Features Editor:
LisaToth
lisatoth@dailyemerald.com
Thursday, February 14,2002
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Teri Page ‘feels’the
beat of the drums as
she practices a pelvic
twist. She says that
the West African
dance classes are
different because of
the live music.
Photos by Adam Jones Emerald
drive the
■ Eugeneans can learn about the ‘energetic’ rhythms
of West African dance and the ‘richness’ of the culture
By Jen West
Oregon Daily Emerald
Baxe feet silently pound the wooden floor, and racing hearts
thump in time with the pulse of drums. Eight percussion
ists beat on their instruments while dancers twist and
stretch their bodies, interpreting the rhythms into West
African stories.
Every Monday, Debrae Firehawk conducts classes in West
African dance at WOW Hall. The beginning classes start at
5:30 p.m., and the intermediate classes begin at 7:30 p.m. In
termediate to advanced dance classes are held at 7:30 p.m. on
Wednesdays. Drum classes are also offered at 5:30 p.m. on
Wednesdays. The cost for the classes is based on a sliding
scale from $7 to $13.
Firehawk said she and her troupe of percussionists are part
of a group called the Eugene West African Dance and Drum
Turn to Dance, page 12
Instructor Debrae
Firehawk (center)
dances to the beat
of the drums Monday
at the WOW Hall.
Classes are taught
Monday and
Thursday, and
the beginners level
starts at 5:30 p.m.
Promoters bring underground L.A. hip-hop to Eugene
■A host of Los Angeles artists
perform at Agate Hall on Friday
By Jen West
Oregon Daily Emerald
Underground hip-hop is not
just limited to the City of Angels.
The next few months will see
hip-hop artists from Los Angeles
popping up in venues in Eugene
and Portland.
DCF Entertainment, Afterlife
Records, Project Blowed Family
and the University’s Black Stu
dent Union present “Welcome to
the West,” a night of underground
hip-hop, Feb. 15 at Agate Hall.
The show starts at 8 p.m. and is
open to all ages. Tickets are $10 at
the door.
The show features Los Ange
les underground hip-hop artists,
including Chillin Villain
Empire, Rhymin’ Riddlore?,
Tray-Loc, Wreccless, Hip Hop
Kclan, LA Khule Terra Dacto,
Chu Chu, Xololanxinxo, Bus
Driver and DJ Shobanon.
Though he has gained experi
ence with other promoters, this
show marks Daniel Firtel’s first
solo attempt at concert promot
ing through his new company,
DCF Entertainment.
Firtel said he began his compa
ny during in fall 2001. At the mo
ment, he is the company’s only
employee, but he said volunteers
sometimes assist him by passing
out fliers.
“I want to bring quality enter
tainment (to audiences) and have
fun,” he said. Even though this is
his first solo gig, Firtel said he
was not nervous about whether
the performance would receive a
large turnout.
“I’m super confident in the
skill level (of the artists),” he said.
“You listen to them and you’re
just like — ‘Wow!’”
Mohammed Jalloh, program co
ordinator at the Black Student
Union, said he was looking for
ward to the performance.
“(The music) is underground
stuff that doesn’t get heard
much,” he said.
Artist-producer Riddlore said
it’s hard to classify the type of
hip-hop he and his fellow
artists perform.
Turn to Rap, page 12
*.«.* ,<t v * i. JU'.w -v , >
'Welcome to the West’
What Underground hip-hop concert
Who: Chitlin Villain Empire, Rhymin'
Riddlore?, Tray-Loe, Wreccless, Hip Hop
Kclao, LA Khuie Terra Daeio, Chu Chu,
Xololanxinxo, Bus Driver, DJ SHohanon
Who: Sponsored by DCF Entertainment,
Afterlife Records, Project Blowed family
and the Blade Student Union
Where: Agate Hail
When: 8 p.m, Friday. Feb. 15