EAST LANSING, MI — On Saturday, April 12, at 8:00 p.m the African Children’s Choir will sing, stomp, dance and shout their way into Wharton Center and audiences’ hearts at Cobb Great Hall. These delightful children, through their voice and their music, are taking Africa to the rest of the world. The tickets are $28.00, $23.00 and $18.00. For box office information log on to whartoncenter.com or call 517.432.2000, 1.800.WHARTON.
The children of the choir are the victims of a terrible pandemic, but they are also the promise and future of Africa. For over 21 years, the African Children’s Choir has been performing throughout North America and the United Kingdom. The members of the choir are children ages seven through eleven from Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. Many have lost one or both parents through the devastation of war, famine and disease, and in spite of the tragedy that has marred their young lives, these musically-gifted children are radiant with hope and wonderfully entertaining.
Each year a new choir is selected from children who are not only musical, but who also come from some of Africa’s most desperate villages. The children sing on behalf of their brothers, their sisters, their friends, and their village. Their songs bring great joy to those who hear them, but through their songs they are asking for help.
The children melt the hearts of audiences with their charming smiles and joyful African melodies and dance. Their voices sing out on behalf of Africa’s 12-million AIDS orphans. They represent the future of the entire continent, demonstrating the potential to become strong leaders for a better future in their homeland.
Each child in the Choir has a story. They have experienced more tragedy in their young lives than most of us will ever know in a lifetime. Yet, each child has a dream – a hope for tomorrow. They want to be teachers, doctors, musicians and pilots. The African Children’s Choir is committed to making these dreams a reality.
Middle Eastern Dance Company to
Celebrate Silver Anniversary
LANSING, MI — For 25 years, the Habibi Dancers have educated and entertained Michigan communities with Middle Eastern dance. On April 19 & 20, 2008, the Habibi Dancers, with special guests Cassandra Shore, Nicole LeCorgne and Habibi alumni, will celebrate their Silver Anniversary through a concert and workshops at the Hannah Community Center in East Lansing, Michigan.
“The Silver Anniversary show is a culmination of all the experience and education the Habibi Dancers have learned in the past 25 years,” said Garnett Kepler, Habibi Artistic Director. The show will feature a variety of pieces from the troupe’s beginning years through today, all reflecting a different style of Middle Eastern dance. Faddah (Silver) is a combination of four major styles of Middle Eastern dance – Beledi, Cabaret/nightclub, Andalusian and Ghawazee. Typical choreography only reflects one or two styles of traditional Middle Eastern dance. The costumes and the individual selections also will reflect the differences and the style of dance.
This year, the Habibi Dancers will perform to live music, using the choreography of special guest Cassandra. “Performing to live music is the pinnacle of Middle Eastern dance,” said Garnett. “The marriage of musician and dancer goes back thousands of years, so I thought it would be a great addition to the concert.” Musicians are Johnny Sarweh, Qanoon; Nicole LeCorgne, Tabla; Rune Palland, Tabla and Walid Hawilo, Keyboards.
Special guests Cassandra Shore and Nicole LeCorgne will join the weekend celebration leading dance and drum/rhythm workshops, as well as perform during Saturday evening’s show. Cassandra has focused her dance study and performance on the Egyptian Raks Sharqui and Middle Eastern folkloric dance since 1974. She began as a cabaret performer, but soon widened the scope of her artistic expression by presenting Middle Eastern dance on the theater stage. Nicole is a percussionist specializing in Arabic music. She was a founding member of the Balkan gypsy ensemble, Panecea, and has been the musical accompanist and resident drum teacher at Oasis Dance Camps for the past 10 years.
The Habibi Dancers, a mid-Michigan based dance company, is dedicated to the study and performance of Middle Eastern dance. For information on the 25th Anniversary weekend, please visit
www.habibidancers.org.
