India: One Night Only
India, the Princess of Salsa, came to Syracuse University Friday and her powerful vocals and soulful orchestra turned the Goldstein Auditorium into a dance hall for a few hours. The event was sponsored by La L.U.C.H.A. and Sigma Upsilon.
Keeping the Beat
Salsa
India: The Princess of Salsa
Dance Hall: The Sweat is Real
Hon. Dave Bing, Mayor of Detroit, gives the keynote address at Syracuse University’s 27th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration.
The theme for this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at Syracuse University was “A Living Legacy: The Fierce Urgency of Now.” The event featured performances by Dance Theater of Syracuse, BCCE, and a keynote address by the Hon. Dave Bing, the Mayor of Detroit, who graduated from SU 2 years before Dr. King’s assassination.
Dance Theater of Syracuse
Perfect Combination: Mike Houston and Anjela Lynn at Sitrus
Syracuse vocal duo Michael (Houston) and Anjela Lynn belted out a litany of soul classic and R&B hits at the Sheraton Hotel’s Sitrus Lounge on Friday. MichaelAnjelalynn (as they are known) were joined on stage by the Bowen Brothers: Deyquan and John II.
Deyquan Bowens on keys
The quartet wasted no time finding grooves that coaxed the audience onto the dance floor.
Michael Houston mingles on the dance floor
Amyia Burrell and her troupe take a bow after their dance tribute
Maurica Roland
Baile: Marisa Guzman
Freestyle, Adanfo Dancers, medical Clinton Square
Virtually everywhere I went in the past few weeks it seemed like everyone was doing their dance. I saw African dance and freestyle moves in Clinton Square, Salsa on the Near West Side and even ballet at today’s flash (dance) mob in Armory Square.
Can You Salsa, Near Westside, Jazz in the City
Flash (Dance) Mob, Jefferson Street, Walk the Dinosaur
Fame, Armory Square
This summer people have caught dance fever.
Jazz in the City 2011 continued last night with a concert near Skiddy Park featuring the sounds of Salsa Son Timba and dancing in the streets.
Vocalist Salsa Son Timba
Jazz in the City (West Side), Dancin’ In The Streets
La Liga’s Rita Paniagua and CNYJAF’s Larry Luttinger dance on Oswego Street
Dana Baker, Spirt of David, Resurrection Sunday, Eternal Hope Worship Church
I previewed a performance by the Garth Fagan Dance Company that was held at Syracuse University last night. Garth Fagan is an award winning choreographer and is known by most for his work with the Lion King on Broadway.
The company is on a tour of New York and did a teaching performance featuring veteran dancers Norwood Pennewell and (founding member) Steve Humphrey, both Bessie Award-winners, as well as some of the newer company members.
GFD gave an excerpt from the following: “Prelude–Discipline is Freedom,” “Talking Drums,” featuring Guy Thorne, “Mix 25: Shackles,” as well as the colorful number “Touring Jubilee,” (complete with costumes from the Roaring 20s) featuring Annique S. Roberts.
I’ve seen GFD in New York and Washington, DC. They have traveled the world, bringing sophisticated yet athletically funky movement to the masses.
What has always amazed me about the company is that the ladies are as strong as the men, and the men are as graceful as the women when on stage. There’s an equality of talent for sure.
SIF Board member Odetta Norton once trained with this group and B. Efejuku’s wife Valentina retired after a wonderful career as a featured dancer.
In a recent interview I found out that Bill T. Jones was once a student of Garth Fagan.
I look forward to seeing Fagan’s homage to visual artist Romare Bearden.
GFD will perform a complete show tonight at Syracuse University.