December 3, 2009
Black Cultural Center's arts ensembles to perform at Loeb
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Students from four performing arts ensembles of Purdue's Black Cultural Center on Friday (Dec. 4) will dramatize what they learned this semester about Hip Hop culture -- the center's theme for its Cultural Arts Series this fall.The performance will take place at 7 p.m. in Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse. Admission is $7 for the general public and $5 for students.
The four performing arts ensembles are the Black Voices of Inspiration, Haraka Writers, Jahari Dance Troupe and New Directional Players.
The Black Voices of Inspiration specializes in gospel music, spirituals and contemporary songs by African-American composers. The group will explore the improvisational and collaborative side of Hip Hop music.
The Haraka Writers, a group of student poets, essayists and short story writers, will present poems about the history and stories of people who created and live the Hip Hop lifestyle.
The Jahari Dance Troupe, which performs a repertoire including ballet, folk, jazz, tap and modern dance, will examine the role dance plays in Hip Hop.
The New Directional Players, a theatre group that focuses on presenting drama about the African-American experience, will discuss the language of Hip Hop and its effects on communities.
In addition to these presentations, Black Thought Collective, a student group that seeks to foster intellectual enlightenment and educational opportunities beyond the classroom experience, will have an exhibit set up in the Stewart Center lobby exploring the four elements of Hip Hop and containing photographic images from the research tour.
Some of the performances have adult themes and may be inappropriate for children.
"The work that the audience will witness was created over the course of the semester as well as during our research tour to New York -- particularly Harlem and the Bronx," said Bill Caise, assistant director of the Black Cultural Center. "Our ultimate goal was to create an experience that carries the excitement of Hip Hop and to impart some of the true history and little known facts that make up this vibrant culture. We also wanted to show the significant place Hip Hop holds on the world stage, because it can literally be found in every corner of the globe.
"The Cultural Arts Festival is a commemorative performance in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the dedication of the Black Cultural Center on Dec. 4, 1969."
Writer: Soumitro Sen, 765-496-9711, ssen@purdue.edu
Sources: William Caise, 765-494-4630, wpcaise@purdue.edu
Renee Thomas, 765-494-3091, rathomas@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
To the News Service home page