...''Nina 'the Prodigy,' '' a suite of dances choreographed by Kevin Joseph to a beautifully chosen selection of songs sung by Nina Simone, not only paid tribute to the singer but made it newly clear what an exceptional artist she was in her poignantly contrary way. Created for the performers Dina Wright, Anika Ellis, Jauquette Green, Vena Cooper and Nicole de Weever, the work was one of the program's more conventional modern-dance pieces. That in itself was intriguing, given that Mr. Joseph, a co-founder of Creative Outlet with Mr. Gaines and Lakai Worrell, began his professional life as a hip-hop dancer. He has obviously learned the ropes and gone beyond to communicate intensely, as did the vibrant dancers, with his audience. The lyrics were interpreted for the deaf by two seated signers who were first-rate performers.

The program also included dances created for the the company school...Mr. Worrell... but the male adolescents who surged through Mr. Worrell's ''Kwatakyé,'' a ceremonial piece about growing into manhood, had the audience rocking. ... The program also included a charming spoken tribute to Mr. Youngblood by the company's three founders.