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[#DANCEAFRICA #DANCE #FESTIVAL] #DanceAfrica 2017: The Healing Light of Rhythm: Tradition and Beyond Artistic Director Abdel R. Salaam and Artistic Director Emeritus Chuck Davis May 26-29 2017| BAM | 30 Lafayette Avenue Brooklyn, NY Admission: Tickets start at $25 | Save 20% on groups of 10 or more, now until May 12, 2017. For more information, contact BAM’s Group Sales team at 718.623.7885 or [email protected]. For tickets, visit bam.org/dance/2017/danceafrica
Gather your friends and colleagues to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the nation’s largest African dance festival.
Forty years after its inauguration under the artistic direction of Chuck Davis, the nation’s largest festival of African dance returns for a special anniversary celebration. This year’s performance, under the leadership of Artistic Director Abdel R. Salaam, is a special curated program that pays tribute to the past, present, and future of the landmark festival and the transformative power of movement.
Members of Philadelphia's hip-hop based Illstyle & Peace Productions join with members of New York City's Forces of Nature and the drummers and dancers of Asase Yaa, performing a joyful collision of traditional and contemporary styles. Then, Wula Drum and Dance Ensemble—a master group of US-based Guinean dancers and musicians—present a spirited showcase of West African culture. Both ensembles are joined by the BAM/Restoration Dance Youth Ensemble.
Wula Drum and Dance Ensemble Asase Yaa Forces of Nature Illstyle and Peace Productions BAM/Restoration Dance Youth Ensemble (Brooklyn)
Lighting design by Al Crawford Sound design by David Margolin Lawson
#dance africa#forces of nature#bam brooklyn#brooklyn#Wula Drum and Dance Ensemble#Asase Yaa#Illstyle and Peace Productions#BAM/Restoration Dance Youth Ensemble#Abdel R. Salaam#dance#west african dance#Chuck Davis
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Freeman stage
Freeman stage professional#
Levitt Pavilions will review those 20 finalists to determine the 10 winners, which will be announced on Dec. After registering with the site, and a person can vote up to five times for five different venues. Online voting will determine the top 20 finalists. 1, and continues until the end of the month. There is a public online voting process, which started Nov. “Most likely, we would do 10 consecutive weeks in the summer months of 2015 if we win,” said Doug Phillips, the marketing and communications director for Freeman Stage.
Freeman stage professional#
The series features outdoor free concerts featuring a musically diverse lineup of professional artists and entertainers. has been selected as a semifinalist for the Levitt AMP Grant Awards. 14, 2014) The Freeman Stage at Bayside in Selbyville, Del. * Events are subject to change without notice.(Nov. 8: Bruce in the USA/ Operation SEAs the Day as special guests ($25) 2: Labor Day celebration with Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra and Fireworksįriday, Sept. 1: The Fab Four: The Ultimate Beatles Tribute ($25) 31: Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” by Brown Box Theatre Projectįriday, Sept. 26: Shades of Bublé: A three-man tribute to Michael Bublé ($20) 26: Once Upon A Dragon with Storyteller Gary Lloyd (10 a.m.) 25: Classic Albums Live’s Creedence Clearwater Revival 20 Greatest Hits ($25) 24: First State Ballet Theatreįriday, Aug. 22: Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals ($35-$65) 19: Invincible: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson (7:30 p.m., $25) 19: “Toad’s Escape” by Rehoboth Summer Children’s Theatre (10 a.m.) 18: The Weight Band: Playing Songs of The Band ($20) 17: “The Little Mermaid” by Clear Space Theatre ($15)įriday, Aug. 12: Milkshake Rock Band for Kids (10 a.m.) 11: ABBA the Concert: A Tribute to ABBA ($28) 5: Creating Whimsical Masterpieces with John Donato (10 a.m.) 4: 50 th Anniversary Summer of Love: Songs from the Woodstock Generation ($25) 3: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue ($35-$60)įriday, Aug. Sunday, July 30: Tony Award winner Sutton Foster Brings Broadway to the Beach (7:30 p.m., $42) Saturday, July 29: Michael Franti & Spearhead’s Love Out Loud Tour ($50) Saturday, July 29: Monkey Monkey Music (10 a.m.) Thursday, July 27: Locals Under the Lights Saturday, July 22: Hollywood Nights: A Bob Seger Experience ($20) Saturday, July 22: Great Big Faces with Paul Merklein (10 a.m.) LIVE: North America 2017 ($40-$65)įriday, July 21: Back to the Eighties Show with Jesse’s Girl ($23) Saturday, July 15: Jungle John’s Jurassic Journey (10 a.m.) Wednesday, July 12: Wallflowers/Better than Ezra ($54, $69)įriday, July 14: “Legally Blonde” by Clear Space Theatre ($15) Tuesday, July 11: Blues Traveler ($44, $58) Saturday, July 8: The White Party (fundraising event) Saturday, July 8: Books in Motion (10 a.m.) Thursday, July 6: Dustin Lynch & Granger Smith ($45-$75) Thursday, June 29: Illstyle & Peace Productions Hip Hop Dance Saturday, June 24: The Stray Cat Lee Rocker ($20) Saturday, June 24: Cascading Carlos, the fire juggler (10 a.m.) Thursday, June 22: Illusions & Magic: The Jason Bishop Showįriday, June 23: Kashmir: Live Tribute Led Zeppelin Band ($20) Sunday, June 18: Baltimore Raven’s Justin Tucker ($25-$40) Saturday, June 17: Tedeschi Trucks Band ($45-95) Saturday, June 17: Two of A Kind Kids Music (10 a.m.) Saturday, May 27: Bindlestiff Family Cirkusįriday, June 16: Starry Night Opera: Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra & Opera Delaware ($15) Performances are free and begin at 7 p.m. ApCorporate & Foundations, Neighborhoods & Golfīelow is the 2017 season schedule at the Freeman Stage at Bayside.
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I'm claiming that we will be victorious tonight at the @bessieawards. "The dance world's highest honor." 'The Healing Sevens,' by Baba Abdel Salaam is nominated for a 2017 Bessie Award for Outstanding Production. The production featured @asaseyaa Foundation, Illstyle & Peace Productions and Forces of Nature Dance Theatre (@fon_dance_theatre) . I want my Sister Daaimah Taalib-Din (@dtdancer) who is also nominated for outstanding performer to win also! This is a snippet featuring me dancing in the @bessieawards nominated production 'The Healing Sevens,' by Baba Abdel Salaam. #ForcesofNatureDanceTheatre #FONDT#Abdelrsalaam #JerijahWest #bessieawards2017 #danceawards #BlackExcellence (at BAM)
#jerijahwest#blackexcellence#fondt#danceawards#forcesofnaturedancetheatre#abdelrsalaam#bessieawards2017
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The Annual Odunde Festival Returns June 11 To Celebrate African Culture In Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s annual celebration of cultures from across the African diaspora, the Odunde Festival, returns Sunday, June 11 for its 42nd year.
Odunde means “Happy New Year” in the Nigerian Yoruba language, and the festival was inspired by the West African culture’s new year celebrations.
The festival even hosts its own practice or presenting a fruit and flower offering to the Yoruba goddess of the river, Oshun.
ODUNDE FAST FACTS
The Odunde Festival is on Sunday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
This year’s headlining performance is Whodini, the hip hop group behind “Freaks Come Out at Night.”
Odunde takes up more than 10 blocks at 23rd and South streets and surrounding areas.
Tens of thousands of people attend the festivities annually.
Started in 1975 by Lois Fernandez and Ruth Arthur, the Odunde Festival fills more than 10 blocks of South Street with music, dancing, food and vendors from African, Caribbean and Latin American cultures.
In addition to the Sunday, June 11 street festival, Odunde will kick off the month of June with events around the city including African Family Day at Liberty Place and a free African pottery class at Expressive Hand Art Studio, 622 S. 9th Street.
(Photo by M. Edlow for Visit Philadelphia)
Odunde features African-inspired dance and musical performances all throughout the day.
The Festival Layout
Odunde is one of the oldest and largest African festivals in America. Tents line the streets filled with vendors selling African, Caribbean and Afro-centric crafts, artifacts, clothes and jewelry at the main-event street festival, which begins with a procession to the Schuylkill River for offerings of fruit and flowers to the Yoruba river goddess Oshun.
The massive celebration, expecting many tens of thousands of attendees, will take over several South Philly blocks from 23rd and Lombard streets to Grays Ferry Avenue and Christian Street, and from 20th and South streets to 23rd and South streets.
Food and Drink
In addition to crafts, jewelry and clothes, vendors will also be on hand with an abundance of African, Caribbean and Soul food.
Enjoy classic African and Caribbean fare like jollof rice, meals made with goat and curry-based sauces, jerk chicken and more.
The food selection is truly diverse and amazing, so be sure to come hungry, bring cash and plan on sampling from multiple vendors.
For more eats before or after the festival, check out the visitphilly.com guide to the Best West African Dining in Philadelphia.
Live Performances
The “Freaks Come Out at Night” hip-hop trio the Whodini will headline this year’s Odunde on the Queen Lois Stage on South Street, one of the festival’s two main stages, at 6:30 pm.
Ahead of the group on the Queen Lois Stage, the African Heritage Dancers, Philadelphia Boppers Association and Illstyle and Peace Productions will be performing, among other acts.
On Gray’s Ferry Avenue, nine acts will take to the I AM B.U.M.I. Stage including the I AM B.U.M.I. Hip Hop Dance Program at 5 p.m. The Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble will close out the B.U.M.I. stage lineup at 6 p.m.
The first of the day’s performances on both stages are expected to begin at 1:30 p.m.
(Photo by M. Edlow for Visit Philadelphia)
Odunde is well-known for its large African- and African-inspired vendors and marketplace.
More Odunde Events
Odunde365 hosts events leading up to the main event on Sunday, June 11. Starting Tuesday, June 6, visit Liberty Place, 1625 Chestnut Street, at noon for African Family Day. The Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble will be performing in the Liberty Place Rotunda and the event is free.
On Friday, June 9, The African Business Round Table features H.E. Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, African Union Ambassador to the United States and takes place at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Boehne Auditorium, 100 N. 6th Street. The free event is from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. and requires registration here.
Immediately following the round table, the Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs will host the VIP Diplomat Reception at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street.
There will also be a free African pottery-making class on Friday night and free yoga on Saturday morning. For more information, visit the Odunde Festival events page.
The huge annual Odunde Festival returns this Sunday. (Photo by M. Edlow for Visit Philadelphia)
The Odunde Festival takes place on a 10 block radius around 23rd and South streets.
Getting There and Staying Over
South Philadelphia’s Odunde festival will shut down a more than 10 block radius around 23rd and South streets. It’s is easily accessible via walking, biking—try the Indego bike share service — or public transportation via SEPTA.
Take SEPTA’s Broad Street Line to the Lombard-South station and walk nine blocks up South Street to 23rd Street. The 7 bus travels up South Street, and the 40 bus stops at 23rd and Lombard Streets.
Make a weekend out of the festival and stay overnight in the city. Head to Visitphilly.com for hotel deals and check out the Visit Philly Overnight hotel package.
The post The Annual Odunde Festival Returns June 11 To Celebrate African Culture In Philadelphia appeared first on Uwishunu – Philadelphia Blog About Things to Do, Events, Restaurants, Food, Nightlife and More.
from http://www.uwishunu.com/2017/06/annual-odunde-festival-returns-sunday-june-11-celebrate-african-culture-shopping-performances/
The post The Annual Odunde Festival Returns June 11 To Celebrate African Culture In Philadelphia appeared first on MyPhillyRealty.
http://myphillyrealty.com/2017/06/06/the-annual-odunde-festival-returns-june-11-to-celebrate-african-culture-in-philadelphia/
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West& DanceAfrica 2017 |
I had the distinguished honor of performing at the 40 year Anniversary of DanceAfrica! I’ve studied, traveled and been in love with traditional vernacular for over 20 years. So being able to perform on that platform was a tremendous honor. Dr Baba Chuck founded this illustrious event (that occurs throughout the Country and beyond) in 1977. He recently transitioned to being an Ancestor. This only made this year even more significant. His impact on all us is immeasurable. And it’s out time now to do the work as cultural carriers.
The DanceAfrica 2017 theme was, “The Healing Light of Rhythm: Tradition and Beyond.” Celebrating the movement and rhythmic traditions of Guinea. We did 7 shows in 5 days (May 25-29, 2017). Performing,"The Healing Sevens," under the direction of Baba Abdel Salaam. Thank you to everyone that came and made it possible for 4 out of the 5 public shows to sell out. Featuring Asase Yaa, Illstyle & Peace Productions and Forces of Nature Dance Theatre. In honor of Dr. Baba Chuck Davis,#WeGotThis!
-J. West
#Jerijah West#danceAfrica2017#whywegobeyond#danceAFRICA#Abdel r Salaam#fondt#forcesofnaturedancetheatre#forces of nature dance theater#dance company#black excellence#BAM#Brooklyn Academy of Music#dancelife#african culture#african dance#legacy#baba chuck#baba chuck davis#dr baba chuck davis
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We just released a 7-episode video series showcasing last year's dance companies on tours across the globe.
Watch on the BAM Video Channel: bam.org/video
#cultural diplomacy#dance#hubbard street dance chicago#illstyle and peace productions#doug varone and dancers#spectrum dance theater#algeria#spain#morocco#bangladesh#nepal#sri lanka#paraguay#peru#argentina#travel#documentary#web series#russia#ukraine#belarus#diplomacy#modern dance#american dance#state dept#DMUSA
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The BAM blog is featuring retrospectives of each of the DanceMotion USA 2013 tours this month. Check it out!
#illstyle and peace productions#hip hop#BAM#brooklyn academy of music#eastern europe#ukraine#belarus#russia#DMUSA
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Eastern Europe through the Eyes of a Lighting Designer
Alex Goldberg served as lighting designer and technical director for Illstyle's tour to Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia this spring.
Following along on Instagram, we became addicted to his gorgeous photography (he does study light, after all!). Here's the journey through Eastern Europe, from his camera:
Sunset boarding on the tarmac #Kyiv
Outside our first venue in Donetsk, #Ukraine. Quite the severe architecture. Awesome!
Preparing for lighting focus. Great team here in #Ukraine!
Hey #Kyiv hey, we're here! #Ukraine
Our next performance venue for Illstyle's #DMUSA tour. So excited to transform this warehouse into a dance theater! #Ukraine
Soviet door in Kyiv.
Exploring Kiev
Statue on a hill overlooking Kiev
WTF Kiev?
Escalator in Kiev #metro
Glass dome in Kiev
Goodnight Kiev! Until we meet again.
Hey there, Belarus! Let's get to know eachother.
Spotted in #Belarus. Go #UConn!
Somebody get this corn a laywer! #Minsk
Illstyle dancer Troi Lauren changing lives in Minsk. #Hiphop for everyone!
Traveled through endless kilometers of Belarus's beautiful countryside today to teach a class.
Belarus. Land of infinite mayonnaise choices.
Feeling privileged to light these beautiful dancers in Minsk. Next stop, Moscow!
Duane and I #supercheesing on our last day in Minsk.
Our fabulous translator Irina showing us around Minsk. Thanks for everything!
Beautiful war memorial in Minsk #Belarus
Russia, we have arrived! Our hotel in #Moscow by night. Loving this city.
Old school dimmer spotted in Moscow! #lightingnerd
Hey Moscow, hey. #pokrovskycathedral <3 Москва
Lobby ceiling glamour in our hotel in #Moscow
Wandered through the Moscow Museum of Modern Art today. #keys #texture
Saw composer Alexander Scriabin's original early 1990s color organ today at his final apartment in #Moscow.
Fluorescent light installation at #MMOMA
Supercars get stuck in traffic too #Moscow
Travel Day: Sunrise, Moscow.
Travel day. Sunset, Novosibirsk, Siberia.
Hey, Krasnoyarsk! Let's finish this tour on a high note.
Outdoor fun times with BAM President Karen Brooks Hopkins.
Friends hanging out in Siberia.
Museum night in Krasnoyarsk
Art and street art collage spotted around #Russia
Hey NYC hey - I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack #tourlife #DMUSA
Alex Goldberg is a freelance lighting designer based in New York and Berlin. You can follow his continuing photography on Instagram @goldenburger8. Learn more about his lighting projects at alexgoldbergdesign.com
#illstyle and peace productions#illstyle#hiphop#russia#ukraine#belarus#kyiv#kiev#moscow#krasnoyarsk#siberia#novosibirsk#eastern europe#travel photography#photography#hip hop photography#lighting design#lighting#technical theater#technical theatre#cultural diplomacy#diplomacy#dancemotion usa#dancemotionusa#longreads#photo journalism#photo essay#DMUSA
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A Look Back at our 2013 Tours
In DanceMotion USA's third season, BAM and the Department of State sent four contemporary American dance companies to represent the United States on artistic missions in four regions around the world. Seattle’s Spectrum Dance Theater, Chicago’s Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, New York’s Doug Varone and Dancers and Philadelphia’s Illstyle & Peace Productions embarked on a whirlwind adventure of dance exchanges, workshops, performances, and cultural conversations. Using dance as a language, they forged lifelong connections – both artistically and personally - with the artists and audiences they met during their travels.
2013 BY THE NUMBERS
4 Dance Companies
13 Countries
14 U.S Embassies and consulates
26 books & DVDs sent to 13 different locations
28 Performances
45 American artists
152 Workshops
13,000 Workshop students
16,000 Audience members
29,000 international participants
843,000 air miles
3 million+ reached online in 54 countries & counting
AND HUNDREDS OF STORIES...
The dancers were our eyes and ears on tour, sharing videos, photos, and blog posts as they traveled. Were you following along? We put together a little guide to our favorite moments and digital stories from the 12 countries:
>> South Asia (Spectrum Dance Theater) A diverse contemporary company sets off half way around the world. Meet Nepali b-boys & b-girls, watch deep friendships unfold in Bangladesh, see sea turtles, snake charmers, and Kandyan dance costumes in Sri Lanka, watch an American-Sri Lankan dance fusion, and read the dancers’ heartfelt accounts of discoveries about themselves and the people they’re meeting.
>> North Africa, Southern Spain (Hubbard Street Dance Chicago) Chicago’s accomplished dancers set off for the desert, the mountains, and the bustling markets. The company performs in a Moroccan square, works with an inspiring group of students under a bridge in Seville, learns folkloric Algerian traditions, shares a first experience with the call to prayer, and ponders the bidet.
>> Eastern Europe (Illstyle & Peace Productions) Philly hip hoppers head to the Eastern corner of Europe to explore the growing influence of hip hop throughout the world. Travel with them as they do headstands in the streets, become local TV celebrities, judge national hip hop competitions in Ukraine, work with wheelchair-bound students in Belarus, develop a screaming teen fan base in Russia, and take us on Instagram tours of the cabins and mountains of Siberia.
>> South America (Doug Varone and Dancers) New York’s beloved modern dance company heads below the equator to explore form and movement. They collaborate with some of Buenos Aires’ most prestigious companies, try their hand at aerial tango, and discard vegetarianism for Argentinian beef and Peruvian alpaca. See their workshops unite students across language barriers, watch the company’s encounter with the famous Recycled Orchestra in Paraguay, and get your heart strings pulled by a series of love letters.
#dance#American dance#illstyle and peace productions#spectrum dance theater#2013#dancemotionusa#dancemotion usa#diplomacy#cultural diplomacy#longreads#travel photography#travel blog#south asia#eastern europe#south america#north africa#spain#algeria#morocco#bangladesh#sri lanka#colombo#DMUSA
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2013 in Review: Eastern Europe
A lesson we’ve learned in the three years of DanceMotion USA: there is nothing quite like a hip hop tour. Hip hop has spread from its roots in New York’s boroughs to the farthest corners of the earth, and each country and culture and group has adapted it to their own dance customs, political voices and youth experiences. This year, we sent Philly’s own Illstyle & Peace Productions to a whole new hip hop territory: Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. A whirlwind of cheering fans and breakdance battles, it was not only an incredible experience for everyone involved, but also some of the most fun we’ve had on the internet.
We knew it was going to be an interesting tour back in January when one of the dancers, Liquidelphia, had the Assistant Secretary of State practically breakdancing with him in Washington during his briefing.
For many dancers in the company, it was their first time out of the United States, and they made sure no one back home – from friends, to fans, to family - missed a moment. Following them on Instagram was an experience unto itself. We saw them eat eggs. We saw them buy new hats. We saw them travel the misty miles of the countryside. We saw them warm-up. We saw them make new friends. We saw them have hair problems. We saw them in the hotel lobby. We saw them do backflips. And we saw them inspire.
Belarus brought one of the funniest TV spots from 2013. Then a chariot tour around Minsk. Backflips in American flag shorts. Screaming fans. But above all, some incredible connections through dance: Peace’s class with kids with Down Syndrome. Girls learning to beat box. Olga’s awesome dance move. And then one of the most moving moments: the company’s hip hop workshop for wheelchair-bound students. We watched as Illstyle left Belarus, transformed by the country.
And then there was Russia, the behemoth land mass. First, Moscow, where the crew met the owner of the Brooklyn Nets (did you know he was Russian? Or that his foundation sponsored part of their tour?) Liquidelphia took us on a tour of the city streets. Deeper in Siberia, they showed us their cabins and climbed a snowy mountain with BAM’s President. Alex, their lighting designer, took beautiful photos of sunsets, landscapes, and lighting dimmers. After each workshop, more and more young people continued to pour their love for the company out over social networks. Everyone wanted their photo taken. Everywhere, everyone wanted to be not only a part of hip hop, but a part of the global community that Illstyle was building. No matter that they looked completely different, came from different cultures, or different sides of the world - they were united by dance, Peace, Love, Respect.
MORE FROM EASTERN EUROPE:
>> Photos by the dancers from Ukraine, Belarus, Russia
>> Our videographer looks back at traveling with Illstyle >> A gorgeous photo journal of the tour by Illstyle's lighting designer >> Watch videos from the tour >> Browse all the blog posts from Illstyle
>> Liquidelphia, Troi, Mouse, and Scarekrow on Instagram
#russia#eastern europe#illstyle and peace productions#illstyle#illstyle & peace#hip hop#hip hop dance#dance#breakdance#moscow#siberia#krasnoyarsk#novosibirsk#belarus#minsk#state department#ukraine#kyiv#donestk#travel#travel photography#longreads#DMUSA
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This is really WOW - these kids that Illstyle worked with in Belarus are totally amazing.
#illstyle and peace productions#hip hop#dance#belarus#eastern europe#inspirational#inspiration#amazing#wow#dance videos#DMUSA
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Meeting of the mighty! Illstyle took part in a press conference in Moscow with Mikhail Prokhorov (you might recognize him from Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center fame – he’s providing additional support to the group’s programs in Russia), BAM’s President Karen Brooks Hopkins, Andrey Timofeyev (director of the famous Vortex Dance Center in Russia) and Jeffrey Sexton (Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Embassy Moscow)
Check out the whole album here.
#illstyle and peace productions#russia#eastern europe#moscow#travel photos#travel#dance#hip hop#brooklyn nets#barclays#bam#DMUSA
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ILLSTYLE AND PEACE PRODUCTIONS IN KIEV
We are on our way to Kiev. It was a long tedious process for us checking into the airport. Thank god for our tour manager John and his fluency in Russian. They actually weighed our carry on bags (sheesh! - this is where my HP office printer, scanner and fax bit the dust because I had to check them in.)
Our flight to Kiev was nice except that all the pilots over here land the plane by immediately slamming the brakes which makes the plane drift like a race car and sends all of us passengers into panic mode LOL. Nothing like a crazy landing to get the blood flowing throughout the morning.
We arrived at the Intercontinental hotel in Kiev - another great hotel selection from the DMUSA team. Anna, our US embassy host, took some of the cast to a nice Ukranian restaurant where they could purchase their lunch, but I was still tired and went to catch some zzzzzzz's. I was happy to be in Kiev, because this is the city in which my spiritual brother Albert Kitcher lives. I was glad that we were finally given the opportunity to represent and show our talent here, so that Albert could finally see our show.
Our first day of outreach events involved visiting two orphanages. The first orphanage was pretty small and the ride there was pretty bumpy. The children were so happy to see us. They let me film their rooms and also I took some nice pics of them too. Jayson Vasquez was able to speak to two of them in Spanish fluently. He told me that it was an incredible experience to converse with them without a translator. After the 1st orphanage we drove to the next city which was another long bumpy ride. We stopped at a local restaurant and tried to have lunch. It took 2.5 hours - trust me lunch is never quick in the Ukraine! This made a little late for the second orphanage, but they were happy to see us too. Their instructor had to leave for another party entertainment gig because this was her side job. Overall the day was amazing I took some really nice shots that day especially of a little baby boy.....enjoy.
- Darrin Ross, Illstyle & Peace Company Manager
#eastern europe#ukraine#illstyle and peace productions#illstyle & peace#travel#kiev#kyiv#orphanage#education#dance#hip hop#DMUSA
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FROM PHILLY TO DONETSK
Today was day two of our outreach events in Donetsk, Ukraine. We had a rehearsal at a local dance studio. The doorway to the dance studio was jam packed with local dancers peeking in to see what Illstyle and Peace Productions was doing. This was our first hint that the performance to come was going to "buck buck wild," as we say. Our first workshop which was in a sports pavilion type building. There were hundreds of people in there taking the class - it was like Illstyle were becoming superstars in Donetsk.
After the first performance Jayson "Mouse" Vasquez continued to teach them moves in a cypher prior to our departure for the Planet B-Boy movie screening. (Planet B-Boy is a movie about the history of hip-hop that the US Embassy screened in partnership with our tour.) The Planet B-Boy screening was held in a theater that you would have never thought was a cinema - outside of the grounds at the venue were unique sculptures of naked bodies and parts...They were sculpted in soap! The screening was received well; there were local press photographers who took pictures of the company. The talk back started with an impromptu jam session with our Artistic Director and Founder Brandon Peace Albright and a local B-boy crew. Afterwards, he invited them to the performance the next evening .
The performance in Donetsk was totally sold out. It started with our US Ambassador to Ukraine John F. Teft, who introduced Brandon and the company. We had a standing ovation and John, our company manager, even joined the Illstyle members onstage post-performance with some of his hip hop moves.
- Darrin Ross, Illstyle & Peace Productions Company Manager
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Well today was a bless day why? Being around kids that don't have nothing can turn out to be special, sharing the love in positive energy with kids u don't know show everything. Walking in the room full of kids in teens and getting a hand clap shows that they respect the culture and the love for hip hop. Dave dingle was the person that warm them up in the class, yes! i enjoy it, matter a fact i love it.........
David Dingle of Illstyle & Peace
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Dave Dingle gets the US Embassy staff in on some #choreo.
Hat tip to Troi Lauren who's been putting iPhone clips of the whole tour on her YouTube channel!
#illstyle and peace productions#illstyle#illstyle & peace productions#eastern europe#ukraine#hip hop#videos#DMUSA
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