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An exhibition and program series I’m curating, Rhythm & Power: Salsa in New York 

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Check out the facebook page and website, more artists confirmed

https://www.facebook.com/events/1006170242817839/?notif_t=plan_user_joined¬if_id=1490010785642568

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Dance courses and creating oral history narratives so youth and adults far and wide can learn about the vibrant cultures of bomba, bachata, salsa, swing, and hip-hop...Archive will be up soon...Adelante!

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Presented in collaboration with El Museo Del Barrio and inspired by our upcoming exhibition Rhythm & Power: Salsa in New York (opens summer 2017), screening of the acclaimed documentary "We Like It Like That" followed by a conversation with legendary musicians featured in the film: Bobby Sanabria, Johnny Colón, and Joe Bataan...(I'm auditioning boogaloo dancers/groups, PM me)

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Bringing together culture, language, dance, music, food y mas!

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The next Rhythm & Power program: professional development day with hands-on workshops for educators/teachers, school administrators, artists, activists, community leaders and all who are interested in using science and the arts (dance/theatre/music/curation) to educate and empower. PD credit available, free with RSVP, follow the website to signup, see you there... -Rhythm & Power-

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“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Pablo Picasso Saturday's oral history with Huracán Dance Company director Jeffrey T. and professional salsera Julie A., Los Ciegos del Barrio playing at the Museum's Gotham Groove, soulful Broadway performers in the auditorium before, and no experience necessary to dance :-) / the anthropology of art

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Rhythm & Power Exhibition and Programs Information

Dance Culture in New York City

An Oral History Project for students in grades 8-12.

Time: 10/29/2016, 11/5/2016, 11/12/2016, 12/3/2016, 12/10/2016, and 12/17/2016 10am-noon

Website: http://www.mcny.org/education/dance-culture-new-york-city

Metro Mashups: New York Meets Havana

Featuring leading dance innovators and Grammy-nominated band leaders.

Time: January 20, 2017, 8:00pm-12:00am

Website: http://www.mcny.org/event/new-york-meets-havana

New York at Its Core Seminar Day: Rhythm & Power

Learn the history of the city by embracing its many beats. Bring literacy, science, geography, and history into your classroom via gallery tours, music, dance, and art.

Time: February 11, 2017

Website: http://www.mcny.org/event/seminar-day-rhythm-power

In the Step of Salsa in El Barrio

Highlighting iconic salsa venues, social clubs, protest sites, murals, some of the city’s oldest botanicas, and local arts organizations.

Time: April 8, 2017, 1:00-3:00pm

Sabor & Ritmo: International Family Day of Dance

Spotlight on the Cuban rumba, kizomba, Puerto Rican bomba, Cuban son, New York “on 2” salsa, and rueda casino; includes dance workshops, musical performances, film screenings, and light refreshments. Free; register at mcny.org/families.

Time: May 13, 2017, 1:00-5:00pm

Website: http://www.mcny.org/event/sabor-ritmo-international-family-day-dance

The Ancestors Speaking Through Our Drums: Intersections between Performance and Power Conference

Presentations by scholars from the United States, Puerto Rico, and Cuba on topics ranging from the ways salsa energized the Young Lords Party in the 1970s to today’s international, multi-million dollar salsa congresses.

Time: September 16, 2017, 10:00-4:00pm

Rhythm & Power Exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York

Time: June 2017 to October 2017

Website: http://www.mcny.org/exhibition/rhythm-power

     Follow @derrickmcny on Twitter to stay tuned for the latest information of Rhythm & Power!

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Election Day is finally here! Have you voted yet?  New Yorkers have a long tradition of making their voices heard be it through elections or activism. One of these New Yorkers is Brooklynite Linda Sarsour, Executive Director of the Arab American Association of New York. In this video profile of her from our #ActivistNY exhibition she discusses her successes, such as getting Mayor DeBlasio to incorporate Muslim holidays as part of the NYC public school calendar. 

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It’s #NationalSandwichDay and for the most part, sandwiches rely on bread. So, for our #Throwbackthursday…how about a bakery? Zito’s Bakery lived on Bleecker Street for 80 years (closing in 2004) becoming an iconic part of the neighborhood. It lived through the Great Depression and weathered the whims of hippies, beatniks, folk singers, and artists. But, costs rose and the Atkins diet came into vogue and the bakery closed its doors for good. The space is now occupied by a restaurant. #tbt . . 49.282.57 Berenice Abbott (1898-1991) Berenice Abbott (1898-1991) Bread Store DATE:February 3, 1937 259 Bleecker Street.

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Edwin Ferreras & Daniela Grosso 2013 DC Bachata Congress  (via Rafael Collazo on Pinterest)

Dance Culture in New York City: Edwin Ferreras 

Edwin Ferreras, artistic director of LFX dance company, is going to be one of our instructors for the Dance Culture in New York City Saturday program. 

Edwin Ferreras & Daniela Grosso 2013 DC Bachata Congress (via Rafael Collazo on Pinterest)

Ferreras is a Dominican born music and dance scholar, instructor and founder, choreographer and artistic director of LFX Dancers, New York’s fusion dance company. His music/dance career started in 2002 at BMCC, where he graduated with an A.A. Creative Writing with concentration on music composition. (via byronlatinfiesta.com.au)

Moscow Bachata Weekend. Edwin Ferreras Daniela Grosso. Advanced Shines (via BailaMar on YouTube)

Sources:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/564216659538809417/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/564216659538809432/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMMz64qwWTw

About Dance Culture in New York City

Dance Culture in New York City Flyer (photo credit: Robert Iulo)

For more information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/561781057338400/

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Via: newyorktheater.me 

Dance Culture in New York City: Adrienne Weidert and Richard Kurtzer

We are pleased to welcome Adrienne Weidert, a National Champion swing dancer specializing in Lindy Hop, and her partner Richard Kurtzer to be our guest instructor at the Dance Culture in New York City program!

Adrienne has been a featured dancer in film (The Thirteenth Floor) and television as well as music video with the Canadian band, Hollerado, filming their original song “Got To Lose” in affiliation with Jim Henson Studios, Los Angeles, CA. Other music video production work include Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy, and Ric Mysterie.

photo credit: Steven Rosen

Adrienne has enjoyed choreographing, dancing and performing onstage at The Greek Theater in Los Angeles and Seattle’s Benaroya Hall, and has toured professionally with Lindy Hop company, Hot Club Stomp, and regionally with The Atomic Cherry Bombs – Los Angeles’ premiere all female chorus girl troupe specializing in Charleston, Vernacular Jazz and Cabaret. In NYC she has performed at Lincoln Center’s  Midsummer Night Swing, B.B. Kings Blues Club, Swing 46, the Historic Battleship, Intrepid, At a Pier 84, and other industrial gigs with Lindy Hop All-Stars dance troupe.

She trained with the Milwaukee Ballet, Boston Ballet and London’s Royal Ballet School, and holds 1st Place National Jitterbug Championship Title, Lindy Hop Showcase Title with the US Open Swing Dance Championship, and International Lindy Hop Championship Titles.  (via youshouldbedancing.nyc)

Lindy Hop

Jumpin' at the Woodside by Count Basie (1938)

Dancers: Adrienne Weidert, Rafal PustelnyDirected, 

Photographed and Edited by John Abbott and Matthew Ziegler

source: https://newyorktheater.me/2013/06/19/the-comedy-of-errors-review-shakespeare-in-the-park-goes-guys-and-dolls/

https://vimeo.com/155886548

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Happy National Day on Writing! Get some protips from a few of the authors who have visited us over the years.

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Photo credit: David Gonzalez/The New York Times

Dance Culture in New York City: Nelson “Chief 69 Seda

Nelson "Chief69" Seda is a Nuyorican, Brooklyn born, Bronx based bboy, emcee, and artist. His work is inspired by the Haitian Revolution, Frosty Freeze, Mr. Wiggles, Marcus Garvey, KRS-One, Immortal Technique, the Black Panther Party, Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee, DMX, Harriet Tubman, Nikola Tesla, Mos Def etc.  (via chief69frc.blogspot.com) 

This amazing artist is going to be one of our instructors of the Dance Culture in New York City program.

Photo credit: Ignacio Soltero 

“Nelson is a young man possessed – in every sense – of a singular idea. “ - 2012, New York Times   

Via Nelson Chiefsixnine Seda Facebook

“ ‘The Bronx is the forgotten bastard child of New York City,’ Seda says. ‘But all the culture is here — from hip-hop to Latin jazz to du-wop. There’s so much history.'” - 2015, The Hunts Point Express

CHIEF69 - THE One Element  (via chief69oner)

Source: 

chief69frc.blogspot.com

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/living-his-passion-for-hip-hop/

http://brie.hunter.cuny.edu/hpe/2015/12/15/profile-chief-69/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGTCQCk2fSc

About Dance Culture in New York City

Dance Culture in New York City Flyer (photo credit: Robert Iulo)

For more information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/561781057338400/

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Huracán Dance Company performance  (via Huracán Dance Company Facebook)

Dance Culture in New York City: Jeffrey Taveras

Jeffrey Taveras, the director, instructor, and choreographer at Huracán Dance Company, is going to be one of the instructors of Dance Culture in New York City program. 

Huracán Dance Company performance (via Huracán Dance Company Facebook)

Huracán Dance Company is one of the premiere New York Salsa Dance Schools. Their goal is to simply create a home environment while pushing all dancers to reach their maximum potential. 

They specialize in NY On2 Style of mambo catering to all aspects of Salsa dancing, as well as catering to beginners teaching the fundamentals of salsa. This includes timing, musical structure, proper dance technique, body movement, footwork and partner work. 

The dance program is based on a progressive structure where the classes set goals and update them on a month to month basis. (via: http://www.huracandance.com/who-we-are)

Huracán Pro Team CT Salsa Fest 2016 (Via Huracán Dance Studio on YouTube)

Sources:

https://www.facebook.com/Huracandance/?fref=ts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkQmGLzUxSE

About Dance Culture in New York City

Dance Culture in New York City Flyer (photo credit: Robert Iulo)

For more information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/561781057338400/

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(Artist Manny Vega Title Espiritu 2013. Photo Taken October 7, 2016)        

It’s good to leave the office and experience your surroundings sometimes. Derrick and I took advantage of the amazing weather to document a few of the murals/public art pieces located on various street corners, school building walls, building facades, and parking lots in the Museum’s East Harlem neighborhood. East Harlem, commonly referred to as El Barrio, has been an artistic hub for several decades.

We first saw the mural titled Freedom and Emancipation of The Natural World, created by artist Sego, located on East 104th Street and Madison Avenue. According to Untapped Cities, Sego approaches murals in a detailed style with abstract flourishes. The name Ovbal is used by the same artist to make a distinction from the works he creates using the “Sego style”. According to Street Art Bio’s profile of Sego, he has created many murals in his hometown of Mexico City. In many of his works, animals and magical beings are portrayed in colorful and textured detail that show the subject’s individuality. He applied this same individuality to the Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty is usually described as stoic. The statue’s copper construction doesn’t allow for many fine details that could convey facial emotions to viewers. In contrast, the red coloring of the Statue of Liberty’s facade in Sego’s mural seems to be symbolic of human muscle tissue. The red glow in her eye hints at a soulful being that demands recognition as an individual and a symbol. As seen on his blog, Sego “draws” a rough outline of his artwork from which he then “fills in” with a mix of traditional and spray paint. Sego’s mixing of themes, connecting his visual representation with location, appears to be a theme that inspired other works such as the Big Jump mural, also created in New York. In his words, Sego notes “We did a mural titled The Big Jump [El gran salto]. Previously, I was interested in the shapes of a grasshopper, so painting one seemed a good idea, both because of its symbolism and ability to jump so high, which only grasshoppers know how to do. The allusion was the “big jump” that immigrants from all over the world make when they arrive in New York looking for the American dream. This has contributed to creating one of the biggest, most interesting and diverse countries, not only on the continent, but also in the world.”

In addition to creating this work, Sego along with other muralists, have their work exhibited in the exhibition titled Mexican Street Artists, presented at the Dorian Grey Gallery. The other muralists’ artwork can be seen at this link.

(Artist Sego Photo Taken October 7, 2016 al “Freedom and Emancipation of The Natural World”)

 One of my favorite murals is located on 108th Street and Lexington Avenue. Created by Belgium artist Roa, the mural portrays an encounter between an anteater, squirrel, armadillo, and a raccoon that seems laced with tension. Street Art Bio’s profile of Roa describes animals as being one of his main inspirations in his murals. One of the most distinctive aspects of the mural is Roa’s use of squirrels. I’ve had some lively encounters with these intelligent creatures. The anteater is portrayed as reacting in a startled manner that is reminiscent of how New Yorkers are sometimes shocked by squirrels’ speed and ingenuity. The squirrel is drawn in a pose that is reminiscent of a squirrels’ reaction to humans: a mix of coyness and possible innocence. According to Remezcla, Roa commented on his work by saying, “I love the diversity of the animal kingdom and the various ways they live and survive with each other. Indirectly, the animal’s contemporary fate and habitat issues, echoing [sic] the human behavior and the recklessness of humankind with nature. Some animals actually adapt their ways to our lifestyle in order to survive, other species become extinct.” According to StreetArt News, the massive mural took a week to paint and also involved a mixture of spray and traditional paint. You can see the mural’s creation and Roa’s process here, and learn more about his other works here.

(Photo taken October 7, 2016 Artist: Roa 2015.)

(Artist Manny Vega Title Espiritu 2013. Photo Taken October 7, 2016)

(Artist Manny Vega Title Espiritu 2013. Photo Taken October 7, 2016)

(Artist Manny Vega Title Espiritu 2013. Photo Taken October 7, 2016)   

Espiritu, a beautiful glistening mosaic mural located on 105th Street and Lexington Avenue was created by self-described Byzantine hip-hop artist Manny Vega. Immediately upon seeing the mural, I understood why he describes himself this way. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, mosaics were created as decoration for the walls of churches, which included imagery known as icons or religious images. Vega applied that same concept to Espiritu. According to Vega, “The purpose of my art is to create a place for all people to recognize themselves as members as members of a global community. Through shared information about our histories, customs and beliefs systems, we can reflect, compare and continue to learn from one another.” This is strongly presented in his artwork, which includes symbols of Puerto Rican culture. Drums, bomba, and dancers are juxtaposed with spiritual beings and pop icon John Lennon, who in spite of his death, arguably remains a “spirit” symbol in NYC. This mural was created as part of the Los Muros Hablan Festival, which had the theme of diaspora. Vega’s seems to use Afro-Cuban/Afro-Brazilian religious imagery to show how NYC includes many traditions from the Americas and Africa. The mixing of cultural, religious, and pop cultural images hints at how diasporic identities are complex, mixing characteristics that are both physical and spirit. Mosaic works are deeply personal for Vega, who seeks to create permanent lasting works that celebrate his heritage. He commented in the NY Times, “This is about permanence”. He goes on to say, “El Barrio has history, but nobody was keeping it alive. This is about being here for years and years, so when someone comes by and sees this, they’ll say, ‘Man, those Puerto Ricans had class. This is Byzantine cut!’ Vegas’s strong conviction of celebrating Puerto Rican motifs along with those of his religion resonates deeply with him because, as he stated in a PIX 11 profile, “But I also live with the notion that art can also be in your day to day, in your living environment where you live.  It should be around you, the same way that air and water and the natural elements surround you, because it does enrich your life, it does exalt the aesthetic of your living.” You can find more of Manny Vegas’s mosaics at the 110th Street 6 train station as well as many others in East Harlem. Check out his website here and a video of the opening ceremony for the mosaic here. 

(Artist: Lunar New Year 2013 end of race / Libertad y Xul Antes del Desayunó Photo Taken October 7, 2016)

Artist Lunar New Year, Ecuadorian artist based in Newark, created the End of Race / Libertad y Xul Antes del Desayunó mural located on 100th  Street and Third Avenue. The title of the work is reflective of the intensity of the emotions expressed by the woman and her child portrayed in the mural. The woman displays defiance and contemplation as she holds her baby daughter. According to an interview he gave to the nj.com, his inspiration for the mural was a lady named Libertad from the Bronx. Libertad translates to “liberty” in English. He goes on to say, "The simplest metaphor for this would be there's a rebirth or the future of the U.S. represented through World Trade One." He also mentions, "But it's also about the resurgence of this generation of people that are like myself. I feel really good that I can represent that." It is a powerful image to see Libertad standing as one with the One World Trade Center building. Her emotions and sense of self elevate her physical height to a spiritual height. As a symbol in the horizon that is highly visible to all New Yorkers, it can interpreted that Libertad represents NY as much as this landmark does. While there’s already a Libertad symbol in NY Harbor, close to where One World Trade Center is located named “Lady Liberty”, Libertad appears to be a new symbol in her own right New Yorkers and Americans of the present. She stands strong, gazing across the horizon, decisive in her own standing as claiming her space here in NY.

While murals may not be framed and regularly exhibited in museums, their presence on buildings makes visceral connections with their complex themes. We hope you can experience murals and other forms of public art. Rhythm & Power encompasses various forms of art making and story telling. We hope to share more aspects of rhythm and power with you as you share your moments with us. 

Iveethe Molina

Community historian and Curatorial Intern at the Museum of City of New York 

Works Cited:

https://streetartnews.net/2015/10/sego-creates-new-mural-in-harlem-new.html

https://streetartnews.net/2015/10/roa-paints-massive-mural-in-harlem-nyc.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/nyregion/25citywide.html

http://pix11.com/2015/07/25/artist-manny-vega-to-bring-beauty-inspiration-to-nycha-residents/

http://web.archive.org/web/20160111173440/http://losmuroshablannyc.com/#map

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jaime-rojo-steven-harrington/los-muros-hablan-nyc-a-vo_b_3863452.html

http://lnylnylny.com/filter/mural/the-end-of-race-Libertad-y-Xul-antes-del-desayuno

http://gothamist.com/2015/06/19/east_harlem_street_art.php#photo-24

http://untappedcities.com/2015/10/12/11-international-street-artists-painting-nycs-el-barrio-for-monumentart-2015/

http://www.unurth.com/Ovbal-Y-Sego-Mexico-City

http://www.brooklynstreetart.com/theblog/2015/10/21/monumentart-new-murals-sing-of-el-barrio-in-2015/#.V_2s0Mf0dsN

http://www.streetartbio.com/roa

http://www.streetartbio.com/sego-ovbal

http://www.brooklynstreetart.com/theblog/2015/10/21/monumentart-new-murals-sing-of-el-barrio-in-2015/#.V_2sxcf0dsO

http://thebronxfreepress.com/the-walls-that-speak-paredes-que-hablan/