Creative Economy – Events
October 23rd, 2008
The University Dancers perform George Faison's Movin' On with Alvin Ailey II on the Fine Arts Center Stage. Movin' On, with music by Betty Carter, is about loosing the shackles of American segregation and stepping forward bravely into a new world. "[Movin' On is] just really trying to make a statement to make actual change to move on from those (old) ways to some type of enlightenment." says Ailey II dancer Josh Johnson.
Partners:
The Sankofa Dance Project, the UMass Amherst Outreach Office of Creative Economy, the UMass Amherst Department of Music and Dance, UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center, the Faison Firehouse, Alvin Ailey II
September 2008:
George Faison Residency at UMass Amherst
During the month of September, George Faison will stage his new work, Movin' On, on the University Dancers. In an unprecedented opportunity, George with prepare them to perform the work with the critically acclaimed Ailey II when they visit the Fine Arts Center on October 23, 2008. Movin' On, with music by Betty Carter, is about loosing the shackles of American segregation and stepping forward bravely into a new world.
Partners:
The Sankofa Dance Project, the UMass Amherst Outreach Office of Creative Economy, the UMass Amherst Department of Music and Dance, UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center, the Faison Firehouse
June 22-27, 2008:
The Sankofa Dance Project Inaugural Summer Dance Intensive with George Faison and The Sankofa Festival 2008
Education:
The Sankofa Dance Project Summer Dance Intensive featured Tony Award winner George Faison helming a weeklong, residential dance training. Participants came from 27 different communities in 10 different states and ranged in age from 15 to 56. Twenty full tuition and housing scholarships were provided for Springfield, Massachusetts students.
Events:
The Sankofa Festival 2008 featured three events: A Harlem Renaissance Jam; A Bebop, Hip Hop, Spoken Word Jam; and the Sankofa Intensive Dance Concert. All events were performed in the Rand Theater on the UMass Amherst campus, With over 800 attendees at the three Sankofa Festival events.
Partners:
The Sankofa Dance Project, the UMass Amherst Outreach Office of Creative Economy, the UMass Amherst Department of Music and Dance, the UMass Amherst Department of Theater, the UMass Amherst W.E.B. DiBois Department of Afro-American Studies, the UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center, UMass Amherst Outreach Marketing and Communications,WGBY, the Faison Firehouse
May 2008:
Master Class with George Faison
Education:
George Faison taught a master class to students in the UMass Amherst Dance Department, teaching them a portion of his new dance Movin’ On. During August 2008, Faison finished choreographing the piece with the critically acclaimed Alvn Ailey II company.
Partners:
The Sankofa Dance Project, the UMass Amherst Outreach Office of Creative Economy, the UMass Amherst Department of Music and Dance, the Faison Firehouse
May 2nd, 2008:
A free performance of The Respect Project, in partnership with STCC
Event:
Creative Economy partnered with Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) to bring The Respect Project, a youth empowerment theater group directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner George Faison to Springfield for a free performance. Over 500 students attended the performance coming from Springfield Central High School, Putnam Vocational Technical High School, the Springfield Academy of Excellence, the Renaissance School, and the High School of Commerce, along with teens from the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, Springfield police officers, and community centers.
Partners:
Springfield Technical Community College and the STCC Diversity Council, Sankofa Youth-Reach, UMass Amherst Outreach Office of Creative Economy, UMass Amherst Outreach, The Faison Firehouse, American Performing Arts Collective, Inc.
April 28th, 2008:
UMass Amherst Founders Day Celebration
Event:
Inaugural UMass Amherst Founders Day Celebration. As a part of the planning committee for the event, the Office of Creative Economy identified and booked the talent for the celebratory concert performance in the UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center Concert Hall. Over 1000 students, faculty, and staff, community members, and high school students from Amherst, Springfield, and Worcester attended the concert.
Partners:
A campus-wide contribution from UMass Amherst. Other UMass partners included: Amherst Outreach Office of Creative Economy, UMass Amherst Outreach Marketing and Communications, UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center, UMass Amherst Department of Music and Dance, Julie Jaron and the Springfield public school system, High School of Science and Technology in Springfield, Burncoat High School in Worcester, and Amherst Regional High School.
March & April 2008:
Dance Classes in the Springfield Public School System
The Office of Creative Economy brought free dance classes to Putnam Vocational High School and the High School of Science and Technology in Springfield, Massachusetts. Total class attendance included over 70 Springfield high school students.
Partners:
Sankofa Youth-Reach, UMass Amherst Outreach Office of Creative Economy, Julie Jaron and the springfield public school system, High School of Science and Technology in Springfield, Putnam Vocational High School in Springfield
December 4-6, 2007
Exodus
A re-staging of acclaimed modern choreographer Ron K. Brown’s Exodus, performed by the UMass Amherst University Dancers at Bowker Auditorium on the UMass Amherst campus. Attended by over 1000 Five College students, faculty and staff along with members of the arts community.
Partners:
The Sankofa Dance Project, UMass Amherst Outreach Office of Creative Economy, the UMass Amherst Department of Music and Dance, Ron K. Brown and Evidence Dance Company, New York City
