Alex Smith, Jr. , chairman of Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center (THPAC) published his short story A Ramp To Paradise, which is included in the new anthology, A River Runs Beneath Us. The anthology was curated by noted author Doug Cooper Spencer. This short story was used as the foundation for an original dance narrative work of the same name and produced at (THPAC) in 2010 with choreography by Kyle Abraham. It would be restaged again in 2012 with choreography by Walter Rutledge. It is set to be restaged again in 2025 under the direction of Smith. The dates are June 27 and 28, 2025. There will be an after party on June 28 with 2 DJ’s.

​

Smith wrote the story to provide direction to the choreographers as they staged A Ramp To Paradise. He also wanted to use it as a way of documenting the life and times of that historic club and all those that danced, celebrated, and found community there. The Paradise Garage was the groundbreaking and trend setting underground Black gay dance club that all other clubs have since been measured by. It was the mecca dance club for a predominately Black SGL/LGBTQ clientele In New York City. Located at 84 King Street the “Garage” reined from 1977-1987.

​

“As chairman of THPAC, a long-established presenting organization for Black dance artists and others of color, I thought we needed to document the Garage in a dance narrative form. It seemed only natural to me. I just was not sure how. So, I wrote the short story to serve as a foundation to a dance narrative stage production. The Garage was key to my coming of age and it also greatly shaped my taste in music. I intentionally set out to have THPAC add its voice to the historical account that is now being told about this club of clubs. We must tell our own stories.”  ---Alex Smith, Jr.