October 20, 2005

Black Cultural Center ensembles to share visions of Hollywood

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Members and directors of the four arts ensembles at Purdue University's Black Cultural Center will present a coffeehouse preview of December's Cultural Arts Festival based on their recent research trip to Hollywood, Calif.

The Black Voices of Inspiration, Haraka Writers, Jahari Dance Troupe and New Directional Players will dramatize what they learned about African-American images in film at 7 p.m. Oct. 28-Oct. 29 at the Black Cultural Center, 1100 Third St. The performance is free and open to the public.

BCC Assistant Director William P. Caise said the trip was planned to coincide with the theme for the semester, "Fade to Black: African-American Images in Film and Media." Center groups studied the blackface phenomenon and subsequent minstrels through the eras of Blaxploitation in the 1960s and 1970s, and finally from the early 1980s through today with the explosion of hip-hop and rap/gangsta rap. 

"Through our exploration of these various eras, we have made some interesting discoveries, and from those discoveries each ensemble has been working to find their unique expression," Caise said. "The annual fall coffeehouse at the BCC will be the public's opportunity to see our 'open lab' version of the Cultural Arts Festival, and they have the opportunity to come back Dec. 2 for the final product."

The Black Voices of Inspiration is a choir that specializes in gospel music, spirituals and contemporary songs by African-American composers. Artist-in-residence Twana Harris said the choir will present a sample of the music that has been key to the development of the African-American image.

The Haraka Writers are a group of student poets, essayists and short-story writers.

"Haraka will be exploring through poetry the struggles that African Americans must face if they choose to work in the entertainment business and the many 'masks' they must don to be successful," said student coordinator Kelly Richardson. "We will explore the use of the mask following the theme put forth by Paul Laurence Dunbar in his seminal poem 'We Wear the Mask.'"

The New Directional Players is a theater group with a focus on presenting drama about the African-American experience.

"This creation from student directors arose from the need for everyone within the ensemble to be heard and recognized," said artist-in-residence McKenya Dilworth. "The process was a true practice of creative minds working together for the good of a show."

The Jahari Dance Troupe will perform a repertoire including African, ballet, folk, jazz, tap and modern dance.

"Our hope is to share with the community the integrity of our work with the various styles of dance," said artist-in-residence Elana Anderson. "You will see gospel dance, Broadway-style and hip-hop with the goal of deepening the offering during the Cultural Arts Festival."

Caise said the topic has taken the group down some interesting roads and he hopes the community will take advantage of an opportunity to see their work in progress. 

"This is an opportunity for the Purdue community to come out and see a performance based purely on the research of the students participating in the Black Cultural Center's Performing Arts Ensembles and it is always a joyful and entertaining experience," Caise said.

Established at Purdue in 1969, the Black Cultural Center is nationally recognized and acknowledged by the Association of Black Culture Centers as one of the best centers of its kind. Thomas said the center helps students gain a greater understanding of African-American heritage and supports and enhances cultural diversity on campus and in the community.

Writer: Maggie Morris, (765) 494-2432, maggiemorris@purdue.edu

Source: William P. Caise, (765) 494-4630, wpcaise@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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