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| Chuck Davis African
American Dance Ensemble To Perform On Jan. 30 released: 01/26/04 |
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| The Arts Alive!
season continues with a celebration of "Peace, Love, Respect for Everybody"
as the Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble performs at West Virginia
Wesleyan College's Atkinson Auditorium Friday, January 30, at 7:30 p.m.
The ensemble, which embodies and promotes cultural harmony and understanding, hopes to foster peace and raise understanding among all ethnic backgrounds through the expression of traditional African dance and music. Their celebration of African culture and aesthetics helps to further community feeling and interracial understanding.  Chuck
Davis and his company of nine musicians and dancers perform traditional
music and dance that are the origins of many modern day artistic expressions.
Traveling to Africa annually so that he may gain endless inspiration for
his life's work, Davis is renowned for his accomplishments and dedication
to promoting the awareness of African culture and art. "His passion for dance, for art as an access to the heart and soul, and for the discovery of truth is magnificent," said Bess Park-Reynolds, Associate Professor Theatre Arts and Dance Director of Musical Theatre. Park-Reynolds had the opportunity to work with him in North Carolina and has since been a fervent supporter of Davis' work. "The students, the community, and really everyone was enthralled with his energy, his humility and his spirit. He is a gentle giant in the dance world, not to mention an expert in the education and presentation of authentic West African dance forms," she went on to say. The Friday program will begin with a presentation of "Blessed Drums." According to custom, "the drum, when played properly, speaks the language of whomever is listening." Thus, the troupe celebrates life to the rhythm of the drum. In "Fanga," the company performs a dance of welcome, proclaiming, "We welcome you with our hearts, minds, and voices. With outstretched arms and open hands, we greet you in peace."  This
performance is the first in a series for the West Virginia Contemporary
Dance Festival, which lasts from January 30 to February 1. The festival
includes workshops and other performances, including those created and performed
by Jason Jackson. This is a chance for Wesleyan's emerging artists to display
their talents. For more information, contact Reynolds at (304) 473-8449."The Festival is a great way to learn from our peers as well as experience the reality of showcasing a piece for a larger community," Jackson, a senior in the BFA program, explained. The entire community is strongly encouraged to attend festival events. Admission to The Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble is $5. This program is presented with financial assistance from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval by the West Virginia Commission on the Arts. |