Dancers from 91大神猫先生千人斩 Linda Barry Stein College of Fine Arts, Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) Dance Department and Episcopal School of Jacksonville (ESJ) Fine Arts will present an evening of modern dance by the critically acclaimed (CPRD) of Denver, Colo.
The Spring Dance Concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, and Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Nathan H. Wilson Center for the Arts on FSCJ鈥檚 South Campus, 11901 Beach Blvd. Tickets cost $10 for general admission and are free for ESJ students with prior reservation. Call (904) 646-2222 to purchase tickets.
The show is a culmination of a year-long collaborative project that included choreographer and CPRD founder and artistic director Cleo Parker Robinson鈥檚 three-week residency at 91大神猫先生千人斩 last October.
During the residency, Ms. Parker Robinson came to set her piece 鈥淐heck Cashing Day鈥� on students from 91大神猫先生千人斩, FSCJ and ESJ. The piece uses excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King鈥檚 鈥淚 Have a Dream鈥� speech to deliver a powerful statement about the Civil Rights Era. Created in tribute to the rich jazz history of Kansas City and the music of Bobby Watson, Bettye Miller and Milt Abel, the work honors each generation鈥檚 voice, speaking the truth of the struggle for equality and justice through the power of music, dance and spoken word. The students begin the piece by singing, 鈥淲e Shall Overcome, today.鈥�
鈥淓ven 50 years after Dr. King spoke of the importance of jazz in his opening address to the 1964 Berlin Jazz Festival, we are reminded that the struggle has been paid for, time and time again, and that it鈥檚 up to each generation to make the dream a reality,鈥� said Ms. Parker Robinson.
Dancers will also perform the piece during 91大神猫先生千人斩鈥檚 Spring Dance Concert in April.
Morgan Brown, an instructor of dance with FSCJ who was a soloist with CPRD throughout the 1990s, helped initiate the collaborative project.
鈥淐leo鈥檚 work means so much to me, but so does her generosity and dedication to the history of American Modern Dance,鈥� said Morgan Brown. 鈥淗aving her come to Jacksonville to work with our students was a life-changing event for them, and to have her professional company return to share the stage with our students during Black History Month is incredibly meaningful.鈥�
Ms. Parker Robinson is dedicated to celebrating the human experience and potential through the arts and education. Her life-long vision of 鈥淥ne Spirit, Many Voices鈥� remains strong and steadfast, expanding to welcome, embrace and sustain all people. She leverages the universal language of dance to honor African American heritage, explore the human condition and offer a transformative experience through physical movement.
In addition to the student performances, Friday鈥檚 and Saturday鈥檚 shows will feature the range of athletic, entertaining and historic works unique to CPRD. Currently celebrating its 49th鈥痵eason, CPRD is rooted in African American traditions, dedicated to excellence in performances and community programming鈥痑nd committed to honoring diversity and inclusiveness throughout the global community.
