Making History Come Alive through the Arts Program

Making History Come Alive through the Arts is DuSable’s Museum’s new educational initiative using the arts to amplify African American history.

All programs are $7.00 per person and begin at 10:30 am promptly, unless otherwise noted. You will receive one free chaperone ticket for every 10 student ticket purchased. For reservations, please call (773) 420-2742.

Drum Divas
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The Drum Divas are dynamic collective women who have come together over the years to rejoice in the art of percussive music. Their main focus is that of creating original drum songs with a goal of planetary healing.

LEGACY: Our Wealth of Music
Monday, February 7, 2012
Maggie Brown has a dynamic, entertaining way of teaching about the history and evolution of African American music in her one-woman show: LEGACY: Our Wealth of Music. Narrating and demonstrating a timeline of the various music genres, Maggie packs the LEGACY show with eye opening history, music, drama & cultural enrichment.

There’s Something about Africa
Thursday, February 9, 2012
This performance is committed to educating young people about African heritage through the music, song, and dances of West Africa. In this performance, DeShon Newman will have participants explore the historical movement and purpose of West African dance and music.

The Legacy of Black Magicians
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
From the continent of Africa to the United States of America, Master Illusionist, Walter King, Jr. (THE MAGIC OF THE SPELLBINDER), presents an educational and exciting program of African American history that has never been told before: THE LEGACY OF BLACK MAGICIANS. Experience the legend of magical heroes from Africa, through the days of slavery, the Harlem Renaissance, the 60’s & 70’s to the new millennium. The Legacy of Black Magicians is a vivid look at the history and careers of African American performers of magical entertainment.

Coretta Scott
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
An American author, activist, and civil rights leader, the widow of Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King helped lead the African-American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s. Mrs. King’s most prominent role may have been in the years after her husband’s 1968 assassination when she took on the leadership of the struggle for racial equality herself, and became active in The Women’s Movement. Ms. Collaso presents a musical tribute to Coretta Scott King in this exciting production.

Billy Branch
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Billy Branch, internationally recognized Blues musician with three Grammy nominations, as well as numerous other awards, developed his highly acclaimed Blues in School Programs over 30 years ago as a vehicle to pass on the legacy of the Blues, arguably America’s only original music. Tracking the Blues back to its slavery roots, Billy’s program emphasizes the fact that the Blues gave birth to jazz, rock, R & B, country, and hip-hop. Billy’s engaging teaching style both entertains and instructs. Reminiscent of the role of the African griot, he mesmerizes the audience with stories and songs to inspire and teach his listeners.

Baba Tony & Kucha
Friday, February 17, 2012
Storytellers D. Kucha Brownlee and Baba Tony Brown will take you on a unique, interactive journey through African American history using stories, historical facts, poems, songs, powerful proverbs and dialect. This is a voyage of exceptional contributions and accomplishments of African and African American History Makers. This program is accompanied by African drumming and shekere playing, and is enhanced by audience participation, which includes singing and playing instruments.

Linda Gorham
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Join dynamic and exciting storyteller, Linda Gorham as she shares her favorite African folktales and “Anansi the Spider” stories. Anansi is a clever trickster character from West African folklore. Linda will share his stories with her trademark movement, humor and zaniness. Be prepared to participate as many of these stories actively involve the audience.

A Legacy for America’s Children
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 “A Legacy for America’s Children”, written by Joan Collaso, is a musical narrative play that touches on the life and contributions of Civil Rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This play focuses on Dr. King’s commitment to education and nonviolence, and his demonstration of love and courage. This program will inspire and motivate students to identify with characteristics that they can realistically achieve and excel in.

“Lady Moses: the Life and Times of Harriet Tubman
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Through dramatic monologue, poetry and song, Ms. Cynthia Maddox captures the spirit of Ms. Tubman, giving students a powerful glimpse of the charismatic life of Lady Moses. Ms. Tubman, whose undaunted dedication to a better society, has emphatically impacted the course of history. Let’s take a journey into the past, and get “A Bit of History” about Harriet Tubman, the main conductor of the Underground Railroad.

Variations on a theme
Monday, February 27, 2012
The program’s focus is on presenting the pentatonic scale, which is the five note scale associated with Africa in its various roles; blues, spirituals and jazz, and also performing various styles of jazz and compositions of major jazz artists. This performance is presented by Ari Brown, an internationally renowned saxophonist, flautist and pianist, as well as a prolific arranger composer, and teacher.

Pocomania Jamaican Dance Company
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
This captivating performance presents a mixture of traditional and contemporary music, dance and folklore to tell the stories of the history and heritage of West Indian Culture. This performance will have plenty of storytelling through dance, and at the end of the show the audience will have loads of fun as the dancers get members of the audience involved in the Limbo.

Celebration Dances of West Africa
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Dramatic expressions of dance live drumming, and song demonstrates the different ways ethnic groups celebrate special occasions through dance. Included are traditional dances of welcome, birth, marriage, and initiation from the Jolla, Tague Mandingo and Wolof people of Liberia, Guinea, and the Sene-Gambia region of West Africa.