Move-Ments Artist: Tianna Cohen-Paul.

Tianna Cohen-Paul

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: 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: 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: 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.

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.

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

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.

Dancers Wanted

Friday Feature

Friday, February 8, 2008

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!

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!