Portland Observer. December 7. 1983 Page 3
METROPOLITAN
la ftitw -If»*
Tja MHÇ2. MgMÍÍ
o n s.W . 6th Avenue Portland. OR 9720* Phone 228-8448
Christmas
Traditional African ballet tells story
_
by Lamta Duke
G n ssro o l
world
of
News.
N W .—In a
contrived,
high-gloss
choreography, enters the traditional
talents of the Northwest Afrikan
American Ballet.
Under the direction of master
drummer Bruce Smith this fifteen-
piece dance troupe is gearing up for
a performance/celebration to mark
its first anniversary.
Smith said their steps are more
than movements. "The steps that
we make are thousands of years old.
They are gestures for a story."
One of the stories the N.W. Afri
kan/American Ballet will perform is
an all-male piece called "Lenjon."
It is a traditional dance done by
young men in West Africa to sym
bolize their strength after they are
circumcised.”
Smith added, "The dances we’re
doing are the popular dances people
are doing in clubs and at parties.
But we are doing the same dance in
its original form—in the raw.”
Smith said he believed the tradi
tional dimension of the Afrikan/
American Ballet gives the group a
certain kind of freshness. "This
*
—
—
—
_• rich
u sound.”
i ••
Smith creates his rhythm on the
D'jembe drum. “ The very construc
tion of the D’jembe drum is differ
ent from the L.agin congo drums.
The congo drum is made from the
skin of a baby calf; it is thick and
produces a different sound. The
D ’jembe drum is made from goat
skins and is thinner. It produces a
more
transparent,
high-pitched
sound.”
He called the beat created by the
D’jembe drum "infectious.”
The Northwest Afrikan/Ameri
can Ballet will commemorate its
first year by performing next Satur
day, December 17th, at Jefferson
High School. Smith wants the com
munity to come and watch their mu
sical history unfold on the stage
"We are not just into music but
staging as well. It is not just a thea
T h e N o rth w e e t A fr ik a n /A m e ric a n Ballet w ill p e rfo rm tra d itio n a l
trical thing We are going behond
m uaic and dances a t Je ffa rs o H igh neat S atu rd ay n ig h t.
the theatrical lighting We will re
(P h oto : R ich ard J. B ro w n )
create the sun, moon, stars and sky.
In Afrika » e worship those elements
type that Afrikan music is just
type of dance is unique, energetic
and they are a strong part of our ex
drums We are incorporating local
and spiritual.” He said he spear
musicians who play traditional in
istence."
headed the formation of the group
Smith is dedicating the perform
struments
like
the
wood
flute
and
to help build a major dance com
ance to his father. Cleophus Smith.
the balafon—the original xylo
pany in the Pacific Northwest.
Sr., who died December 1st, 1981.
phone. They both produce a warm.
"We want to destroy the stereo-
25% - 50%
OFF
r ., l
14K.
Diam ond P e n d a n ts ................ ’ 162" .. ....... ’76°°
•396~.. ......... *200°°
I U K . Diam ond Rings........................
■UK. Jade and Diam ond Rings.
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Colley for the Chair by just one
vote. The Branch will also vote for
eight at-large members of the Na
tional Board.
Mrs. Wilson, who challenged
Benjamin Hooks for leadership,
and was defeated by the Board this
summer, says she will run for the
Board, but not for the Chairman
ship. Recently she attributed her
troubles to “ sexism” on the part of
the National Board. Some members
say the reason that more women are
not on the National Board is more
likely the economy than discrimina
tion, one of the Branch's long-time
members believes. NAACP pays the
way for Board members to only one
National Board meeting—the an
nual meeting in January. All the rest
must be paid for by the Board Mem
ber, or by their Branch if the Branch
* Free
I * Free 14K
14K. floating heart with every purchase over * 5 0 ° * I
floating heart with diamond for any purchase over , 1 0 0 0 ,l
W e also offer quality jewelry and watch repairs
SABRINA’S Hair Boutique
Demos back bus strike
The Multnomah County Demo
cratic Central Committee, at its De
cember 1st meeting, voted to go on
record in support of the nationwide
Greyhound strike, involving 12,700
drivers, mechanics, ticket takers and
other workers, members of the
AFL-CIO Amalgamated Transit
union, and join the call by the na
tional AFL-CIO for a boycott of
Greyhound bus and parcel service.
Democrats are invited to join in
Greyhound picketing in the name ot
the Multnomah County Democratic
Central Committee.
In light of Greyhound's current
employment practices, the Central
Committee
recommended
that
further consideration be given to the
decision to use public funds for the
construction of a new Greyhound
terminal in Portland.
Low Income
Energy Assistance Program
W h o 1» eligible:
Eligibility varies depending on household income. You must apply and
have proof of all household income. You must be within 125% of the
poverty guidelines
Medical cost can be deducted before determining household income
Determining household income - example A one person household
with an income under »6.075 could be eligible Another example would
be a household of four would need to have an income under »12,375 to
top Grandmothers in seal sales.
Seals may be obtained from any of
the Grandmothers at the various
churches. For information call the
NAACP office—afternoon» only—
at 284-7722 or get in touch with
either Mrs Harrebell Pans, Mount
Olivet Baptist Church; Mrs. Ruthie
Bryant, Vancouver Avenue First
Baptist church; or Vivian Richard
son. Holy Redeemer Lutheran
Church.
Anyone who is over 17 is eligible
to vote if they have been a branch
member for 10 days prior to Decern
ber 1 Ith.
can afford it, and not many
Branches can. "As things go in the
U .S., more men than women can af
ford this expense. In actuality, not
many women run for the position,
and economics is the probable rea
son.”
The Branch has received its an
nual supply of Freedom Seals and
the Orandmother-of-the-Year con
test is under way. Mrs. Hazel G.
Hays, President, has appointed Gen
Ward as Seal Chairman. Mrs. Ward
is First Vice President of the
Branch. There will be awards of
substantial worth awarded to the
7414 N. A lb in a • 286-1189
(oH Lombardi
<
Explore
Ben’s Country
with our free
1984 calendar.
Pick up your free 1984 calendar today at
The Benj Franklin nearest you But hurry, this
offer is good only while supplies last
See the spectacular sights of the Northwest
without ever leaving your home
The Benj Franklin s free 1984 calendar
brings you twelve full color prints of some of
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With photographs by some of the best-known
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Bank w ith an old frien d .
The
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Franklin
O w r 10 o f f l c « in the greater
Portland area to serve yoe
Deposits insure 1 to
$100.000 by th e ! s u e
be eligible.
W h a t do you need to ap p ly fo r this help:
You must provide proof of all household income during the last 90 days
or 12 months. You must also provide a current electric bill and heating
bill from your present address, and proof of paid medical insurance
premiums and paid medical bills over the last 12 months Proof of Social
Security numbers for all members of household over 18 years of age
I
W h o do I c o n tact;
For further information, contact Urban League Energy Assistance Pro
U rban League Senior C enter
4128 N .E. U nion
P o rtlan d . OR 97211
W EEKDAYS
288 8338
H o lly w o o d S en ior C enter
1820 N .E 40th A ve
P o rtlan d . OR 97212
W EEKDAYS
288 8303
I
t
1
•s
Senior Citizens (ag s 80 o r over only):
League R e id O ffic e
I.E. U n io n . R o o m 218
P o rtlan d . OR 97211
(603) 249 5808
I
P ro g ram
313 Public S ervice Bldg
S elem . O R 97310
1
1
Appointment (not seniors):
Sch edu led a p p o in tm e n ts w ill be M o n d e y th ru T h u rsd ay,
9:16 to 1 1 :3 0 a .m ., and 1:16 to 3:46 p .m .
«
....... *120°°
....... * 8 0 ° °
Plus m uch, m uch m orell
NAACP to elect Board members
The Portland Branch of the Na
tional Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People will meet
on the second sunday o f December
instead of the third Sunday due to
the holiday. The meeting will be
held December I Ith at 4:00 p.m ., at
the Allen Temple CME, 4.126 N.E.
8th Avenue. The public is always
welcome.
The annual election of Board
Members for National NAACP will
be on the agenda. The nominee for
the West Coast Rgion NAACP is
Nathaniel Colley, selected by the
Regional Caucus at the Convention
in New Orleans last summer. Colley
is being challenged by a woman at
torney from Los Angenes who is
said to be a supporter of Margaret
Bush Wilson. When Mrs. Wilson
was elected in 1976 she defeated
NOW
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