Peace Center announces 2018-19 Peace Passport Field Trip Series

The Peace Center announces its 2018-2019 Peace Passport Field Trip Series, which invites young learners to become global citizens in an active exploration of world music, dance, theater and science.

All tickets are $10 and are available to the public and school groups. The Peace Center offers free teacher resource guides and student worksheets to coincide with the performances. All resource guide activities are aligned with the South Carolina College and Career Ready Standards for visual and performing arts proficiencies.

MUSIC

Ranky Tanky

Oct. 8-10, at 9:45 and 11:45 a.m.; Gunter Theatre; recommended for grades 3-12

Loosely translated from the Gullah phrase for "get down" or "work it," Ranky Tanky unites celebrated musicians from the low country and pays tribute to the rich history of this distinct community. The ensemble's contemporary blend of jazz, gospel, funk and R&B is rooted in game songs, work songs and spirituals collected from early field recordings taken along the Carolina Coast. Based in Charleston, the musicians of Ranky Tanky bring together a shared love of home in a musical experience that commemorates Gullah heritage and helps revive a "Heartland of American Music" born in their own backyards.

Women of the World

Oct. 31-Nov. 2, at 9:45 and 11:45 a.m.; Gunter Theatre; recommended for grades 3-12

Women of the World perform original compositions and folk music in more than 17 languages from across the globe. Hailing from Japan, Italy, India and Haiti, the ensemble is constantly searching for new genres to explore. The group has performed Bulgarian, Cuban, Ladino, Brazilian, African, Indian and Japanese traditional music, while incorporating their own spontaneous improvisation and a cappella interludes. Women of the World cultivate a message of peace and unity that inspires not only the ensemble itself, but their fast-growing audience, as it spreads awareness of many different musical genres, cultures and philosophies.

Southern Voices: Black, White and Blues

Jan. 9-10, 2019, at 9:45 and 11:45 a.m.; Gunter Theatre; recommended for grades 4-12

Blending blues and gospel songs with poetry and spoken word, Peace Center Poet-in-Residence Glenis Redmond and award-winning singer-historian Scott Ainslie take students on a tour of the South. Southern Voices weaves together rich histories and diverse personal stories to showcase the influences and character of the Southeastern United States.

Sybarite5

Feb. 25, 2019, at 9:45 and 11:45 a.m.; Gunter Theatre; recommended for grades 3-12

Sybarite5 challenges the traditional ideas of chamber music with their expansive repertoire and innovative style. The string quintet plays a mixture of covers of familiar songs and music composed for the ensemble, incorporating traditional playing with unique techniques to achieve a sound that is all their own. Heralded as the "Millennial Kronos," the group has been swift to catch the attention of the music world. Their debut album quickly reached the top 10 on the Billboard charts and a follow-up album was released to critical acclaim at Carnegie Hall.

Avital meets Avital

April 12, 2019, at 10 a.m.; Huguenot Loft; recommended for grades 3-12

Avital meets Avital is a dialogue between two musicians who originate from different worlds but share a

common richness of musical heritage. Grammy®-nominee mandolinist Avi Avital comes from a classical

tradition while award-winning bass virtuoso and oud player Omer Avital is an acclaimed jazz performer and composer. Avital meets Avital draws on the diverse influences of Moroccan and North African sounds, folkloric and classical traditions, and Israeli harmonies and Mediterranean rhythms, creating a musical melting pot where the finesse of chamber music meets the raw emotional energy of jazz.

Villalobos Brothers

April 23-25, 2019, at 9:45 and 11:45 a.m.; Gunter Theatre; recommended for grades 3-12

Born and raised in Veracruz, Mexico, the Villalobos Brothers use their violins and voices to blend Mexican folk music with elements of classical, jazz and rock. Their performances are notable for their own unique style of playing called "Fast-Chatting Violin," as well as their powerful message of love, brotherhood and social justice. In addition to their virtuosic playing, the brothers - Ernest , Alberto and Luis - also compose their own original music featuring closely mingled harmonies and intricate patterns. Through multidisciplinary acts that include masks, poems and theatrical sketches interwoven with powerful lyrics and high-energy compositions, the Villalobos Brothers use their unique style to redefine contemporary Mexican music.

DANCE/THEATER

The Tempest

Oct. 16-17, at 9:45 and 11:45 a.m.; Gunter Theatre; recommended for grades 6-12

"We are such stuff that dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep." William Shakespeare's The Tempest takes place on a magical island where reality and imagination meet. Considered by many to be his final solo work, this drama challenges both the players and the audience to engage in the fanciful world Shakespeare created and grapple with the ideas of justice and revenge. Beginning with an exile and concluding with a reconciliation, The Tempest contains themes of forgiveness, identity and family, underscoring the power of an individual action to both create and destroy.

Ballet Folklórico de México

Nov. 16, at 10 a.m.; Peace Concert Hall; recommended for grades 3-12

Founded in 1952 by dancer and choreographer Amalia Hernández, Ballet Folklórico de México fuses music, dance and costumes of Mexican folklore from pre-Colombian civilizations through the modern era. Permanently housed at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, the company has developed choreography for 40 ballets, composed of 76 folk dancers who have performed extensively across Mexico and abroad. For six decades the company has presented dances that capture audiences with their spirited music and breathtaking costumes, while paying tribute to traditional Mexican culture.

The Three Harriets

Feb. 4-5, 2019, at 9:45 and 11:45 a.m.; Gunter Theatre; recommended for grades 5-12

Combining history, poetry and dance, The Three Harriets tells the inspiring stories of three women - Harriet Tubman, the most famous conductor of the underground railroad; Harriet Jacobs, who escaped from slavery and became an abolitionist, and the author of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl; and Harriet E. Wilson, who was held as an indentured servant in the North and went on to become an important novelist, businesswoman and religious speaker. Through the original poetry and choreography, this performance unites themes of perseverance and courage that underscore these women's lives. This stirring production is a collaboration of literary historian Dr. P. Gabrielle Foreman, choreographer and artistic director Dr. Lynnette Overby, and Peace Center Poet-in-Residence Glenis Redmond.

David Drake (Dave the Potter)

Feb. 6-7, 2019, at 9:45 and 11:45 a.m.; Gunter Theatre; recommended for grades 5-12

A blending of history, dance and poetry, David Drake tells the story of how one man's life and art created a ripple of inspiration for artists who encountered his genius. Living his life under slavery in South Carolina, Dave became an accomplished potter, engraving poetic couplets onto his masterpieces. Featured locally at the Greenville County Museum of Art and in the nation's most important museums, his work inspired painter Jonathan Green, poet Glenis Redmond and countless others. This performance honors David Drake through Redmond and Green's art, the original choreography of Dr. Lynnette Overby, and the research of literary historian Dr. P. Gabrielle Foreman. This special performance challenges the observer to take notice of the art, the artist and each story being told within the framework of one man's mark on history despite his oppression and circumstances.

Call of the Wild: Illustrated Edition

Feb. 11-12, 2019, at 9:45 and 11:45 a.m.; Gunter Theatre; recommended for grades 3-8

Call of the Wild: Illustrated Edition is an original adaptation (by Jason Tremblay) of Jack London's classic adventure novel. This multi-media adventure tells the story of Buck the dog as he is kidnapped from his lavish California estate and sent to work as a sled dog during the great Klondike Gold Rush of the 1800s, embodying themes of endurance and survival. The production features 180-degree projection that surrounds the performer, providing scenic, artistic and historical context through a unique mix of classic illustrations from the book's first edition, period photographs, and contemporary drawings and animation by Michael Rae.

SCIENCE

National Geographic Live, Terry Virts - View From Above

Sept. 24, at 10 a.m.; Peace Concert Hall; recommended for grades 3-12

Step back, about 220 miles from Earth, and experience our planet from a new perspective. Gain a deeper understanding of the planet's beauty, climate and place in the universe from former International Space Station Commander Terry Virts, who took hours of video and hundreds of thousands of still images from the station's 360 degree viewing module.

Erth's Prehistoric Aquarium

Jan. 28, 2019, at 9:45 and 11:45 a.m.; Peace Concert Hall; recommended for grades 3-8

Erth's Prehistoric Aquarium dives to the depths of the ocean, into the world of prehistoric marine reptiles from a time long ago. This awe-inspiring production features actors, technology and advanced puppetry that bring to life an amazing array of aquatic creatures that connect audiences of all ages to the exciting field of paleontology.

Currents by Mayumana

Feb. 26, 2019, at noon; Peace Concert Hall; recommended for grades 3-12

Inspired by the historical Battle of Currents between Thomas Edison and Nikola Telsa, Currents by Mayumana is an energetic journey between two differing views of the essence of light and electricity. Featuring a talented international cast, specially designed musical instruments, and dazzling lighting and visual effects, this non-stop show is a truly unique production.

Tickets for the Peace Passport Field Trip Series go on sale on sale on Thursday, April 19, at 10 a.m. and may be purchased by calling 864.467.3000 or 800.888.7768, in person at the Peace Center Box Office or online at www.peacecenter.org.

For more information about the Peace Center and its upcoming events, visit www.peacecenter.org.

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