Essence celebrates African Americans
Concert honors 30th birthday of AAST program
By Pia Murray
Dance Diaspora alumni return this weekend to join the Essence student ensemble
in a presentation of the companys 2003 spring concert in Warner Mainspace.
Performing with them will be the seven-member College drumming group Ilu Aiye and its founder,
Matthew Hill, OC 00.
The program, titled Alumni and Friends, consists of original dance pieces choreographed
by Oberlin students and alumni to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the African American Studies
Department at Oberlin.
The program includes Karibu, a medley of dances from Kilamanjaro, Tanzania, accompanied
by jimbe drumming, and Breath of Life, a mix of Filipino and Afro-forms choreographed
by Almiron. Also performing are two Bumbray-choreographed dances: Ring Shout
and Star Eyes, a tap piece to be danced to the song of the same title by Charlie Parker.
Seduced, choreographed by first-year Diaspora member Sherece Donalds, is a love story
told in modern dance form, to the music of Zap Mama, Damn Your Eyes.
Dance Diaspora director Adenike Sharpley is the artistic director for Alumni & Friends.
Theater and Dance Technical Coordinator Astrid Jobe is technical and lighting director.
If He Could Change My Name, a solo performance by junior Karla Dionne, choreographed
by Sharpley to the music of Nina Simone, is a story of racism and discrimination told through Afro-modern
dance form. Kasa, performed by Dance Diaspora, is a dance of exhibition from Gambia,
West Africa.
The concert, a joint venture between African American Studies and Theater and Dance, also celebrates
the 10th anniversary of Dance Diaspora, the Colleges widely-acclaimed national student-touring
group that evolved from Essence.
Alumni returning for the performance include Johanna Almiron, OC 00, Camille Fair, OC 00,
Dominique Atchison, OC 02, Rashida Bumbray, OC 00, Phoenix Singleton, OC 00 and
Raven Taylor, OC 00.
Warner Mainspace. Friday and Saturday, March 14 and 15 at 8 p.m., Sunday, March 16 at 2 p.m. $4
in advance, $5 at the door. Tickets available through CTS and at the show.
|