Join Dance4Life USA!

Dance4Life USA 2008 Heart Connection Tour Job Description/Post

Dance4Life is a dynamic international initiative, which inspires, motivates, and unites young people. It gives youth around the world a powerful voice in the response to the growing global HIV and AIDS pandemic and the stigma and taboos that surround them. Half of all new HIV infections are among youth, 25 years of age and younger. Dance4Life informs, mobilizes, and unifies young people through dance, music, and peer education to become active catalysts and “Agents of Change” in the effort to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Dance4Life USA is a program of Students Partnership Worldwide (SPW), an international, youth-led development agency that trains peer educators to work in rural communities in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Dance4Life USA is working in partnership with Metro TeenAIDS (MTA) and RedZebra U.S. to target 10 Washington, DC public schools and at least 5,000 students this fall to become active Agents of Change and empower them to address and prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS in their communities.

The Heart Connection Tour (HCT) is at the center of the Dance4Life schools program. The Tour engages peer volunteers to reach out to schools and give young people the knowledge necessary to protect themselves, as well as the motivation to inform their peers and take action in response to today’s global HIV pandemic. The team of dancers, musicians, and peer educators teach students the international Dance4Life drill, share their personal experiences with HIV and AIDS, and inspire students through an interactive and engaging 90-minute presentation.

Dance4Life USA is looking for volunteer dancers, drummers, musicians, peer educators, and/or experienced youth leaders willing to join us in creating the 2008 Pilot Heart Connection Tour program, based in Washington, DC. HCT members should be from the DC area, or willing to provide their own transportation and accommodations and should be between the ages of 16-30. Team members receive a $50 per day stipend and must be available for the full five-day training (October 13-17^th, 2008) and for at least one week of the Tour (October 20-24^th and/or 27^th-30^th, 2008). HCT members should be outgoing, motivated, responsible, and interested in empowering and working interactively with young people.

All applications can be emailed, faxed, or mailed to:

Email: supportdance4life@spw-usa.org

Fax: 202.408.1429 attn: Emily Arden

Mail: 1413 K St NW 5^th Floor Washington, DC 20005 attn: Emily Arden

All applications must be received by Friday August 22, 2008.

All applicants will be contacted via email or phone by Monday September 1, 2008.

Please click here for more information and to download the application form. All questions should be sent to supportdance4life@spw-usa.org.

Dance4Life USA is seeking an intern!

INTERNSHIP

The Dance4Life USA Associate will support the Dance4Life Coordinator in implementing the program’s fundraising and communication plans. This internship will be a solid resume-builder that provides in-depth exposure to non-profit fundraising and programming for social justice, international health and development, and an understanding of non-profit management in general. Skills developed may include communication, marketing, event organizing and materials development.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The main role of the Dance4Life USA Associate will be to assist the Dance4Life USA Coordinator with fundraising and program management on a day-to-day basis. The following list provides examples of roles and responsibilities associated with the position, although duties will also reflect the interests and experience of the intern, and the needs of the program.

- Maintenance of all online platforms
- Correspondence and maintenance of support Dance4Life database including:
- Collect and document all recruitment applications received, help with recruitment process
- Assist in creating and editing additional written materials as needed
- Assist with events, including but not limited to, gathering materials, attending events, disseminating information for upcoming events

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Education and Experience
o The applicant should hold or be studying for an under- graduate degree and poses exceptional writing abilities and interpersonal skills. Graduate students will be considered.
o All applicants should have a demonstrated interest in local and international health & development issues.
o Fundraising and materials development, and international volunteer experiences, a plus.
• Communication and Organization
o Strong communication skills, with particularly strong writing abilities.
o Solid interpersonal skills and ability to interact professionally with diverse constituencies.
o Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
o Ability to manage multiple tasks concurrently and prioritize efficiently.
o Demonstrated willingness to take initiative and work independently when needed.
• Other
o Proficient in MS Office software, with experience of MS Access
This internship is for 20 - 30 hours per week. While hours are flexible, preference will be given to applicants who can commit to a regular schedule.
This is an unpaid internship, however, a stipend will be provided for transportation and lunch.
To Apply:
Interested students should submit a cover letter, resume, 1 page non-academic writing sample, and the contact details for two references to info@spw-usa.org. Please state Dance4Life USA Associate Application in the subject line.

Incomplete application submissions will NOT be considered.

Unfortunately, SPW will only contact applicants who have been selected for interview.

Application closing date: 15th August 2008

DMV goes to Hollywood

Congratulations to recently featured Comp Noise artists and DC's own Boogie Bots Crew for their continued success on America's Best Dance Crew!!

Watch them do their thang Thursdays @ 10pm on MTV. And while you're at it, vote for them here.

Much love and props to the crew for all of their hard work and dedication. WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Artomatic 2008. A Must Visit for the Hip and In the Know DCers.

Artomatic 2008 is housed in a brand spakin' new office building with incredible views of the city. The space itself is quite incredible. The event taking place within its walls, dope.

Artomatic is a month-long multimedia arts event that draws together visual artists, musicians and performers and brings their work to the community. Housed on ten floors, with food and bars, a dance/theater stage, film room, two music stages, poetry lounge and tattoo parlor, this event has something for everyone.

I am especially proud of the dance stage (section of the backdrop pictured above) as I am co-chairing, along with Cheles Rhynes of Mason/Rhynes Productions, the first ever dance stage at an Artomatic event. We have programs going on all month long so check em!

May 9-June 15
1200 First St NE
Capital Plaza I - corner of First & M streets NE - NY Ave Metro
Wed-Thu: 5pm-10pm; Fri-Sat: noon-2am; Sun: noon-10pm; closed Mon-Tue
Free admission; donations welcome

Move-Ments Artist: Emily Arden

Dancer, Organizer, Creative Spirit: Emily Arden is the founder and director of Complementary Noise. What began as a wish, a hope, a thought to use her varied talents to begin to promote urban artists (including herself) in the DC area turned into a reality with assistance from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. After being awarded a Hip Hop Community Arts Initiative Grant in the summer of 2007, Emily made the decision to bring Comp Noise to fruition. Nine months later... Emily is so proud to be bringing Move-Ments to Washington, DC. The collection of artists and talent is extraordinary. It is so exciting to see her work coming together in such exciting and creative ways.
Through her work as a performer, artist, and leader, Emily continues to share the positive impacts that the performing arts can have on empowering youth and communities. She looks forward to sharing Move-Ments with you!

Move-Ments Artist: Tianna Cohen-Paul.

Tianna Cohen-Paul

Move-Ments Artist: Ayodamola Okunseinde.

As a creative director and visual artist working in the multimedia field, ayo has worked with notable artists like Donald Odita and Ike Ude. He has made significant contributions to the Washington D.C. arts scene with his such projects as "Smacktv: a contemporary arts show" and "Budapest Calling". Collaborating with local artists, ayo has helped to foster interdisciplinary arts projects including "Arabesque Rising", "New Music Compositions" and the "Fresh Produce Film Festival". Heavily influenced by mass media and popular culture, he weaves these elements into his works. His skill and experience places him at a junction that allows him to speak of the vibrancy and interconnectivity of the arts and contemporary society. Okunseinde owns and operates Dissident Display Studios and Gallery on H St NE. Ayodamola Okunseinde lives and works in Washington DC

Move-Ments Artist: Tim Slayton.

Tim Slayton is a local visual street artist who dabbles in many mediums, including but not limited to graffiti, wheat paste, digital art, silk screened canvas and clothing. Founder and primary artist for Truth Among Liars... , an art , clothing and design collective developed with the idea of informing the masses of the balance between opposites in all aspects of life particularly fact and fiction. Simple but gritty thought provoking images and edgy designs dominate the Truth Among Liars style.

Truth Among Liars... is everything!

Move-Ments Artist: DJ 2-Tone Jones.

Since touching down in the nation’s capitol in 2001 via Atlanta, GA, DJ 2-Tone Jones has slowly and steadily been carving out his own niche in the D.C. area hip-hop scene. A true fundamentals DJ, 2-Tone speaks with his hands as in the tradition of a Pete Rock or E-Swift, and through his bottomless crates has rocked parties from LA to NY on down to the A-Town and even out in Europe. But 2-Tone is not your one dimensional party and bullsh*t DJ. His list of current gigs and artists with whom he has spun with is as diverse as the musical genres within his crates (and crates) of records, which is a sonic collage of dusty groove Funk, Soul, Afro-Beat, Jazz, Roots Reggae/Dancehall, mainstream Rap/R&B, Go-Go (can’t forget that), Hip-Hop, Lounge/Deep House and 70’s & 80’s Rock.

On the performance side 2-Tone has spun with, and alongside, the likes of Biz Markie, Kool Herc, Melle Mel, Floetry, J Period, Goapele, Mista Sinista, Raheem DeVaughn, Mr. Lif, Ras Kass, Grand Wizard Theodore, Sugarhill Gang, Sy Smith, and even Dick Gregory just to name a few. He was also the DJ-in-residence for Shaman Work Recordings, an independent Hip-Hop music label whose roster included CL Smooth, Wale Oyejide, John Robinson, Scienz of Life, and others.

Currently 2-Tone can be found most nights of the week at a number of venues around the D.C. area and on the airwaves. On Monday nights from 11pm to midnight 2-Tone is the resident DJ, engineer, and co-host for a progressive hip-hop radio show, Ill Street Grooves, part of the Decipher hip-hop strip on DC’s own WPFW 89.3 FM/Pacifica Radio. Once a month at Mayorga Lounge in Columbia Heights, 2-Tone and crew host Artz$Craftz, an intimate arts exhibition where artists exhibit and create work while the music spins. Also, every Thursday night at the Historic Bohemian Caverns 2-Tone performs as a member of Sound of the City (SOTC).

As his notoriety grows, 2-Tone is not one to just sit back and watch. Along with a handful of D.C.’s most talented visual artists, Mr. Jones is a member of a cutting-edge art troupe/marketing group known as AM Radio: Artwork Mbilashaka. During the day he serves as Assistant Director of the Urban Arts Academy for Words.Beats.Life, Inc.; a hip-hop, non-profit organization that uses hip-hop culture as a means to transform individuals and their communities. Some of his responsibilities as Assistant Director include teaching kids how to DJ and play chess. So be on the listen-out for 2-Tone Jones thru a speaker near you.

Move-Ments Artist: Holly Bass.

Holly Bass is a writer, choreographer and performer. She has presented her solo work at respected regional theaters and performance spaces such as the Kennedy Center (DC), the Whitney Museum (NY) and the Experience Music Project (Seattle). Critics have praised her one-woman-show, Diary of a Baby Diva, as “mesmerizing” (Village Voice) and “indisputably funny” (Washington Post). Her poems have been published in Callaloo, nocturnes (re)view, Role Call (Third World Press, 2002) and The Ringing Ear and she has worked as a teaching artist through DC WritersCorps and other programs. She curated the NYC Hip Hop Theater Festival for three years and was the first journalist to put the term “hip hop theater” into print in a 1999 article for American Theatre. Her essay on women and hip hop theater appears in the contemporary feminist anthology The Fire This Time: Young Activists and the New Feminism. She has been awarded two Artist Fellowship grants from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. In addition to her solo work, she has performed with Gesel Mason Performance Projects, ClancyWorks Dance Company and was a member of Carla Perlo’s Carla & Co. Her dance-based short films have been screened at Ladyfest and other festivals. She studied modern dance (under Viola Farber) and creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College before earning a Master’s in Journalism from Columbia University.

Move-Ments Artist: Meggan Rees Eckert.

Meggan Rees is living, working and painting in D.C.
after graduating with a BFA from the George Washington
University. Inspired by the processes of creativity,
she observes the subtleties of form and relates them
as metaphors to human experiences. In "Move-ments,"
the dancer symbolizes freedom of expression contrasted
to the walls of limitations. The dancer's creativity
and voice are unconstrained by the limits of
language or the need of an instrument or canvas.
Painting the movements of the transient expression of
a dancer is meant to capture and reflect what we often
fail to notice - creativity in daily surroundings and
the positive essence of the ability to convey one's
voice.

Move-Ments Artist: DJ El Ninyo

Ramon Siewert AKA DJ EL NINYO- Originally from Portland OR- 28 years young, Graduated from AU with Bachellors degrees in International Studies and Latin American Studies. Currently working as a chef by day at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and DJ by night. Favorite hobbies are cooking, eating, breakin', poppin', lockin', DJing, and playing with my 2 dogs! Also soon to be hitched to my lovely fiance and talented hair-stylist Jennie.

Move-Ments Artist: Aysha Upchurch.

Aysha Upchurch is a Washington, DC-based dancer, choreographer and poet. The Washington Post calls her poetry “smart” and her movement ranges from Hip Hop to tap, having studied with legends in both genres, from Buster Brown and Diane Walker to Rennie Harris and Mr. Wiggles. She has choreographed, taught and performed throughout the country in Philadelphia, New York, Texas and North Dakota, as well as internationally in the Caribbean and Eastern Europe. In the Washington, DC area, Aysha is in demand as a dancer, instructor and choreographer. She has been on faculty at Joy of Motion Dance Center since 2000 and has worked with CityDance Ensemble since 2003. Her work has been seen at Dance Place, the Carter Barron Amphitheatre, DARS Constitution Hall, Atlas Performing Arts Center, the Verizon Center and on promotional commercials for the Washington Nationals. She has choreographed for Georgetown Dance Company, DCypher Dance Company, Namyanka Dance Ministry and Joy of Motion’s Youth Dance Ensemble Senior Company. In 2007, she received the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage Local Dance Commissioning Project, and was nominated for a Metro DC Dance Award for Emerging Choreographer. Aysha is a St. Louis, MO native who motive to DC to attend American University where she earned a BA in International Studies and an MA in International Peace and Conflict Resolution.

Move-Ments Artist: Steve Connell.

Steve Connell
As a poet, playwright, and actor, his work has continually garnered attention and praise. Poet: he is the 2002 Hollywood Champion, the 2003 LA Champion and the 2003 National Poetry Champion (team LA). His work has been featured on a wide variety of media outlets, including ABC World News, Good Morning America, MSNBC’s Hardball, HBO’s Def Poetry(twice), MTV’s World AIDS Festival, BET’s Lyric Café, Oprah Winfrey’s celebration of Maya Angelou’s 75th birthday and P-Diddy’s Annual White Party. Actor/playwright: His work in, “Downsizing”, won him the “Best Actor” award in the 48 Hour Film Festival and URB magazine declared him one of the “100 Faces To Watch.” His hit one man show, 40 Days, received rave reviews from the LA Weekly (Pick of the Week) and Backstage West (Critic’s Pick) and was declared Best Solo Performance of 2005 by Entertainment Today. His theatrical acting/writing highlights include: no easy choice, at the 12th Annual U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, CO; The Word Begins, (dir. Robert Egan), just completed its’ first national run in 2007 at the Signature Theater where it was hailed as “explosively funny”, and “…a stunning show on the cutting edge of modern theater.” Other favorite roles include: Tom (Glass Menagerie), Macbeth (Macbeth), and Danny (Danny and the Deep Blue Sea). Film/TV: appeared in independent films, Another Day in Paradise, Shanghai Kiss, and on television in Dirty Sexy Money and The List (both on ABC). His first leading role was in the film, “the Beat”, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. His second lead role is in Blues, which should be in theatres in 2008.

Move-Ments Artist: Alana Hill.

Self professed "jack of all trades", Alana Hill naturally took to photography when she enrolled in a photojournalism class at University of Maryland, University College less than a year ago. Although her main task was to complete the class with an "A", Alana received so much more. She has fallen head over heels with photography and has since been shooting more than she could have ever imagined. She has had the opportunity to photograph a wide range of subjects, including, youth and adult portraiture, concerts, theatrical productions, and several dance performances. However, out of everything she has photographed, her favorite is working with people that she loves. "Most people don't consider themselves gorgeous, so it's really difficult for people to appreciate a picture of themselves. However, I find a rewarding challenge in capturing more than outer beauty. I try to capture emotion and sincerity in shots, in addition to the splendor that we all see when we look at them. Most of the times I'm successful!"

Move-Ments Artist: DK aka Wayne Watts.

DK aka Wayne Watts is a national recording hip hop artist on the independent label, Evergreen Music (an associate member of NACA).

DK aka Wayne Watts honed his MC skills in his native city of Baltimore, Maryland and at the age of 15 astonished and entertained music executives and fellow hip hop/r&b artists while interning for the 2002 Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Awards and Conference in South Beach Miami, Florida.

Over the past four years, while completing requirements for a BA Degree in Communications, DK aka Wayne Watts has performed at various events in the Maryland & DC areas, appearing with
Slum Village, The Clipse, Cee-Lo, Raheem DeVaughn, Fertile Ground, Ty Tribbett. DK most recently opened for The All American Rejects at Byrd Stadium in College Park, Maryland. DK also has appeared as a panelist and performer at various hip hop symposiums.

The Spring and Fall of 2008 will find DK aka Wayne Watts embarking on a regional and national tour of festivals, colleges and clubs to promote his latest cd project.

Move-Ments Artist: Boogie Bots Crew.

Boogie Bots Crew:
A collaboration rooted in Culture Shock Washington D.C.'s own Freestyle and Commercial teams bring you a mix of improvisation and choreography. Boogie Bots Crew represents different styles, backgrounds, and concepts being able to move, create, and train as ONE. REPRESENTING THE NJ/MD/DC/VA areas Boogie Bots Crew is MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE.

Move-Ments Artist: Komplex.

"Where Langston Hughes meets Mos Def,”" he walks like a poet and talks like an MC.

Poet. Hip-Hop Artist. Host. Author. Actor. Educator. Professional.
He closes his eyes and the stage becomes GOD’s ear; every poem a secret,
every rhyme a confession. Beautifully torn between Hip-Hop and Spoken
Word he owns the title of a writer and over the years has engraved his
place as a master of the stage. Komplex aka K.o.M.-Mr. Keep On Moving.

Move-Ments Artist: Carla "Jupiter" Byrd.

Artist Carla “Jupiter” Byrd’s paintings are often described as her “Urban Haikus on Canvas”. The self taught fine artist comes from a long line of artists and started showing artistic capabilities by the early age of two. But, it wasn’t until the early 2000's that the universe began calling her back to what she always was. Following her natural path, this talented sister started making a name for herself as an artist. She is inspired by the rhythm of life and its eclectic mixes, music, memories, books, friendship, roots, learning, anything that moves her. “I see art in everything” she says.

Using a variety of mediums, her art is beautiful, bold, fun and optimistic, yet hip and clever giving it that urban edge. She speaks through her art, and each piece of art does indeed carry a story, a moment, a thought, an emotion, or just a bit of knowledge. She’s still, growing, and constantly honing her skills. She started signing all of her paintings with the name “Jupiter”, drawn from her zodiac sign. It represents luck abundance, and expansion, all the things she strives to reciprocate through her art.

She resides in Washington, DC.

Move-Ments Artist: Contradiction Dance.

Contradiction Dance is a place where theatre meets dance meets pop-culture. The company's vision is to make dances that report on, reflect, and question the world in which we live. Nurtured on the belief that artists and audience members communicate in a dialogue through the chosen medium, Contradiction Dance fosters discussion, reflection, and change through live performance and dance education.

Founded in 2006 by Artistic Director, Kelly Mayfield, Contradiction Dance blends several dance forms (modern, hip-hop, tap, and jazz elements) with aspects of storytelling, and theatre. This eclectic mix, fused by the direct purpose of theme, allows the company to create an exchange between art and life for audiences, performers, and collaborators. The company members are not simply dancers, they are artists; each contributes greatly to the process and the final product. Each has invested in their message, the desire to share it, and the study, practice and performance of the craft they bring to Contradiction Dance.

For more information or to book a performance, workshop, or master class, please contact: Kelly Mayfield at ContradictionDance@mac.com.

Move-Ments Artist: Comedian Damo.

Damo, is a Maryland native and is a rising star in the world of comedy. His mother says she knew he would be a comic from birth, especially when his first words were “Did you hear the one about...?”. As an only child Damo used humor and the plight of others to occupy his ever-wondering mind. From that point on he has been making folks laugh.
In college at Bowie State University, Damo worked in the Wiseman Student Union building. There he made that atmosphere one of humor and ease. After hearing from his friends and family “You should do comedy” over and over again he did just that.
2003 was the year Damo attended his first comedy workshop class with the Fabulous Fat Doctor, who made a huge impact on such comics as Martin Lawrence , T-Rexx , Dave Chappelle , and many more. With the tutelage of “Doc”, Damo went from being just the funny guy people knew to a comedy phenomenon. Damo's average Joe abrasive comedy style is setting him apart from the masses.

Countdown Begins

Fifteen fierce artists/companies. Three days. One word... Move-Ments. Please check back as we add one new Move-Ments artist daily between now and April 9, 2008. Then come out and see them and their artwork LIVE April 10-13!

Please click here to purchase tickets.
(Required for the Day 1/Club Event and Day 3/Reception/Live Auction with a Twist.)

Move-Ments. The Artists Way.

Complementary Noise and Expansion Dance Project Are Proud to Present:

Tickets can be purchase in advance. Please click here.
And please note, some events require advanced purchase/reservations.

Move-Ments Schedule of Events:
April 10
Club Event @ The Space
903 N St NW Washington, DC 20001
10pm-3am
Featuring DJ El Ninyo, with live appearances by Move-Ments artists
Admission: $10
*Please purchase your tickets in advance for the club event

April 12
Live Performance @ St. Stephen's Church
1525 Newton St NW Washington, DC 20009
4pm and 8pm:
Featuring Aysha Upchurch/Life, Rhythm, Move Project, Boogie Bots Crew, Contradiction Dance, Comedian Damo, Holly Bass, Kelly Isaac, Tianna Cohen-Paul, with LA guest artist Steve Connell
DJ battle: El Ninyo vs. 2-Tone Jones
Tickets: $15

April 13
Reception/Live Auction with a Twist @ Dissident Display Gallery
416 H St NE Washington, DC 20002
5-8pm
Hosted by Komplex, featuring DJ 2-Tone Jones
Featuring work by: Alana Hill, Ayodamola Okunseinde, Carla Byrd, Meggan Rees Eckert, Timothy Slayton
Admission: Free
*Please RSVP



Complementary Noise is a fiscally sponsored project of One Common Unity:
Move-Ments is sponsored in part by Words, Beats & Life Inc., Dissident Display, and Cricket Cola

April 4-12
Gallery Preview: Dissident Display Gallery
416 H St NE Washington, DC 20002
Hours: Mon-Fri 11-6pm Sat 12-5pm
By appointment only. Please call 202.332.3346 to schedule.

Small. But Serious.

Please Join Complementary Noise and Life, Rhythm, Move Project for an event of Major Proportions:

Tickets can be purchased in advance by clicking here.

WHAT: The Smaller Side of War: Building Awareness Through Art

WHEN: Wednesday, March 26, 2008
6:30-9:00pm

WHERE: University of Maryland’s Nyumburu Cultural Center
Campus Drive Building no. 232
College Park, MD

COST: $15: With $2 of every ticket going to support the Save Darfur Coalition.

Change of Plans

March BYOP Party has been POSTPONED. Please bear with us and please join us Saturday, April 5, 2008 for the kick-off event.
Thank you for your support so far! We look forward to Making some Noise in April.

Best,
Emily Arden
Director

Party With a Purpose

is a dynamic international initiative which actively involves young people by providing youth a place where they can speak out against the stigmas and taboos surrounding HIV and AIDS. By using all aspects of youth culture (their icons, their media, and their favorite music and dance) Dance4Life provides an energetic and engaging platform to address these serious issues.

We hope you can join us for this worthwhile and wildly fun event! Please click on the image above to sign up on the guest list. Admission is free, and Ultrabar will donate for each person on the list who comes out to the event!

Make Noise With Us. Every Month.

Complementary Noise presents:

BYOP (Bring Your Own Promotions) Party
Open floor. Open mic. Dj battles welcome.
First Saturday of Every Month
Beginning Saturday March 1, 2008
Featuring local djs on a revolving basis
1525 Newton St NW
Washington, DC 20009
Conveniently located near the Columbia Heights Metro Station
8-11pm

Bring your own promotional materials to display and connect with other artists in the area. All we ask is for a $5 donation to support future Comp Noise events, and to make Traffic Jams such as this one possible. Complementary Noise presents:

The Smaller Side of War. Purchase Tickets Now.

Online Event Registration - Powered by www.eventbrite.com

It's About Time They RECOGNIZE!

Hip Hop meets High Art at the National Portrait Gallery, starting this month. Check it out!

RECOGNIZE! Hip Hop and Contemporary Portraiture
February 8 - October 26, 2008
The National Portrait Gallery
8th and F St, NW
Washington, DC. 20001
(202) 633-8300
11:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m. daily
Admission: Free (which = no excuse!)

Get Involved, DC. Lives Depend on it.

National Black HIV and AIDS Awareness Day 2008 is Thursday, February 7. Get Educated. Get Tested. Get Involved. Get Treated.

Want to know more?

Event: (Get Involved.)
National Black HIV AIDS Awareness Day Candlelight Vigil
WHAT: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Candlelight Vigil
WHO: Metro TeenAIDS youth and peer educators
WHERE: Outside the Eastern Market Metro Stop
WHEN: Thursday, February 7, from 5-6pm
WHY: When more than 80% of HIV/AIDS cases in the District of Columbia are among African Americans, clearly the face of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the District is a black one. And when HIV infection rates among District youth tripled for the 2001-2006 period as compared to the previous five years, young people are being impacted by the epidemic at increasing rates. To bring light to this situation and give youth a chance to speak their minds, Metro TeenAIDS will hold a Candlelight Vigil to speak openly and crush HIV/AIDS stigma in our community. The event will be broadcast by EZ Street of 93.9 fm and it will be a ‘serious celebration’ of everyone that has been affected by this devastating disease, but especially African American youth.
HOW: Be prepared to light a candle highlighting the struggles of DC’s African-American youth, too many of whom are affected by HIV & AIDS.

** immediately after at 6pm there will be a National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Basketball

Event at Kelly Miller Recreation Center: 301 49th St NE, close to the Benning Rd Metro **

Organizations/Websites: (Get Educated.)
Black AIDS Day Website
Metro Teen AIDS Website
Students Partnership Worldwide (SPW) USA Website
Dance 4 Life International Website
*SPW will be implementing the Dance 4 Life USA program right here in Washington, DC this spring.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

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Culture Shock DC Intermediate/Advanced Company Class
Taught by Aurelia Michael

CityDance Center at Mt. Vernon Square
(in the Carnegie Library Building/National Music Center)
801 K Street, NW
Washington, DC
8:15pm - 9:30pm
Drop-in fee: $15





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Chief Ike's Mambo Room
1725 Columbia Rd. NW
Washington, DC
9:30pm until...
DJ El Nino on the ones and twos

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Dancehall Thursdays at Red Lounge
2013A 14th St NW
Washington, DC
No Cover
Happy Hour Starts at 6pm. Drink specials all night.
Featuring the sounds of Nemesis/DJ Spyda/Majestic

Wednesday Words

Yo! Drum
Wednesday, February 6th
St. Stephen's Church (1525 Newton St., NW)
7 - 9 PM =Yoga and Drumming Workshop
Tap into the Source
"Yo! Drum" - is a 2 hour healing arts and skills building workshop. Are you stressed at work, fatigued often? Tired and unenergized about life in general? Or, do you just need some inspiring people to be around? This is your opportunity to become ONE with the magical drumming of Kristen Arant (www.drumlady.com) and experience the mystical poetry and yoga of Hawah (www.everlutionary.net).

This new workshop for 2008 called, "Yo! Drum," will be offered from 7 - 9 PM on the first Wednesday of every month, and offers 50 minutes of yoga and 50 minutes of drumming. Explore your inner self, stretch, unwind and experience the power of community vibration. We will liven your ears and tickle your senses. If you have one, bring a yoga mat, a drum and a musical instrument (if not, no worries, we have extras). Most of all, bring an open heart and mind. The workshop session will be accessible and taught for all student levels.

Come Early! These workshops are fundraisers for One Common Unity and the dynamic Young Women's Drumming Empowerment Project. Registration is $25 per class, you can pay upon arrival. Scholarships and barter exhanges are available, so contact if needed. For those who are interested, you can sign up for the entire year, a special 11 classes for $200.

Dancers Wanted

Friday Feature

Friday, February 8, 2008

A New Day.

I was slacking last week you all. Now, just to be fair, I was actually hard at work. Got lots of great things on the horizon for Comp Noise and Life, Rhythm, Move Project (including fiscal sponsorship by One Common Unity, a wonderful new intern who I will introduce to you soon, BIG steps in the 501(c)3 direction, and of course, lots and lots of planning for our extraordinary upcoming events!) But all in the same, I was slacking when it came to this blog. And that's totally not cool. In fact, I missed giving you all quite a weekend's worth of info. DC had it going on this Fri thru Sun! My bad. I apologize, and hope to not let it happen again.

So let me start out by saying that you should watch Leno tomorrow night (Tues) in support of DC. That's right folks, DC's very own Raheem DeVaughn will be making his appearance on The Tonight Show before continuing on his tour with Jill Scott. He has coined himself the R&B Hippie NeoSoul RockStar. I would say that pretty much sums up his sound, wouldn't you? And this is BIG for DC, y'all. So even if it's past your bedtime, make an exception and show your support for our local celeb!!

In upcoming news: Tomorrow, look for what I have to say about the Put Guns Aside Talent Showcase I attended on Friday night, The Luv Lounge event I attended on Saturday night at Mahogany, and Bomani's new video for Grown Ass Man which I saw at his release part on Sunday at Busboys and Poets.

Sorry for the slight blip on the blog screen you saw last week, but I assure you I am hard at work putting together some even more fantastical things for you in the meantime...

Triple Threat

Just last night you were sitting at home, feeling like something was missing from your life. You couldn't quite put your finger on it, but you do know you are in need of high energy, high entertainment, high life. I feel you. And I've got you covered.

DC Hip Hop - Three weekends of quality dance in a row!










January 26 & 27
DCypher Dance Company in concert
With Special Guests: Aysha Upchurch and Urban Impact
Saturday January 26 @ 8pm
Sunday January 27 @ 7pm
$15
The Jack Guidone Theater
5207 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC









Olive Dance Theater
Philadelphia based Hip Hop Company Performs an evening of work
Saturday January 26 @ 8pm
Sunday January 27 @ 4pm
$8-22
Mature Content
Dance Place
3225 8th St NE
Washington, DC









February 1, 2 & 3
Black Expressions: Hip Hop Festival
Featuring Culture Shock DC, Arch Dance Company, and other local Hip Hop artists
Friday February 1 @ 8pm
Saturday February 2 @ 8pm
Sunday February 3 @ 4pm
$8-22
Dance Place
3225 8th St NE
Washington, DC









February 9 & 10
Black Expressions: Dance
Featuring Aysha Upchurch/Life, Rhythm, Move Project and Camille Brown
Saturday February 9 @ 8pm
Sunday February 10 @ 4pm
$8-22
Dance Place
3225 8th St NE
Washington, DC


You're welcome!

Saying I Do. With Compassion.

Tonight I must take a moment to give a personal shout out. Tonight, I honor a couple who live far from DC, and who's work is far removed from the Hip Hop scene. But their heart, dedication, and their compassion are exactly in line with what we stand for here at Comp Noise.

Miriam and Jake Hodesh are forces to be reckoned with all on their own. Together, they are unstoppable. Miriam and Jake are like magnets. They pull to them amazing people, stories, and opportunities. Over the past six or so years I have known them, I am continually awed and inspired by the things they do, feats the accomplish, and the people they help. So their wish to forgo gifts at their recent wedding reception and request instead for guests to make a donation in their name to the Save Darfur Coalition came as no surprise to any of us. The amount they were able to raise should have come as no surprise, either. (More than $20,000.) They were named Darfur's January Heroes and are featured on the website.
I am so proud to call them both my friends, and it is so wonderful to see what their union has already brought to the world. If we all took cues from this happy couple, the world would be a much brighter place. In my humble opinion, that is.

Complementary Noise Hoodies are HERE!

The wait is over! Our first edition of Comp Noise Hoodies are HERE and ready to PURCHASE.

Hoodie is Brown, lightweight, pullover style. Lettering is gold foil.
$35
To purchase, please send an email to info@compnoise.org.
Want a different color? Let us know.

You've Heard The Hype. Now Stay Tuned In.

You want to check out Life, Rhythm, Move Project live. You know they have plenty of upcoming shows, and will be performing both rep work as well as new pieces. You know these things. And yet, you are wondering just what the best way to stay informed is.
Have no fear. I got you covered. Simply check out the new website. A surefire way to stay up to date on all things that Move. Life Rhythm Move that is.
Up next: Dance Place. The details? All on the website my friend, all on the website.

Pimp My Rides

I have a slight obsession with sneakers. And by slight, I might mean HUGE. For those of you who feel me, this will be right up your alley.
Alex Vallcorba is the mastermind behind this line of custom shoes.
Daily Candy DC just did a write up on him, which means it might be a bit hard to get your new dunks, like, anytime in the next year, (not really, it just means he is going to have quite the wait list) but it also means they are sure to be super-fly.
Get at him by clicking here.

Monsters of the Friendly Persuasion

Special One Evening Event
Saturday, March 1st, 2008
HipHop Master Classes Featuring:
JAMAL SIMS
(Step Up 2: The Streets) &
LUAM











Monsters of HipHop Master Classes
at The Ailey Extension
405 W. 55th Street
New York, NY 10019
Classes begin at 5:30pm

For more info and to register, please click here.

Tune IN Thursdays

Thursday, January 17, 2008

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Culture Shock DC Intermediate/Advanced Company Class
Taught by Richard "Rowie" Calica
CityDance Center at Mt. Vernon Square
(in the Carnegie Library Building/National Music Center)
801 K Street, NW
Washington, DC
8:15pm - 9:30pm
Drop-in fee: $15

Originally from Ft. Washington, MD, now residing in San Diego, CA
DNA "Dawn of a New Age" Crew
Formality All-Male Hip Hop Dance Troupe, winning 1st Place in 2002 at:
Vibe Dance Competition (Fullerton, CA)
Ultimate Brawl Dance Competition (Riverside, CA)
Fusion Dance Competition (UCSD, San Diego, CA)
Busta Groove Dance Competition (San Diego, CA)
Culture Shock, San Diego
(Scholarship member & Dance Academy member 2002-2005)
Groove Mekanex (Locking-Popping-Boogaloo Crew),
co-founding member 2001 to present
Club Sea World 2002-2003: opened for Mario, Lil Romeo, Ashanti, Isyss
Appeared on The Wade Robson Project
Appeared on Dancing with the Stars 2nd season (solo dancer, 2004)


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Dancehall Thursdays at Red Lounge
2013A 14th St NW
Washington, DC
No Cover
Happy Hour Starts at 6pm. Drink specials all night.
Featuring the sounds of Nemesis/DJ Spyda/Majestic

Breakin For All the Right Reasons

Breakin' For Birney 2008
Breakdancing for all ages!
Hosted by: FLY Club at American University & Outofbreath.com
Saturday, February 2, 2008
5:00pm - 11:00pm
American University, The Tavern
4400 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC

Check out a night of incredible breakdancing! All proceeds support Facilitating Leadership in Youth (FLY), a DC youth development nonprofit that partners with an American University student club. All ages welcome - come watch or try a few moves yourself!

Dance War Gets Personal

Congratulations Tony Czar!!!! Your DC family is SO proud of you for your spot on Dance War!! (Monday nights @ 7pm on ABC.) You rock my world, and I can't wait to see what this opportunity brings to you. We all know how amazing and wonderful you are... now get out there and show the world!!!!!!

Wolly Mammoth Theatre Company
41 D St NW
Washington, DC
Box Office: 202-393-3939

NO CHILD...
written & performed by Nilaja Sun
directed by Hal Brooks

PLEASE NOTE – New dates!
January 21 – February 17, 2008
Appropriate for ages 14 & up.

Breath, Boom

Studio Theatre
1501 14th St NW
Washington, DC
Box Office: 202.332.3300

BREATH, BOOM
By Kia Corthron
Directed by
Rahaleh Nassri

EXTENDED!
Now playing through January 20th

“High-Voltage! Nitroglycerine Intensity!”
The Washington Post

The gritty, vivid story of one woman’s journey from gang-girl to grown-up. This will be the first major D.C. production of the work of Kia Corthron,
an important voice in contemporary African- American theatre.

Friday Feature Part Deux

Friday Night Party. Free Admission. Drink Specials. Good Music. Fun People. Fun Times.
Dahlak
1771 U St NW
Washington, DC
202.332.2110
10pm-close

Friday Feature Part One

Tune IN Thursdays

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Join Capitol Movement, Inc. for their fundraiser to benefit the third annual Capitol Movement Project Dance Concert. Come for cocktails and a silent auction, leave knowing that YOU helped to make a fantastic weekend of dance in Washington, DC possible!

January 10, 2008
6:30-9:30pm
Teatro Goldoni
1909 K St NW
Washington, DC
Admission $50
Please click the above link to purchase tickets.

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Culture Shock DC Intermediate/Advanced Company Class
Taught by Aysha Upchurch
CityDance Center at Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane
N Bethesda, MD
8:15pm - 9:30pm
Drop-in fee: $15

No, this is not a misprint. You are seeing this correctly. Take two with Aysha, as class had to be canceled last week. Also, please make note, class will be held at Strathmore. Not Mt. Vernon.

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Dancehall Thursdays at Red Lounge
2013A 14th St NW
Washington, DC
Happy Hour Starts at 6pm. Drink specials all night.
Featuring the sounds of Nemesis/DJ Spyda/Majestic

Start Your '08 off the Healthy Way!

Groove Elements, one of Joy of Motion Dance Center's Youth Companies

NBC 4 Health and Fitness Expo
Washington Convention Center
January 12 & 13
9am-5pm
Free admission

This two day event includes live performances, booths, screenings. Plenty to do and see for the whole family!

Also, Joy of Motion Dance Center's Youth Companies and DARE Dance will be representing again this year. Come check us out! Located in the Dancing 4 You area.
DARE Dance: January 13 @ 10am
Joy of Motion Dance Center: January 13 @ 11:15am

FUNdraiser!

DCypher Dance Company in concert
With Special Guests: Aysha Upchurch and Urban Impact
Saturday January 26 @ 8pm
Sunday January 27 @ 7pm
$15
The Jack Guidone Theater
5207 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC

New Year. Nosier Than Ever.

Greetings and a happy new year!

I am finally back on the right coast, and am settling into the swing of things. Somewhat slowly I might add, but none the less, I'm b-a-a-c-k!

I had a wonderful opportunity to shoot some super-cool LA graffiti shots on my trip. The one above was taken at Venice Beach. Notice that all the surfaces are covered - including the base of the tree. There was a whole little community set up near the walls. Dudes selling spray paint, guys doing their thing, passerbys like me stopping to take photos, all happening against the backdrop of the ocean and blue skies... pretty sweet.

I took class at Millennium while I was in town as well. David Moore. Let's just say, he definitely lived up to my expectations. Hot stuff. (Him? The choreo? The song? I'll let you decide which one I mean...) I couldn't tell you for the life of me what the song was now, but I'm gonna figure it out!!! Fun to be in class out there and see that really, we aren't all so far apart. DC and Cali I mean. Good times for sure. Maybe one of these days Comp Noise will get him out here to teach...

Speaking of Comp Noise... we have some super-exciting things happening in the upcoming months. I am so excited to be starting a new year and a new sound. Looking back on the past five months, I can't believe all that has happened. And I can't believe all that we have to look forward to. Who would have thought?!

Some things to be on the lookout for:

• Promotion of fantastic featured events and projects on our website and right here on our blog. This month: Capitol Movement Inc.'s fundraiser and silent auction on January 10, 2008.
• Comp Noise events. Up next: The Smaller Side of War: Building Awareness Through Art March 26, 2008 and Move-Ments: A Journey Through Dance From the Artists Perspective April 10-13, 2008.
• Life, Rhythm, Move Project performances. Next: Dance Place February 9 & 10, 2008, Dance Bethesda March 8, 2008.
• Comp Noise clothing line, Scream, launching Spring '08.
• And of course, daily blog entries right here on all things urban, artful, and DC. The goal is to gather momentum and to eventually create a networking space that will truly be useful for the DC arts community and its supporters.
  

Join us. Help us. Make Noise this year. Here's to an unbelievably prosperous year!

Friday Features

Friday, January 4, 2008

Capitol Movement Project Workshop and Audition with Thomas Ford (Tap)
DC Dance Collective
4908 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC
7:30-9pm - Workshop
9-10pm - Audition to be in Thomas' piece for the third annual Capitol Movement Project Dance Show
$25
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Special All Star Prince Tribute. MN8 Presents 21/20: A Masterpiece Tribute to Parade & Sign O' the Times
9:30 Club
815 V St NW
Washington, DC
9pm, $18
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Tune IN Thursdays

Thursday, January 3, 2008

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Culture Shock DC Intermediate/Advanced Company Class
Taught by Aysha Upchurch
CityDance Center at Mt. Vernon Square
(in the Carnegie Library Building/National Music Center)
801 K Street, NW
Washington, DC
8:15pm - 9:30pm
Drop-in fee: $15
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Chief Ike's Mambo Room
1725 Columbia Rd. NW
Washington, DC
9:30pm until...
DJ El Nino on the ones and twos
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Dancehall Thursdays at Red Lounge
2013A 14th St NW
Washington, DC
Happy Hour Starts at 6pm. Drink specials all night.
Featuring the sounds of Nemesis/DJ Spyda/Majestic

Invisible Children Film Trailer