August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble
“DIVERSITY OF DANCE”
7:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 22, Forum Theatre
“CELEBRATION OF UNITY”
HONORING THE LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
Information Booths, “Non-Profit Volunteer Fair,”
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Front Lobby and Theatre Lobby
Panel Discussion, “Hunger, Homelessness and Education,”
4:30-6:00 p.m., Forum Theatre
Dinner, “Lighting of Unity Candle,”
6:00-7:30 p.m., Conference Center
A performance by the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble on Tuesday, Jan. 22, highlights the celebration of the life Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Penn State New Kensington.
The ensemble’s “Diversity of Dance” is set for 7:30 p.m. in the campus’ Forum Theatre. The Pittsburgh-based company’s performance is the grand finale of the daylong “Celebration of Unity” that pays tribute to the legacy of King. The celebration includes a “Non-Profit Volunteer Fair,” 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a panel discussion, “Hunger, Homelessness and Education,” 4:30 to 6 p.m., and a community dinner, 6 to 7:30 p.m. All events are free to the public.
The August Wilson ensemble comprises seven dancers of different backgrounds and styles, under the tutelage of Greer Reed, artistic director of the company. Reed’s signature program, “Diversity of Dance,” features two interpretations, Regality and New Second Line, each designed by a different choreographer. Darrell Grand Moultrie’s Regality explores the regal technicality of movement through energy, passion and artistry. Camille Brown’s New Second Line, inspired by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, commemorates the spirit and culture of the people of New Orleans.
Named for Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright and Pittsburgh native August Wilson, the August Wilson Center for African American Culture is a non-profit organization which preserves and celebrates the art, culture and history of African-Americans. The center, located in the Cultural District of downtown Pittsburgh, offers multiple exhibition galleries, a 486-seat theatre for performances in all genres, an education center for classes, lectures and hands-on learning, and spaces for community programs and events.
Unity day activities are sponsored by a partnership of the campus and Hightower Scholars Inc., in conjunction with the local churches and community organizations. For more information, call 724-334-6062.