FORMER 'HARLEM 'RECORD' SHACK" RE-OPENS AS "HARLEM 'MUSIC' SHACK"

After being shut down for a four year hiatus, the former Harlem Record Shack, now known as the Harlem Music Shack will be having its grand re-opening on Saturday, March 24^th with a spiritual ceremony to evoke the African ancestors to bestow blessings and good fortune on the new business from noon to 2:00 p.m., and Sunday, March 25 will feature a traditional African drumming event from noon to 2:00 p.m.  
                                                                                                                                                 

Owned by Sikhulu Shange, a native of South Africa, who came to America in 1964 and participated in the New York World’s Fair as a Zulu Dancer, Shange is proud to return his store to its new home located at 2361 Frederick Douglas Blvd.   The record store, formerly located at 274 West 125^th Street, across the street from the Apollo Theatre, was forced to close its doors due to high rent after doing business in the Harlem community close to 40 years.  Mr. Shange is delighted to launch the "RE-GRAND OPENING" of his music store, under its new name, "HARLEM MUSIC SHACK" where the store will sell CD'S and  DVD'S, as well as cell phones and men and women’s perfumes and colognes.

Over the years, the Record Shack drew loyal customers within the Harlem community.  Customers were comprised of elected officials such as Assemblyman Keith Wright, NYC Councilman Charles Byron, and Leslie Wyche.  Jazz icon Gloria Lynne will phone in her 'Best Wishes" with a few notes of her million selling song, "I Wish You Love."  Also making a presence to support the Harlem Music Shack will be 'famed' long-time friend of The Record Shack, pianist/composer Onaje Allen Gumbs. Also attending will be Baba Don Eaton, drummer for the legendary group, The Last Poets (Godfathers of Rap and Hip Hop).  The group will honor the occasion with a percussion performance.  They will be joined by drummers M.Ndigo Washington, Gary Fritz, and Nana Kimati Dinzulu. 

Spoken word enthusiasts will be delighted to find Abiodun, a founding member of 'The Last Poets' reciting a special spoken word piece to grace the Harlem Music Shack event.  Joining him will be eight year old, 'Lil Man', the youngest NYC Hip Hop/Rap Artist, performing two original songs.  Don’t miss this historic event with the "The Most Elder Poet and The Most Jr. Poet!"

 So, come out one and all!!!  Welcome the new ‘Harlem Record/Music Shack’ back to Harlem where it belongs.  For additional info on the travesty of the original closing of the store see The New York Times article by Timothy Williams, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/nyregion/09shange.html

For additional information call Dell Long at 212-662-0414 or contact her via her email delllongPR@yahoo.com

Ailey II dancer Paige Fraser Following Her Dream

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By Deardra Shuler

One’s choices in life can be a testament to one’s mettle.  How one faces personal setbacks and challenges is always an individual decision and evidence of their will to authenticate their true nature.  Ailey II dancer, Paige Fraser, has met every challenge with the attitude of a champion.  At age 4, Paige had not determined what she wanted to become in life.  She only knew she enjoyed swimming and ice skating, so when her Caribbean born parents enrolled her in dance class, it was just another fun thing to do. 

A first generation American, Ms. Fraser recognized by the time she was 12 years old, that dancing had stolen her heart.  It was just about then, while undergoing a physical examination, the doctors pronounced she had scoliosis, a curvature of the spin.  They suggested the disease might put a damper on her dancing.  They advised an operation. Since an operation could not promise a cure, Paige’s parents opted for more natural remedies to help balance the spin such as yoga and more dancing.  To date, Paige has never had an operation, and is still dancing, doing what she must to keep her spin stabilized.  

 “I am using Gyrotonics, therapy, yoga, massage, and chiropractors.  And so far, I have proven the doctors wrong.  It’s just being sensible and knowing what I can and can not do.  As a dancer, I must be aware of what I eat and how I respect my body.  Amazingly, few people even notice I have scoliosis,” said the young ballerina proudly.  It was also challenging initially for Paige to find ballet schools with a diverse racial mix.

Dancing requires a great deal of training, discipline and hard work since Paige practices all forms of dance from ballet, African, modern, jazz, etc.  In pursuit of her craft, Paige attended a professional performance high school and later studied at Dominican College in California, taking advantage of a BSA program in conjunction with Alonzo King Lines dance methods, training with some of his dancers.  Transferring to New York, she also trained in summer programs at American Ballet Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Jacob’s Pillow, Juilliard, and Complexions and has worked with Desmond Richardson, Darrell Grand Moultrie, and Camille A. Brown.  Enrolled at Fordham University, she is part of their BSA Program in conjunction with Alvin Ailey.  “The BSA program gives a BA in Fine Arts, which is a set core curriculum that allows a student to enjoy an academic program while pursuing an interest in dance at a dance theatre such as Alvin Ailey.  So you can get the degree while also dancing,” explained Paige who is presently experiencing her first year with Ailey II, having been chosen among 12 selected dancers to dance with the Ailey II troupe, out of 1500 competitors.  

Presently on a 35-city North American tour that included Texas, Alabama, Indiana, Wisconsin, South and North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and LA, Ailey II, will be returning to the Ailey Citigroup Theatre in NYC, where they will be performing from April 18-29, for a highly anticipated 2 weeks.  Sadly this will also be the farewell season for Artistic Director, Sylvia Waters, who has lent her dance mastery to the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre for 38 years.  

In 2010, Ms. Fraser performed in Alvin Ailey’s Memoria as a special production of Revelations, in celebration of its 50^th year during the Company’s New York City season.

“As part of a 2-year program, I am grateful to be experiencing my first year with Ailey II.  I am lucky I’ve received mentoring from Ms. Waters and was able to reap the benefit of her knowledge.  I will continue under Troy Powell who will become the new Artistic Director.  I hope that Sylvia Waters will continue to be an asset to the Ailey organization.  A lot of the parts I now perform in Revelations, she performed, so I am grateful for the notes and corrections she offers to me.  She is very good at bringing out the best in her dancers,” said Fraser.

“I encourage people to never give up and just follow their dream.  I have overcome many obstacles to get where I am today and I am just at the beginning of my journey. But I have never given up and I encourage others to never give up either.”

Ailey’s NYC Performance will feature 3 new works and 3 repertory favorites, and 14 dance numbers such as Echoes, Boulevard, Reference Point, the Corner, Legacy of Inheritance and Shards.  For tickets: call 866-811-4111 or online at  www.AlvinAiley.org/AileyII or www.ovationtix.com.  

To purchase tickets in person, visit the Ailey Citigroup Theatre Box Office, located at 405 W 55^th Street starting April 10^th.

Arye': A Gift to Black History and Women’s History Month

                                                          By Deardra Shuler  
                                                         Photos by: Andrin Bosshart

           Although I have reviewed several plays, I cannot recall in some time feeling the excitement I felt after viewing “Arye',” a play written by actress Louise Mike.  Ms. Mike’s play takes the viewer through 3 generations of women, all telling the familial tale of the warrior Arye'.   Arye' was a proud son of Africa, strong and vital, a leader who was raised by his culture and mother to respect women, nature, family, tradition, and his God.

            “Arye'” a Hadley Players winter production, featured at the Harlem School of the Arts, located at 647 St. Nicholas Avenue (off 142^nd Street) in Manhattan, will only run until March 11^th.  I wish it could run longer so that everyone can see this play and feel the pride, joy and sorrow of a family as it existed in Africa, endured slavery in America and later American apartheid, only to prevail in current time, remembering its history and family tradition.  

This play is a true light in the darkness and performed with warmth, passion and great skill by actress Kimberlee Monroe, who does a superb job depicting each generation of woman: grandmother, mother and daughter within their historic era.  The performance is uplifting in spirit and truly a play for the heart. 

            Ms. Monroe carries her audience back to Africa through the grandmother who serves as a griot since it is through her we come to know her son, Arye', and along the way get to know her as well.  She was the healer in the family as was her mother.  She knew the ways of the land and of nature and how the birds were the foretellers of death.  We feel the link to our ancestors in Africa and learn of a people who understood the earth’s rhythms, and their soul connection with the animals, the land, and nature.  In fact, so connected were they that oftentimes it was by observing nature and taking heed of nature’s warnings, that Africans saved their own lives. 

Via the play “Arye',” viewers are reminded of a time when we as a people combined our forces and worked together as one, sharing what we had with one another, so that no one went without.  And, through this tradition of unselfishness our ancestors built a strong and united community.  It was a time when men hunted and provided for the family, took pride in their women and led with strength and purpose.  Mates were equal partners.  The women cared for the home, the sick and wounded, and even became warriors if need be, putting the family community survival first and foremost.  Ms. Monroe weaves the fabric of this lifestyle with such agility that one doesn’t even need to close their eyes to be taken back as witness to our ancestral past.

            Through a simple change of costume we are transported to a plantation wherein the daughter of Arye' continues the tale of his life, introducing the lives of Arye'’s children under the rigors of slavery.  Audiences feel the pride Arye' held, the suffering he endured, having to take on a chained life after having lived a free life in Africa.  We realize the cruelty of having to endure another man’s rule, Will and heartlessness, yet find a way to live throughout it all and still believe in God.  Still hope, still rise.  This play shows us that although at times we falter we have always found a way to go on.

            The director, Ward Nixon, who also did the set designs, made each time period realistic.  The symbolism of the tree and flowers was a brilliant indicative of the branches of family and the blossoming of each lifetime that continued the tradition of keeping Mother Africa alive.  Through Ward’s efforts and that of everyone involved in this production, the line of African American descent is brought to life.  Via the women storytellers in this play, each generation passes down an enlightened culture via the male line of Arye'.  In so doing, the importance of knowing who we are as a nation and people and the origins of our beginnings, is instilled in each child inculcating a common bond.  Assuring the ancient African tradition of respecting one another, love of the family, our survival and the truth about our greatness is not forgotten.  Through each scene, it was also revealed, that throughout each time period, the women maintained their gift of healing.  They became strong and more independent, self-assured in the beauty of their Africanism, no matter their kaleidoscope of hue.  

There is something we as a people of color here in America and throughout the Diaspora need to remind ourselves of in modern day -- That is, the line of Africa exists in each one of us and should not be negated, disrespected or discarded because others malign us and try to instill in us a sense of self-revulsion.  We are not inferior because others say so, nor are we powerless.  Only by ingesting the rhetoric and condemnation of the fearing others, have some among us swallowed the negative programming hate-filled groups systematically enforce.  Let’s stop the violence toward one another, and lack of appreciation of our race.  Attempting to be a mirrored reflection of Euro-culture only brings about the extinction of our own.  Think about it!

The Hadley Players will finish out their play season with “This Way Forward,” written by Hadley Player founder, Gertrude Jeannette.  “This Way Forward,” is slated to run from May 15 – May 27, 2012.

 “Arye'” is stage managed by Caitlin Elizabeth Joy; Costumes by K’Ran Bridges, sound/music/lyrics by L.A. Lucas, lighting is by Derrick Minter.  Arye' runs Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Single tickets are: $20.00, $15.00 for seniors, students or a group of five, $30.00 for a pair and $8.00 for children under 12.  For reservations call 646-323-0223.

I recommend this play highly.  Go see it. You will be glad you did.

           

           

           

                     St. Lucian Singer Continues His Musical and Humanitarian Works

Singer/Songwriter Taj Weekes, talks with host, Deardra Shuler, about his most recent endeavors.  Mr. Weekes recently received an award from St. Lucia House in New York City for his humanitarian work via his charity.  Please visit his "They Often Cry " Outreach website (TOCO - www.theyoftencryoutreach.org), to learn more.

Recently,his charity has expanded into Trinidad and will move into Haiti and Dominica this year.   Taj also updates the listeners on his new music projects.  He  will be featured alongside legendary musicians Joan Baez, Crosby & Nash, Jackson Browne, Willie Nelson, Yoko Ono, Deborah Harry and others on a compilation CD to raise money for the worldwide Occupy Wall Street Movement. Although the New York Occupy Wall Street was removed from the Park by Bloomberg, the movement plans to again build momentum.

Weekes CD  "A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen" will be released in France with 4 new songs added as well as a live album, featuring a couple of new songs that will be part of his repertoire on the road this Spring/Summer.  Taj will also be performing at the 92Y in Tribecca on March 10th, alongside former John Brown's Body singer, Kevin Kinsella.

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