Wednesday, June 20, 9-10 pm ET
Experience these historic pieces - airing together for the first time in extended form - spotlighting the pioneering work of Asadata Dafora, Katherine Dunham, Talley Beatty, Donald McKayle, Pearl Primus and Bill T. Jones. Actor Taye Diggs hosts.

In June of 2001, "Dance in America" presented the critically acclaimed three-hour series "Free to Dance," a landmark project chronicling the role that African-American dancers and choreographers have played in the development of modern dance as an American art form. The series was highlighted by several dance milestones that were filmed especially for the series and interwoven throughout the historical narrative. However, due to time limitations, only brief excerpts from the dances could be included in the original series. In association with the American Dance Festival (the series producer of "Free to Dance"), "Dance in America" presents an all-performance program featuring complete or extended dance sequences that were not included in the original series, spotlighting the work of pioneering choreographers Asadata Dafora, Katherine Dunham, Talley Beatty, Donald McKayle, Pearl Primus and Bill T. Jones. Actor Taye Diggs ( How Stella Got Her Groove Back , "Kevin Hill," "Day Break") hosts.