jazz Master, and his youngest daughter Ayana investigate if the “art of jazz music” is dying, and why is jazz not placed on the “pedestal” of American artistic contribution to the world.
Immortal STORY
What happens when what we leave behind meets what lies ahead? We are exploring a pertinent question, as critics ask, if the art of jazz music is dying, American black culture in the world, and why is jazz not recognized as the biggest American cultural contribution to the world of arts? The story is told by Reggie Workman, a jazz Giant, and American Jazz Master, who finds himself at the crossroads of generations of jazz music and musicians while answering to his youngest daughter.
Immortal BACKGROUND
Immortal, the Musical Crusade of Reggie Workman shares the extraordinary and enduring legacy of bassist, composer, and culture-bearer Reggie Workman and explores why jazz must be recognized as the greatest artistic contribution that America has given to the world. Reggie’s story is revealed in a conversation with his youngest daughter Ayana Workman; and illuminated during conversations with Archie Shepp, Jason Moran, Nasheet Waits, Robert Glasper, Don Moye, Lakecia Benjamin, James Browne, Cornel West, and many others. Through live performances, previously unseen footage, production of two new CD recordings, and historical investigation into the musical philosophy that Reggie created, we are given insight as to why Reggie Workman disagrees that Jazz is a dying art form.
Maya MW, my “African American music” experience
African American music “commonly called jazz”, changed the world of arts, and the impression of the United States of America at the same time. The beginning of this film happened to me almost 40 years ago, when I wanted to play piano like Cecil Taylor, and no one to work with me. That’s why I pursued Dance at LCDS. Soon after, I boarded the plane in and landed in NYC in search of jazz music improvisation, modern dance, and storytelling. I realized that African American historical experiences, viewpoints on music, arts, and life, institutionalized racism, and the search for justice are merged on the same path. This documentary is “Canvas”, where Reggie Workman, his friends, jazz greats, and a new and future generation of creators display their thoughts and power about African American Music, “commonly called jazz”.
“Through the vision of Maya and Reggie, I was allowed space to explore poetics of movement, choreography, and language at a very young and crucial age. This early introduction into post-modern traditions and contemporary experimental dance forms had a huge impact on me and continue to influence my trajectory as an NYC-based curator and artist. I met some of my dearest life-long friends at Madlom!” - Seta Morton (Former Student)
Educators
Maya Milenovic Workman
Artistic Director & Co- founder
Maya is a Guggenheim fellow and teaches Dance (Cunningham and Graham-inspired) Choreography, Ballet, Creative Movement, Drumming, Drama, and Creative writing. Maya is an Artistic&Curriculum Director and co-founder of MADLOM. She is an international Choreographer/Director and a writer ( born in Slovenia). Her latest play “Ophelia’s Ocean” was created into play on film, Her play Dos Worlds was produced at the Trinity Chapel, NYC. She has a BA, MA (New School University, NYC; BA equivalent London School of Contemporary Dance, UK (Student of Jane Dudley and Nina Fonaroff) Visual Art candidate, University of Maribor, Slovenia). Guggenheim fellow, 2020.
www.mayamwproductions.com
www.dosworlds.com
M’ten Halsey
African Drumming
M’ten has been drumming since he was five years old and has traveled around the world spreading his cultural message with his spirited drum rhythms and powerful message. He lives in West Orange and is a father of two.
(BA - Economics, Baruch College, City University, NY)
Ayana Workman
Drama, Acting, Private acting coach, Dance, Drumming.
Ayana is a Slovene-American actor, who grew up in Montclair, NYC, and Slovenia. She is currently represented by Clear Talent Group and MJ Management Company. Ayana is passionate about creating work that has a message, giving voice to those who may not have the ability to share their own, and, empowering others to feel seen through the stories she helps to tell (She portrays Eleonor Norton in the film RUSTIN)
(BFA, Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of Drama). She studied dance, tap dance, theater, and drumming at MADLOM since she was 5.
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Reggie Workman
Executive Director & Co-founder Madlom
Legendary bassist, NEA Jazz Master, Guggenheim fellow, Doris Duke recipient, Full professor The New School University “COPA”. Known for his work with John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Mal Waldron, Alice Coltrane, Marilyn Crispell, Trio Three (With Oliver Lake and Andrew Cyrille) Reggie Workman Quartet, dancers, actors, poets. Reggie lives in Harlem, NYC. He still teaches at the New School, and Maya Milenovic. He taught master classes throughout the world. He performs with Trio Imagination, and Enemble; Jen Shyu, Hason Hwang, Ayana Workman, and Maya Milenovic’s poetry.
www.reggieworkmanmusic.com
Will Pew
African Drumming
Will was born in New York City and grew up in Montclair, NJ. He has studied djembe at Madlom since he was 6 years old with Kevin Jones, Reggie Workman, and Yahaya Kamate. He lives in Montclair, NJ
(BA - Clark University) He studied drumming with MADLOM from the time he was 6.
Grant Burroughs
African Drumming - guest
Currently, BA, Georgetown University, Washington DC, and West Point. He studied drumming with MADLOM from the time he was 6.
Marina Shay
Drama, acting - Marina holds a BA in Theater and English with a concentration in Shakespeare from Oberlin College and an MFA in Acting from Brown/Trinity Rep. Marina has worked, trained, and collaborated with The Guthrie Theater, The Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Shakespeare and Company, The SITI Company, BADA, and Columbia University to name a few. As a coach and a teacher, Marina specializes in clarifying classical texts and making them as easily accessible as possible.
Bela Malika Shelby - Guest Drum Teacher
Bella Malika Shelby is originally From San Francisco. She has been playing congas, hand drums, and drum set. Currently, she is Reggie Workman’s BA Music student at the New School University, COPA, NYC. She enjoys teaching kids and youth.
Mike Barton
Drama, acting - guest - Since Mike graduated, he has acted and directed as a founding member of two repertory companies and has contributed to many productions. He lives in Montclair and is a father of two.
(BA - the University of Oklahoma – theater)
Teachers, Present & Past
Legendary jazz musician Reggie Workman, M’ten Halsey, Ayana Workman, Jasmine Eden, Marina Shay, Will Pew, Jess Michal, Hannah Garner, Mike Barton, Grant Burroughs, Bella Malika Shelby, Tommy Day, Tim Angulo, Kendra Culley, Lisa Mazella, Tomomi Imai, Jesse Turits, Trisha Kelly, Lisa Rosenberg, Jon Luks, Lisa Peluso, Jusha Marie Sorzano, Mat Vorzimer, many others and Maya Milenovic Workman.
Tommy Day
Acting for Commercials - guest - Tommy Day is an actor and has appeared in Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, FBI, Blacklist, Blue Bloods, House of Cards, NCIS: New Orleans, and others, along with various commercials and theater projects. He is currently a personal trainer at SlowBurn Personal Training Studios in Montclair, NJ. He is a father of two.
University of Central Florida.
Immortal, the Musical Crusde of Reggie Workman
Maya Milenovic Workman has written the story, and is directing: Immortal, the Musical Crusade of Reggie Workman. After choreographing to the music of Alice Coltrane , Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, and collaborating with Roscoe Mit hell, she came to the USA, as a dancer-musician, to study with Merce Cunningham; and start a Dance Company. She started collaborating with Reggie Workman, Jeanne Lee, Henry Threadgil in the poroduction of “Streams”, at the New Yorks’ Cooper Union Great Hall.
Immortal, the Musical Crusde of Reggie Workman:
Family is the key component of our universal existence. In the film, we answer to what happens when, where, and what we leave behind meets what lies ahead, and what choices do we make to get where we are. What happens when the family in question is ours and it finds itself at the crossroads of American history and culture?
Reggie: How his past brought him forward: what needed to happen, for him to “fly”; what complex and uncertain path of his people brought him steps toward freedom, after slavery.
Ayana: with a heavy heart, she is exploring what made her dad, into who he is as a musician, which took him at the same time away from her. Ayana stepped away from the music, and now they are finally learning to see each other as they have become.
Film conversation, and interviews with:
Reggie Workman, Ayana Workman, Cornell West, Nasheet Waits, Ravi Coltrane, Tomoki Sanders, Zachary Kirsimae, Robert Glasper, Lakeshia Benjamin, Marilyn Crispell, Jason Hwang, Jen Shyu, Don Moye, Roscoe Mitchel, and Telfar Clemens.
Reggie Workman’s “Sound Philosophy”:
Universal placement of elements and vibration. what are these elements, who represents them, and where can they exist?
Reggie’s entrance onto to big stage was a privilege, he didn’t understand in 1959.
Trajectory of sound, versus: time, space, human nature, conditions, past, present?
If the music is limited, what causes that? Are we (humans) limited?
Reggie changed so he could play what he plays: we have the option to “freeze in time”; or create the future of “irresistible sound
The go-ahead became a stop at the same time
Music is bound (to culture, behavior, bodily systems). To unbind it & find your sound and a way of playing without ignoring the past, is the task of a lifetime
