Benefit Concert Held for JPAS Cultural Crossroads 5/14

Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS) will hold a BENEFIT CONCERT FOR JPAS CULTURAL CROSSROADS on May 14, 2011 at 8PM at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center (EJHS Auditorium, 400 Phlox Street in Metairie). This one night only fundraiser will feature musical, dance and spoken-word performances by Nanette Ledet and JULIAN GARCIA, SHELTON "Shakespear" ALEXANDER

LUTHER GRAY and BAMBOULA 2000 and Cultural Crossroads Students from St. Charles Parish. Performances will encompass a wide range of cultural perspectives that is sure to captivate audiences of all ages. All proceeds from this performance go directly to funding Cultural Crossroads, JPAS' arts outreach program that establishes artists residencies at alternative schools throughout Southeast Louisiana. Cultural Crossroads artists work directly with classroom teachers to create lessons that engage "at risk" students who have been dismissed or expelled from other schools. This year, JPAS Cultural Crossroads is currently serving the parishes of: Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Charles and Orleans, serving a total of 2,100 students. All proceeds from this performance will benefit the JPAS Cultural Crossroads Programming for these students. Tickets are General Admission $10 for children (12 and under) and $20 for adults. For tickets visit www.jpas.org or call 504-885-2000.

Highlights of this benefit concert include:
Original dance and music by Nanette Ledet and Julian Garcia. These performers takes audience members on a musical journey that explores history, geography and communication through the rhythms that drive dance movement. Ledet and Garcia will present modern interpretations of ancient traditions from around the world, including Africa, Brazil, United Kingdom and the United States, in dynamic drum set artistry and original dances.
Original Spoken-Word poetry by Shelton "Shakespear" Alexander. Alexander has been featured on HBO's Def Poetry Jam, his moving rhythms and words have been critically acclaimed.
Musical performance by Luther Gray and Bamboula 2000. Take a musical journey with the compass-like congas of Luther Gray and Bamboula 20000. Bamboula's music shows the heavy influence of neo-soul, 1980s R&B, and World Music.
Spoke-Word poetry by JPAS Cultural Crossroads Students. Students will be performing work they have created during a Spoken Word residency with Shelton Alexander.

Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS) is proud to provide arts education programming in local area schools, as well as access to professional theatrical experiences that align to classroom curricula and Louisiana Content Standards. JPAS Cultural Crossroads is one of these arts outreach programs. Students participating in JPAS Cultural Crossroads are dealing with life situations that would be difficult to discuss let alone imagine. For many of students, poverty and abuse are most of what they know. The majority of the schools participating in Cultural Crossroads are for expelled students for those as young as 6 years old. JPAS Cultural Crossroads strives to show these students that there are other ways of doing things and treating people than what they may have learned. The program is called Cultural "Crossroads" because theses students are at a "crossroad" where they now they have the opportunity to learn AND choose a new and positive way of doing things versus negative and destructive behavior of the past. Cultural Crossroads achieves this by linking classroom teachers with resident artists to align classroom lessons through the arts as a positive outlet for expression and learning. This benefit concert will directly fund this program and these 2,1000 students participating in Cultural Crossroads.

More about the Performers:
Nanette Ledet (an Artist Educator for JPAS since 2003) is a professional choreographer, dancer and published lyricist, as well as the creator of The NanDance Project, a multi-faceted artists' collaborative. A desire for a professional career as a dancer/choreographer of multiple disciplines led her to pursue her vision in New York City. Her New York credits include work in the New York Shakespear Festival, Dance/ Brazil Co., Solaris Dance Theater, the Jose Limon Dance Co., Stephen Petronio, and several MTV music videos. She was a member of Djoniba Mouflet's West African Percussion Ensemble and is a published lyricist. She also holds a first-degree black belt in Shin-Shin Toitsu Aikido and is proficient in capoeira, hapkido and tai chi. Recently, Nanette completed a one-year stint as the choreographer for Disney's Imagination Movers.

Julian Garcia (an Artist Educator for JPAS since 2003) is a master drummer. He is a product of our own New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts and Southern University at New Orleans. He has been a professional touring musician with top blues, jazz and classical performers across the United States and Europe for over 20 years. Julian is also the recipient of a 2003-04 Louisiana State Division of the Arts Artist Fellowship for Music. His drum set mastery in Rhythmic Tapestries complements Nanette's dance artistry. He also compellingly explores with words and sounds the roots of African-Cuban music that resulted in the dynamic relationship of dance with the rhythm called clave.

 

 

Shelton Alexander (an Artist Educator for JPAS since 2006) professionally known as "African American Shakespear" or simply "Shake", has been on the spoken word scene since August 2001, when he debuted his first poem entitled, "Patience". He has gone on to achieve countless accomplishments within spoken word, including leading out the New Orleans National Slam Team, winning and receiving the title of Grand Slam Champion of New Orleans for 2005, and gracing the world with his presence on the infamous HBO series Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam. Critically acclaimed director Spike Lee chose to feature Shake's story and his heart stirring poetry in the Emmy award winning HBO documentary WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE: a requiem in four acts. Shake's experience made such an impact on the "Levees" viewership that Spike insisted he make a return appearance in "If God Is Willing And The Creek Don't Rise", a follow-up documentary marking the 5th year anniversary of the Katrina disaster. Shake's powerful revelations through Spike Lee's documentaries also caught the attention of National Geographic, leading to Shake's feature role in "Witness: Katrina", which aired on August 26, 2010.

Percussionist Luther Gray (an Artist Educator for JPAS since 2000) is the leader of Bamboula 2000. Luther is a recipient of the 2009 Arts Council of New Orleans Community Arts Awards. Additionally, Luther was a 2009 Grammy Nominee for his contributions to Trout Fishing in America's Big Round World. Big Round World topped NPR's 'The Year in Music for Kids' List, received an NAPPA Gold Award from the National Parenting Publications Awards and a Parent's Choice Silver Award.

More about JPAS Cultural Crossroads:
JPAS Cultural Crossroads is a residency-based program that incorporates arts-integrated instructional strategies. Cultural Crossroads also provides students with positive linkages to their communities through mentoring. The primary goal of Cultural Crossroads is to use the arts to enhance student proficiency in reading, writing and mathematics. To accomplish this, all Cultural Crossroads artists work in tandem with classroom teachers to co-create lessons. At the start of each residency, the artist and the classroom teacher work to co-create a residency that directly links the artistic discipline with the Grade Level Expectations at least 1 core academic subject. All artists Pre-test Post test their students to track changes in learning. Class total scores show increases between 20% to 80%.

More About the Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS)
Founded in 1978 by Dennis G. Assaf and Hannah Cunningham, Jefferson Performing Arts Society is a non-profit professional arts organization whose mission is to promote arts performance, training and outreach by providing a diverse range of quality programs that entertain, educate and enrich the cultural and economic vitality of Jefferson Parish, Greater New Orleans and the Gulf South.
JPAS focuses on three main elements:
PERFORMANCE JPAS annually provides a wide range of theatrical performances that appeal to many interests and age groups. Most seasons include a selection of grand opera, musical theater, dance and music. JPAS strives to network and partner with national and International Artists and companies to bring new and diverse programming to the Southern Region.

TRAINING JPAS provides performance and technical based training in the arts for all ages with a particular focus on young people.

OUTREACH JPAS provides arts education programming in local area schools, as well as access to professional theatrical experiences that align to classroom curricula and Louisiana Content Standards, including Arts Adventure Series, Cultural Crossroads and Stage Without A Theatre. JPAS provides performers, musicians, artistic experiences and expertise to select area events and organizations to enrich the community.

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