Dance

Dr. Steve Gallon’s Fourth Annual Black History Showcase pays homage to HBCUs and the Divine Nine

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Brilliance, creativity, and talent were on full display at Miami Carol City Senior High, on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, as District 1 School Board Member and School Board Vice Chair Dr. Steve Gallon III held his 4th Annual District 1 Black History Showcase. This year’s show entitled “D1 Chella” celebrated Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs) also known as the Divine Nine. Performances included dance,  step, chorus, spoken word, drama, jazz band, and  drumline.

 

The event master of ceremonies was District 1 and Andover Middle School’s 8th grader Ramaria St. Hilaire. Schools represented in this year's showcase included: Golden Glades Elementary, North Dade Center for Modern Languages, Parkview Elementary, Rainbow Park Elementary, Scott Lake Elementary, Norland Middle School, Carol City Middle School, North Miami Senior High, Miami Norland Senior High, Jan Mann Educational Center, and Miami Carol City Senior High. There was also a special performance by Ricky Danco, a Haitian American dance company.

 

Event partner was City of Miami Gardens Councilwoman Katrina Wilson. More than 500 were in attendance and included Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert, Councilman David Williams Jr., Councilman Reggie Leon, Trayvon Martin Foundation executive director Sybrina Fulton, North Region Superintendent Jose Bueno, UTD Vice President Antonio White, and North Region administrators and school staff.

 

A special visual presentation was featured reflecting on the past and highlighting the present status of HBCUs and the Divine Nine. The showcase received a long and resounding standing ovation and continuous praise by everyone as the audience exited the auditorium.

 

“Once again, our community has been able to serve witness to the artistic beauty and brilliance of our students, as well as the power that the arts plays in their education and empowerment,” said Dr. Gallon. “The night also provided an opportunity for us to reflect, recognize, and celebrate the educational journey of Blacks in higher education and the powerful role and influence that Black fraternities and sororities have played in binding us in power and purpose. The night’s performances also provided us with a challenge. How do we top this?”

 

To view highlights from the show, visit:

https://youtu.be/M9HVmXPlfDI

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IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance Company to Expand Annual Festival with Prestigious 2016 Knight Arts Challenge Grant 


IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance Company
IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance Company


 
IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance Company, Miami’s premier Afro-Cuban cultural organization, has been awarded a prestigious 2016 Knight Arts Challenge grant in the amount of $20,000 to expand its one-of-a-kind annual Afro-Cuban dance festival.  IFE-ILE is a two-time winner of the Knight Arts Challenge.
 
Knight Foundation’s Knight Arts Challenge funds ideas that bring South Florida together through the arts. IFE-ILE is among 44 local projects that will share $2.78 million from the Knight Arts Challenge. The winning ideas are authentically Miami, using the arts to provide a voice to a range of people and communities and reflect the essence of the city.
 
“This project aims to convert IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance Festival, already an important intermediary of Afro-Cuban culture in Miami, into a repository of Cuban culture and an important link between both shores.”
 
IFE-ILE recently celebrated its 16th Annual IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance Festival. Torres, an award-winning choreographer and instructor, plans to use the grant funds to expand the festival, which already produces a wide array of workshops for all ages reflecting the diversity of the African diaspora, live performances and academic discussions on relevant cultural topics. 
 
Torres is currently researching cultural re-encounters and retention patterns maintained by the Cuban emigrants. From this research, a performance narrative will explore the effect of the cultural division between those who leave their country and those who remain behind reflecting the identity crisis that many citizens from other countries in turmoil are facing today. IFE-ILE plans to invite five professional dancers and instructors from Cuba to collaborate on this project through a cultural exchange in the summer of 2017. The project will include seminars open to the public, workshops, a short-term camp for children with a closing performance.
 
 

Kwanzaa Celebration in Miami: Black Lives Matter All Year Long

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Kwanzaa!!! On December 27th, the Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida A&M University National Alumni Association and friends will celebrate their 25th year of Kwanzaa via the Mary Williams Woodard Legacy Kwanzaa Celebration. This year’s theme is “Practicing the Culture of Kwanzaa: Living the Seven Principles”


SATURDAY. 12/27/2014 . 4PM
AFRICAN HERITAGE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER
6161 NW 22ND AVENUE, MIAMI, FL 33142
 
In light of the recent civic unrest in this country due to the travesties in this year alone in Ferguson, MO with the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, the videotaped chokehold death of Eric Garner in New York, the shooting of 12 year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland, OH and others, practicing the seven principles of Kwanzaa: Unity; Self-Determination; Collective Work & Responsibility; Cooperative Economics; Purpose; Creativity and Faith is essential for the uplift and progress of people of African descent living in the United States of America. 
 
During the Remembering segment, a special tribute will be made to victims of violence and to Dr. George Ellis; Queen Hall; Terri-Lynn Kelly; Arthur L. "Jake" Simms and Dr. Art Woodard, all members of the Miami-Dade Chapter of the FAMU National Alumni Association who transitioned since last year's Kwanzaa Celebration. 
 
Providing words of wisdom on living the principles of Kwanzaa and community uplift will be local civic activist and advocate William "DC" Clark and author/actor/model Adrian Jules. Entertainment will be provided by Prince Emmanuel Abiodun Aderele, artist-in-residence of the Osun's Village & African Caribbean Cultural Arts Corridor; the Osundara Dance Theater; the Next Generation Dance Academy and the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center Performing & Visual Arts Academies. Don't miss the Doll-Give-Away by Zoe's Dolls. Zoe mission is to make sure every little brown girl has a brown doll.

Through the generosity of a coalition of community organizations, this is presentation is FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC. Donations of new books and new unwrapped educational toys are appreciated that will be shared with deserving youth in the community. Families are encouraged to attend to enjoy the feast, music and culture. 
 
If you are an entrepreneur, bring your business card and we will give you a shout out. African drummers; dancers; and spoken word artists are welcome to join us and enhance the festivities. We are “Practicing the Culture of Kwanzaa: Living the Seven Principles”.

Special thanks to the Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida A&M University National Alumni Association; Dr. Arthur & Mary Woodard Foundation for Education and Culture, the Osun's Village & African Caribbean Cultural Arts Corridor, a project of Community Builders Holistic Development Corporation; and the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center.
 
Share this widely with your network of family and friends. For more information email Vanessa Byers at [email protected] or call (786) 294-5013.

#BlackLivesMatter #KwanzaaMiami2014 #TheSevenPrinciples

 

Related Links:
 
 
 

Master Class with Jeanguy Saintus of Ayikodans, Tuesday, June 24


 

Join Osundara Omo Yorùbá on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, 5:30-8pm, at the Little Haiti Cultural Center for a free master class with Jeanguy Saintus of the legendary Ayikodans of Haiti.

Also featuring master percussionist Prince Emmanuel Abiodun Aderele who will take participants on an ancestral journey, via the sacred rhythmic beats of West African percussion instruments.

Details on the Little Haiti Cultural Center:

212 NE 59th Terrace
Miami, FL
(305) 960-2969

 

 



Step Afrika! in South Florida 1/17 and 1/18

Step Afrika

Presented by the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, Step Afrika! will perform an exciting celebration of African culture and traditions on Friday, January 17 at 10:30 a.m. as part of the Smart Stage Matinee Series and on Saturday, January 18 at 8 p.m. 

Celebrating the art form born that was born in African-American college fraternities and based in African traditions, Step Afrika!'s intricate kicks, stomps and rhythms mixed with spoken word enthrall audiences of all ages. Step Afrika! is "always visually and musically exciting," according to the Washington Post. As Washington, DC’s official cultural ambassador, the group represents the city at events all around the world and strives to entertain while building connections between people and highlighting the similarities in dance forms, lives and communities.   

Step Afrika! performers will teach the basics of stepping and incorporate lively South African gumboot dance and contemporary step techniques that will get participants on their feet and stepping in a Stepping Workshop on Saturday, January 18 at 11:30 a.m. Using the body as an instrument to create intricate rhythms and sounds through a combination of footsteps, claps and spoken word. The stepping workshop is ideal for ages 12 and up. Professional dance experience is not required.

Tickets and group discounts are available at 954.462.0222, or select a seat online at ParkerPlayhouse.com. Tickets are also available for purchase at the Parker Playhouse box office Tuesday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Parker Playhouse, located in Holiday Park at 707 N.E. Eighth Street in Fort Lauderdale, is an affiliated venue of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, which provides programming and management of the facility. 

 

 

 

Stepping


Readings, Author signings and Topical Discussions 29th MIAMI BOOK FAIR INTERNATIONAL

The 29th edition of the nation’s finest and largest literary gathering, Miami Book Fair International, presented by The Center for Literature and Theatre @ Miami Dade College (MDC), will take place November 11 – 18, 2012, at Miami Dade MDC’s Wolfson Campus, 300 NE Second Ave., in downtown Miami. The always-popular Street Fair runs Friday through Sunday, November 16 – 18, with more than 200 exhibitors from around the country in a festive atmosphere.

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African Dance and Drum Festival at Little Haiti Cultural Center Aug. 3-5

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The 3rd annual African Diaspora Dance and Drum Festival of Florida presented by Delou Africa Inc. is set be a high-spirited three-day event that will heighten the awareness of African culture through captivating traditional African dance, drum, music and history. The festival takes place on August 3-5, 2012 at the Little Haiti Cultural Center.

One of the many highlights of the festival is the “Bridging Cultural Gaps” concert on Saturday, August 5th at 7:45pm that will feature Delou Africa Dance Ensemble, Delou Fatala, and a special collaboration from world renowned artists that hail from Haiti, Cuba, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and The Republic of Guinea.

The concert will end with a Dundunba celebration. Following the concert Dr. Charles Davis Founder of Chuck Davis Dance Co. and the African American Dance Ensemble will be presented the 2012 Delou Africa Inc. Cultural Community Outreach Award. The award ceremony will conclude with a raffle drawing that will include 2 round trip tickets to South Africa and other prizes.

The 3rd annual African Diaspora Dance and Drum Festival of Florida is under the artistic direction of Delou Africa Inc.’s and Delou African Dance Ensemble(D.AD.E.), Executive Director Njeri Plato-Dioubate and also Ibrahima Dioubate who is the company’s Griot and musical consultant. "It is a joy to see people from all walks of life children and adults coming together to experience the rich traditions of African Culture through dance, drum, music and history. My dream has become a reality” states Njeri.

 

If You go:

3rd Annual African Diaspora Dance & Drum Festival of Florida August 3-5, 2012
Little Haiti Cultural Center
212 NE 59th Terrace
Miami FL 33137
Presented by Delou Africa, Inc.
Tickets at http://adddff.delouafrica.org/ or call 305.978.3866

 


THE SOUTH FLORIDA PREMIERE OF SYMPHONY FOR THE DANCE FLOOR

MUSIC BY DANIEL BERNARD ROUMAIN (DBR) FEATURING LORD JAMAR, CHOREOGRAPHY BY MILLICENT JOHNNIE, DIRECTED BY DJ MENDEL

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Miami, FL- Miami Light Project is proud to open our 2011-12 Contemporary Performance Series with the Florida premiere of Symphony for the Dance Floor.

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Rennie Harris PureMovement takes over Miami with Illadelph Miami 2011, July 31 - Aug. 7

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Illadelph remains the longest continually run Hip Hop festival dedicated to the evolution of Hip Hop music and dance, featuring the most electrifying innovators and pioneers of Hip Hop movement.

Celebrating over 12 consecutive years, the 2011 - "Illadelph Miami" Legends Festival (Illadelph) will take place July 31 – August 7, 2011 in the state-of-the-art facilities at Miami Light Project 404 NW 26th St Miami, FL 33127 & South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center 10950 SW 211th Street Cutler Bay, Fl 33189 with a full schedule of master classes, lecture demonstrations, open jam sessions, panel discussions, and break-out sessions from 9am-5pm daily.

The 2011 festival is set to be one of Illadelph’s finest and bring together some of the most influential and inspirational instructors from around the world to teach and mentor festival participants ranging from students to professionals. These originators and renowned practitioners of the various hip-hop movement styles will be teaching; Boogaloo, Locking, Popping, Hip Hop, House, B-Boy/B-Girl, Afro/Funk and Salsa Movement.

Illadelph’s newly appointed Artistic Director Emilio "Buddah Stretch" Austin, worked with Rennie Harris to bring in some of the finest pioneers from the international Hip Hop dance scene this past year, such as; Eva “Deva” Schou from Denmark, who taught Waacking, popping sensation “Acky” and House Dance International champion “Hiro” joined us from Japan along with France’s Michel “Meech” Onomo and Gemini Lockiano a new school Locker with an old school flavor. We were honored to welcome this year one of the original GoGo brothers, O.G. Skeeter Rabbit, along with 2nd generation GoGo Brother, Manny “Loose Caboose” Tristan.

Returning instructors to the festival included; Hip Hop choreographer and dancer Lanaya “Tweety” Straker, Tyrone “The Bone” Proctor, Waacking sensation, as well as one of his protégé’s, Aus “Ninja” Imperial, a master of Waacking and old school Locker Jazzy J.

The festival opens up a platform to artists, nationally and internationally, who can expand and challenge boundaries and definitions of Hip Hop overall. As Illadelph’s international reach grows, it provides an opportunity for participants to share ideas/work with a larger universal community.

By honoring and preserving the work of Hip Hop’s pioneers and supporting the creativity of the culture’s next generation, Illadelph creates a unique platform for Hip Hop’s past, present, and future to inspire one another and establish connections and change that
will last well beyond this week-long experience.

Source: Rennie Harris Puremovement

Illadelph

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