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Darfur, Darfur!
Sep 29, 2008
TRILOGY: AN OPERA COMPANY Presents
DARFUR, DARFUR…A Dramatic Cantata
Thursday, October 16, 2008 ~ FREE


Newark, NJ -- On the heals of their successful production of Emmett Till: The Opera about a Chicago boy whose brutal murder in 1955 in the Mississippi Delta came to symbolize the start of the Civil Rights movement in America, Trilogy: An Opera Company presents Darfur, Darfur: A Dramatic Cantata by Michael Raphael. Trilogy’s artistic director, Kevin Maynor, once again, unleashes his cadre of talented opera singers, this time to raise awareness of Darfur a war-torn region in western Sudan, Africa. The event will be held Thursday, October 16, 2008 at the WISOMMM Cultural Center, 15 James Street in downtown Newark, NJ at 8:00 pm. Admission is free and open to the public.

In Sudan, the government-supported Muslim militia known as the janjaweed, has wreaked havoc in the form of genocide on black residents of the region. ”Darfurians are being tortured, killed and all of this is happening for power and no one is paying attention to it because it is not as lucrative as some of these other regions that have oil, for example,” says Maynor. “Darfur represents the pinnacle of tragedy and abuse in the world.”

The October 16 performance features soprano Diana Solomon-Glover, mezzo soprano Frances Jones, tenor Robert Mack and bass Kevin Maynor along with the Longar Ensemble Orchestra, Umoja Dance Company and the Songs of Solomon Choir.

Trilogy: An Opera Company is a non-profit organization that focuses on the works of black composers and artists of color. This event is presented by Trilogy in collaboration with the American Heart Association, the American Stroke Association, Women in Support of the Million Man March (WISOMMM), Church World Service/CROP and the Darfur Rehabilitation Project. For additional information call (973) 985-5881 or email TrilogyAOC@juno.com.


Darfur, Darfur: A Dramatic Cantata
By Michael Raphael

Co-sponsored by:

Trilogy: An Opera Company
American Heart Association
American Stroke Association
Women in Support of the Million Man March
Church World Service/CROP
Darfur Rehabilitation Project.

Featuring:

Diana Solomon-Glover, Soprano
Frances Jones, Mezzo-soprano
Robert Mack, Tenor
Kevin Maynor, Bass

Longar Ensemble Orchestra
Songs of Solomon Choir

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Wofabe Festival
Sep 29, 2008
Umoja Dance Company Presents
Third Annual WOFABE: African Dance and Drum Festival in
Newark, New Jersey
Friday through Sunday, October 24-26, 2008


Newark, NJ - Umoja Dance Company (Umojadance.com) a New Jersey-based, multi-cultural company of dancers founded in 1993 by Karen Love, will present Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival 2008 at Science Park High School, 260 Norfolk Street, Newark, New Jersey. In celebration of the third anniversary, the festival will be held three days from Friday, October 24 through Sunday, October 26, 2008. The event, presented in collaboration with Performing Arts Services, is the only African dance and drum festival of its kind in the state. Renowned choreographer, Baba Chuck Davis, Founder and Artistic Director of the African American Dance Ensemble, will serve as host.

The mission of Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival is to share and preserve the finest traditions of African dance and drumming; to encourage cross-cultural understanding; to celebrate traditional African culture, aesthetics and values, and to utilize the resources and information gathered to further promote African art forms to the younger generation.

“I am pleased to have the opportunity to celebrate African dance and culture in Newark,” says Ms. Love. “The community at large can only benefit from this experience. It is equally important to pass on the tradition and culture to our young people and it is our goal to keep the culture growing not just in October but 365 days a year.”

Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival will examine traditional African dance, how traditions have evolved and how they have been interpreted by contemporary artists. There will be African dance classes with emphasis on movement from Guinea, Ghana and the Caribbean and drumming classes in the djembe and djun djun drums, both of which are prevalent in West African dance and music and a panel discussion.

On Friday, October 24, dance and drum classes take place from 6:00 to 9:15 pm with a special late night master class for all levels with Baba Chuck Davis from 9:30 to 10:45 pm.

On Saturday, October 25, the day begins with a yoga warm up class from 9:30 to 10:45 am. Dance and drum classes for all levels begin at 12:45 and end at 5:45 pm with a free class for children from 12 noon to 1:00 pm. Saturday culminates with a rousing dance and drum concert from 7:00 to 10:00 pm featuring Forces of Nature Dance Theatre (New York), Asase Yaa African American Dance Theatre (New York) and Kulu Mele African American Dance Ensemble (Philadelphia).

On Sunday, October 26, there will be a free panel discussion on “Teaching African Dance” from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Dance and drum classes on all levels begin at 1:15 pm and continue through 6:15 pm.

Wofabe will sponsor an African marketplace held throughout the festival that features a variety of vendors offering merchandise from the African Diaspora. The African Marketplace is open to the general public and provides an excellent opportunity for pre-holiday shopping. The deadline for vendor registration is October 22nd. Vendor applications can be obtained online at www.Wofabe.com.

Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival is open to dance, drum, and music instructors, students and the general public, hence the name Wofabe which is Sou Sou (a language of Guinea, West African) for “everybody come.” Dance and drum classes are $12 in advance and $15 at the door ($12 for seniors, students and children under 12). Drum rentals (by reservation) are available for $5. The Saturday night concert tickets are $25 ($15 for seniors and children under 12).

Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival is sponsored by Umoja Dance Company, Performing Arts Services and Science Park High School. This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts and administered by the Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs.

Concert tickets, group discount packages and additional information may be obtained at www.Wofabe.com or call Karen Love at (973) 674-0285 or (888) 667-5531. Organizers can also be reached via email at Wofabe08@aol.com.

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Jazz Tea for MG
Sep 29, 2008
CB&A Hosts Third Annual Jazz Tea for Myasthenia Gravis



NEWARK, NJ - Celeste Bateman & Associates (CB&A) , in association with the Garden State Chapter, Inc. – Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, hosted their annual Jazz Tea for Myasthenia Gravis on Saturday, August 23, 2008. The event, a fundraiser for the Foundation located in Wayne, New Jersey, was held at the IDT Building in downtown Newark, NJ. (See photoes from the event in our Photo Gallery)

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is “…a chronic disabling autoimmune, neuromuscular disease of severe, crippling weakness of voluntary muscles,” according to the Garden State Chapter, Inc. newsletter, MG Flash. “MG is characterized by general muscle weakness and excessive fatigue. In severe cases the disease can involve respiratory muscles, causing potentially life-threatening respiratory failure,” according to the publication.

Celeste Bateman, President, Celeste Bateman & Associates was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis in December 2002. The annua tea provides an opportunity to inform the public about this little-known autoimmune disease that affects approximately 15 in 100,000 people in the United States.

The guest speaker was chiropractic physician Dr. Tashia S. Hilliard, founder of the Hilliard Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Union, New Jersey. Jazz drummer Rudy Walker performed with his Quartet. In addition to the music and sumptuous buffet, actor Jamil Mangan and performance poet Aqueelah Shaheed presented readings and recitations. There were hats for sale by Lorraine’s For Women Only, jewelry and other treasures from Oshunlade from the Bronx and fabulous door prizes. There was also a display of unique, antique and whimsical teapots courtesy Edna Bailey Woody who has been collecting teapots for over 25 years.

The goal of the Garden State Chapter, Inc. - Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is to create full awareness of MG throughout the medical community and the public at large. The organization hosts several fundraisers a year, including a Walk-A-Thon in May, a golf tournament in August and a Sit-A-Thon in September. Proceeds from the Tea will benefit the Garden State Chapter, Inc. for research and education. For information regarding next yea’rs tea scheduled for September 2009, call (973) 705-8253.