LANSING, MI — The Habibi Dancers, a mid-Michigan based Middle Eastern dance company, will host their annual spring workshop and perform, “Tribal Reflections,” on April 4 and 5, 2009, at Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Rd., East Lansing.
Dedicated to the study of Middle Eastern dance, the company brings together women of all ages and backgrounds. The Habibi’s traditional dances bring to life the indigenous rhythms, distinctive costumes, and expressive dance traditions of Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia and the Saudi Gulf.
“This year we will present a selection of tribal style pieces,” said Yasmina Amal, Habibi artistic director. “Dalia is a fusion number of bellydance and African dance and Al-Andaluz is a Flamenco inspired fusion piece expressing the strong ties of Middle Eastern and Andalusian dance.”
“The entire troupe will perform a Tunisian dance, wh ich involves large movements, performed on the balls of the feet and twisting motions of the hips and waist,” continued Amal. “The music is highly rhythmatic and syncopated, and the costume for this piece is unlike any other costume you have seen.”
The Habibi’s will also play host to two special guest artists for a weekend full of dance workshops. Guest artist, Amel Tafsout, is among the most charismatic and acclaimed international choreographers, performer and master dance instructors of the North African Maghreb dance style. Over the weekend, Amel will lead workshop classes of Berber Shimmies/Raks El Mahra, Guedra, and a body art lecture.
Guest artist, Sharon Kihara is known the world over for her avante garde, slightly eccentric artistry, along with her skillful, graceful and powerful technique. Beginning early in 2004, Sharon joined the Bellydance Superstars and has been touring internationally ever since. Sharon will focus on Tribal fusion technique and combinations; feature her choreography and creating the Kihara style.
For more information regarding the Habibi Dancers, please visit www.habibidancers.org.
Film training program to benefit Michigan residents
EAST LANSING, MI– Capital Area Michigan Works!, Michigan State University and Lansing Community College are partnering to prepare Michigan residents seeking employment in the state’s growing film industry.
With a grant of $195,000 from the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth’s No Worker Left Behind program, Capital Area Michigan Works! will recruit and oversee a joint training program between MSU’s Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media and Lansing Community College’s Digital Media, Audio, and Cinema program to provide on-campus film production training.
“We are excited to use No Worker Left Behind funds to support the growth of good-paying jobs in Michigan’s exciting new film industry,” said Andy Levin, deputy director of the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth.
Charles Steinfield, chairperson of the MSU department, says the training program is a wonderful example of state partnership – with economic benefits.
“This training partnership demonstrates our commitment to community outreach, and also to the growth of the film industry in Michigan,” Steinfield said.
The MSU department will work with LCC faculty to provide 80 hours of training, which will prepare Michigan residents who are seeking jobs in the film industry, such as production assistants and other below-the-line film jobs.
Competitive scholarships from Capital Area Michigan Works! will cover the full cost of the program for the students selected. Candidates should demonstrate a passion for the film and television industry, an entrepreneurial spirit and a willingness to do what needs to be done. Candidates should also be driven, flexible, highly mobile and willing to learn.
“People with a background in catering, construction, carpentry, security and IT are all needed on a film set,” said Doug Stites, CEO of Capital Area Michigan Works! “Particularly in demand are folks with previous theater, performing arts and broadcast experience, as well as those with electrical experience. This program will give them the foundation to transfer their existing skills into the film industry.”
The program is expected to start in May with the screening process for candidates beginning immediately. Those interested should email film@camw.net.
Michigan enacted an aggressive film incentive structure in April 2008. Since then, the state has seen more than 70 film and TV projects slated for production in Michigan, estimated to bring in about $430 million in economic activity. Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced new film developments in her State of the State address on Feb. 3.
MSU’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences has a film and media arts initiative, which is headed by former Discovery Films executive Andrea Meditch. Meditch was executive producer of the documentary Man on Wire, which received a 2009 Academy Award. The college offers quality degree programs for film-related careers and has a solid group of alumni involved in the film business, ranging from actors to producers to sound designers to directors and storytellers. In fall 2009, MSU is proposing two new specializations: in Fiction Film Production and Collaborative Documentary Production.
The Digital Media, Audio and Cinema (DMAC) curriculum at Lansing Community College is the first program within the region to offer introductory through advanced level training in Digital Cinema production technologies. Housed within the Business, Media and Information Technologies Department, the DMAC program has trained students for production positions in both regional and national production centers and its student body has competed in both national and international production competitions shooting documentary films in Japan, Hong Kong and India. An open-enrollment curriculum, students completing the 2 year DMAC course of study are well prepared for entrance into the professional media industry.
Words of Hope and Healing
A groundbreaking performance!
Submissions are being accepted from men and women survivors of domestic or sexual violence for a performance of “Hope and Healing”. Poetry, prose, short stories, monologues, skits, songs or dances or any combination are being accepted.
We are looking for submissions from survivors who have walked and are walking through their journeys of healing and intend for the show to focus on all steps of that process. We hope to demonstrate the benefits of embracing the courage to heal and to inspire hope in others.
Authors may perform their material if selected, although it is not required. Authors can also remain anonymous, however all authors must include name, age, phone, and email along with their submission.
Individual performances must be 15 minutes or less. Please submit a dvd for audio/visual performances. Submissions will be juried and authors/actors/dancers will be notified if they are selected.
Must be postmarked by March 21, 2009 and addressed to the Women’s Center of Greater Lansing C/O Maria Casinelli 1710 E. Michigan Ave. Lansing, MI 48912.
BACKGROUND
INFORMATION
Proceeds for the show will benefit the Women’s Center of Greater Lansing (WCGL), which provides counseling and on-going support groups to survivors of childhood and adult domestic and sexual violence.
In 2008, the Lansing Area Community Trust Fund awarded a $3,000 grant to WCGL to coordinate a performance in conjunction with Take Back the Night, an annual event to raise awareness of sexual and domestic violence in April. Because of the positive response we had last year, we are coordinating a show for April 2009. The theme is “Hope and Healing”. Survivors are being given the opportunity to give voice to their experiences and the ways in which they have healed and grown through them and share their message and vision of hope with the Greater Lansing community. The purpose of the production is to promote and facilitate healing after domestic violence and sexual assault through the performance art medium. This production serves to benefit both the performers and the audience.
The performance was inspired by Nancy Allen, performer and writer, who attended the WCGL production of “A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant & A Prayer” in October, 2007. Nancy left her abusive husband in January 2006 and enrolled at LCC to begin pursuit of a teaching certification. After a successful poetry writing assignment, her professor encouraged her to continue to write about her experience. It continues to be an important part of her healing process. Her poems have been performed at a Sistrum concert and other venues and have been published in The New Citizens Press.
Fundrariser Set for “The Lighthouse for Men”
LANSING, MI — A major fundraiser will take place to support the operations of “The Lighthouse for Men,” which provides transitional housing and services for ex-offenders.
The event includes dinner, dancing, live entertainment and a silent auction…will be held from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Saturday, March 21st, at the ‘Body and Soul’ restaurant, 3015 S. Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd in Lansing.
“The Lighthouse for Men,” located in Lansing on Waverly road between Holmes and Jolly, has been serving the needs of newly released prison inmates for the past three years. It is more than a ‘life line’ for offenders…it’s more like a ‘life raft’ providing housing, clothing, job training & career counseling and substance abuse services. The objective is to help ex-offfenders make a successful transition back into free society and become law abiding, productive citizens.
The ‘Lighthouse’ is an authorized post-release placement facility for men from state and federal prisons. The facility, which can handle up to 15 clients at a time, is located on 4-and-a-half acres of land…and also maintains a community garden which provides fresh vegetables to needy local residents through churches and food banks.
Tickets for the March 21st fundraiser are $30 per person…$50 per couple, and will be available, space permitting, at the door…or in advance, by calling (517) 507-3516.
WLNS-TV anchor Dave Ackerly is scheduled to serve as Master of Ceremonies. The jazz group, “Too Smooth for Notes,” will provide live music.
PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP OF MID-MICHIGAN
The regular monthly meeting of the Prostate Cancer Support Group of Mid-Michigan will be held on Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 from 7-9 pm in Rooms F & G of the Sparrow Professional Building. The program will include a video on Bone Health.
The purposes of the group are to lend support to those men (and their partners) who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and to offer education about this disease for everyone interested. Membership and attendance at these meetings are free and open to the public. For more information, call Alan Labovitz at 517- 339-2909.
“In the Name of the Blood Shed: Art, Resistance, and Repression in Mexico”
On Friday, March 27, 2009 there will be a closing reception including workshop by the Mexican street art collectives Lapiztola and Zzierra Rrezzia. The closing reception will take place from 6:30-9:00PM at the LookOut! Gallery located in the Residential College, with workshops to begin at 7:00PM. This exhibition, curated by Dylan A.T. Miner (RCAH), Jerry García (History/Chicano Studies), and Benjamin Smith (History), is a collection of contemporary art emerging from social justice movements. As a body, the works collectively address the various social and cultural implications of resistance and revolution, as they have played out in the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas, Mexico. Through a multiplicity of visual media, including photography, printmaking, graphic art, street art, and installation art, this exhibition demonstrates the continuity of resistant practices in Mexico. The exhibition will include works by Antonio Turok, Edith Morales Sánchez, in addition to the street art collectives Zzierra Rrezza and Lapiztola.
Beauty & Talent and Oratorical Contest
Capital City Temple #308 and Silver Leaf Lodge #534 (ELKS) are sponsoring their annual Beauty & Talent and Oratorical Contest on Sunday, May 3, 2009 at BCFI located at 835 W. Genesee,
Lansing, Michigan from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Contestants for the Beauty & Talent must be between 16 and 20 years old. Oratorical is for both male and female and must be between 16 and 20 years old.
Contestants are eligible to win $10,000 in scholarships.
Contact Pat Kimble- Moore at 517-242-7309 or 517-487-1704 for contest rules and application. Application deadline is March 27, 2009.
