Frost Studio Jazz Band and Peter London Global Dance Company Unite for Afro-Caribbean Jazz and Dance Performance

The Frost School of Music at the University of Miami will present a cross-disciplinary performance on February 5 that brings live jazz and contemporary dance together on one stage. The Frost Studio Jazz Band, directed by composer and trumpeter Etienne Charles, will perform alongside the Peter London Global Dance Company at Maurice Gusman Concert Hall in Coral Gables.

The program features three suites by Charles, Bacchanal Tuesday, As an Offering, and Green Thumb, accompanied by new choreography from dancer and choreographer Peter London. The works draw from Afro-Caribbean traditions and explore themes of Carnival, ritual, resilience, and cultural identity through a combination of music, movement, and multimedia elements.

Both Charles and London are Trinidadian-born artists whose work reflects Caribbean heritage through contemporary forms. The collaboration places student musicians and professional dancers in a fully integrated performance developed jointly by the two artists, highlighting the Frost School’s focus on interdisciplinary work.

The event comes as Charles continues to gain national attention for composing across artistic disciplines, including recent commissioned work for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. At the Frost School, he also mentors emerging musicians while expanding the role of jazz within broader cultural conversations.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, at Maurice Gusman Concert Hall, located at 1314 Miller Drive in Coral Gables. Ticket information is available through the Frost School of Music.

By ML Staff. Photos: Frost School of Music.