►
♦ * ♦ • * »*< < < *
# * < > • ♦ r t
e 9
r * *♦ e r t r < * <
January 23,1991 -T h e Portland O b s e rv e r- Pag© 5
Portland Observer
ENTERTAINMENT
Innovative Dance Program Stresses
Black-Jewish Ties
On Febru. y 10, .
pie
Go , a collaborative work by two New
York dance companies, will be pre
sented at the Mittleman Jewish Com
munity Center (MJCC), 6651 SW Capitol
Hwy., in Portland. The performance
begins at 7:30 p.m.
Let My People G o ” is product of
the Avodah Dance Troupe and the Louis
Johnson Dance Ensemble. It was spe
cially created for Black History Month
showing the bonds between African-
Americansand Jews. The piece isbased
on a poem by Black American Poet
James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938).
His “ sermon in verst’ ’ com bines bibili-
cal material with black folklore, ex
pressed in the language o f a Southern
black preacher. “ Let My People G o ”
is a retelling ot the Jewish Exodus story
with parallels for blacks force from
their Arian homeland to exile and slav
ery in the New W orld. It is meant to
help audiences explore common ele
ments of African-American and Jewish
histories and to make the audience see
the universality in them es o f struggle
and freedom.
Dancing, singing, shouting, play
ing o f drums and saxophones, and reci
tations overlap to form this exciting
piece. “ Let My People G o ” combines
urban “ rap,” Hebrew chanting spiritu
als, modem dance and theatrical ele
ments to form a m oving work. The
New York Times described it this way:
‘ ‘The work has both substance and
texture with eloquence and emotional
force suffusing spoken and movement
sequences. Images and bodies seam
lessly melt into one another. A vision
of the Israelites in Egyptian bondage
becomes a tableau o f black slavery as
black and Jewish voices become one
cry for deliverance...The choreogra
phy contains wonderfully exuberant
movement with runs, leaps an turns
that carry the smell o f the desert in
them as well as the hum an spirit’s
yearning to be free. The harmony o f the
ensemble never sacrifices the individu
ality o f the dancers, w hose ethnic and
stylistic diversity add to the very hu
man quality o f the w ork.” (Barbara
Gilford, 2/19/89)
Joanne Tucker of Avodah and Louis
Johnson were co-choreographers and
directors for “ Let My People G o.”
Tucker formed the Avodah Dance
Troupe in 1983 and has c re ited over 20
pieces for the group. A .o d ah tours
extensively, often performing as part
o f Sabbath services. Dr. Tucker, who
studied at Julliard and the M artha Bra
ham Studio received her Ph.D. from
the University o f Wisconsin. She was
honored with a Carnegie Award in Dance
and has recently com pleted a book on
creating dance midrashim, improvisa
tions based on passages from the To
rah.
Louis Johnson directs the dance
departm ent at the Henry Street Settle
ment in New York City. He has worked
in every phase of theatre and dance. He
danced with the New York City Ballet
under George Ballanchine and Jerome
Robbins. He was choreographer for the
Broadw ay production o f “ Tree-
monisha” and “ Purlie.” He has mounted
ballets for ’h • Alvin Ailey American
Dance Theatre, The Cincinnati Ballet,
the Dance Theatre o f Harlc -. md the
Jotfrey Ballet. He also choreographer
the movies “ Cotton Comes to Har
lem ” and “ The W iz.”
The special touring company for
C H IN O O K SA LM O N OR BRO ILED LO BSTER
TAILS JU M B O PRAW NS FISH & C H IPS C LA M
C H O W D ER BRO ILED H A LIBU T C RA B STU FFED
M U SH RO O M S LO BSTER TH ER M ID O R O R PAN
FRIED O YSTER S SA UTEED SH R IM P RO SSI O R
STEA K & LO BSTER C RA B AU G RATIN OR
FREN C H FRIED SC A LLO PS STEA M C LA M S
O YSTER STEW C H IC KEN STEA KS O R . . . .
W o rld Beat
Reggae
House
The M ittle m a n Je w ish C o m m u n ity C e n te r
C o n g re g a tio n Neveh S h a lo m
and
Je ffe rso n H igh S chool
‘ ‘let My People G o’ ’ has seven dancers
and musicians. Besides the M JCC
concert, the group will do a perform
ance and m aster class for Jefferson
High School students on February 11.
A workshop on liturgical dance will be
given on Sunday, February 10 from
1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at W estm inster Pres
byterian Church, 1624 NE Hancock
Street. That w orkshop is open to the
public and costs $25 per person. Call
246-8831 for information on the w ork
shop.
Tickets for the M JCC perform
ance will be S 10 general adm ission and
$8 for seniors and students. They may
be purchased by mail or charged by
phone. Call 244-0111 for ticket infor
mation.
This project is funded in part by
grants from the Collins Foundation and
the Oregon Arts Commission. Co-spon
sors are the M ittleman jew ish Com m u
nity Center, Jefferson High School and
Congregation Neveh Shalom. .'. . «el
ate sponsors are the Albina M inisterial
Alliance, the American Jew ish Com
mittee, and Ecum enical M inistries of
Oregon
Rap
Blues
Soul C ospel
F o lk
present
Let My P eop le Go
fe a tu rin g
The Avodah Dance Ensem ble
and
The Louis Jo h n so n Theatre Ensem ble
In h o n o r o f B la ck H isto ry M onth th is piece e x p lo re s
th e c o m m o n e le m e n ts o f A fric a n -A m e ric a n a n d
Jew ish h is to rie s e m p h a s iz in g th e u n iv e rs a lity o f
s tru g g le a n d fre e d o m .
M o v in g a n d th o u g h t- p r o v o k in g .'' /Yew» Y o r k T im e s
SUNDAY,
FEBRUARY IO, 1 9 9 1
7 :3 0 p .m .
at
M ittle m a n J e w is h C o m m u n ity C e n te r
6 6 5 1 S .W . C a p ito l H ig h w a y • P o r tla n d , OR
Jazz
$ 1 0 G eneral A d m is s io n • $8 S e n io r/S tu d e n t
G rou p Rates A va ila b le
CALL 2 4 4 - 0 1 I I fo r T ic k e t In f o r m a t io n
r h i s p r o j e c t is f u n d e d in p a r t b y g r a n t s f r o m T h e C o l l i n s F o u n d a t i o n
a n d T h e O r e g o n A r t s C o m m i s s i o n . A s s o c ia t e s p o n s o r s : A l b i n a M i n i s
t e r i a l A l l i a n c e T h e A m e r i c a n J e w i s h C o m m i t t e e a n d E c u m e n i c a l M in i-
tr ie s o l O r e g o n .
Music
<?
USED
C D 'S
%
<2
A FEAST FOR YOU WITH THIS
BALI-JAVA FESTIVAL BOOK
N íV í
Standing Ovations...Devi Dja, Woman of Java
zs
by Leona Mayer Merrin
Seafood Restaurant & Bar -- Since 1891 -L u n c h & Dinner
1035 S. W. Stark (Corner 11 th & Stark)
7775 N .E. B roadw ay
226-4171
One Woman's Romance of Self-Discovery
From Poverty To World Celebrity
P ortland, O r. 97232
503-284-4828
Physical and Vocal Exhaustion
Forces Anita Baker Tour Cancellation
Citing her doctors’ advice that
further touring could cause damaging
physical and vocal stress, it was an
nounced today that pop.r& b superstar
vocalist Anita baker has cancelled all
rem aining tour dates on her schedule,
and will not resume performing until
she has fully recuperated. Baker, who
has been on tour continuously since
the release o f her third platinum al
bum “ Compositions,” has performed
sold-out concert dates in support of
“My life gets so crazy, I need
a diet that thinks for me.”
You live a hectic life. Wouldn't it be
Introducing the 7 IL rf
PERSONAL CHOICE
P R O
G
R A
great to have a weight loss plan that tells
I you what to eat. and when to eat it? Now
New Personal Choice gives you your
A3
31 NW F irs t
adapt to your lifestyle, so you can lose weight at your own comfortable pace.
What's more. Personal Choice allows you to eat the foods you want. Even
.
22 3 -3 9 1 9
W ednesday
in a restaurant. From the first week on.
If you're looking for a diet program that fits the way you live, now the
Rico
choice is yours. New Personal Choice. Call Weight Watchers and ask about this
T h u rs d a y
exciting program today.
Brother of the Baladi
F r id a y
Curtis Salagado & the
Stilettos
Safe, sensible weight loss for 27 years.
S a tu r d a y
Join Any Class Anytime
Curtis Salagado & the
Stilettos
For Inform ation Call (collect) w e e k d a y s
8:30 a.m . to 5:00 p.m.
New m em b ers p le a se Arrive 20 m in u te s early
Tues.
Wed.
Thurs.
Fri.
9:30 a.m. &
Lee & Lee P u b lish e rs
1042 S e cond S tre e t Suite 3
S anta M onica, C A 90403
(818) 887-5066
,
• .
• -N
Tues.
p
& s --Í
. :•
New Jones
o f P o rtla n d
U niversity o f Portland
5000 N. Willamette Blvd.
Columbia Hall
(Enter from Portsmouth)
Wed.
5:00 p.m.
Thats Right New Prices
ALL TAPES $7.95 - 8.50
One Stop Records Located:
1615 NE Killingsworth
Portland, Or. 97211
(503) 284-2435
One Stop Records Will Have
Two Different Artist on Sale
Tuesday
10 North Russel St.
9 Days Wonder
(Urban Plaza)
W ednesday
Portland, OR 97227
Little Women
(503) 280-2600
Reese’s Oil Company
Wish You A Happy Holiday
Best Price In Town
7 Day Service
287-2121
Temple B aptist C hurch
1319 N.E. 7th
Fireside Room
Tuesday
12:00 noon
(Brown Bag Lunch Class)
Weight Watchers Is a registered trademark ol WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC
copyright 1990 WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL., INC.
m i“’
•
This Weeks Special!
EPIC
CT-7.95
CD-12.99
A
m
- ,
- ■
’• . .
■
•
■ " '. '. '/ " / " • '/ • “ á í
■
ARISTA
CT-7.95
CD-12.99
S to p . Ttop « Crf*. A Tfcp«.
1. Loose Ends - "Look How Long"
2. Guy - "The Future"
9:30 a.m.
/
wp j B5!
EVERY WEEK!!
M onday
'
7 :0 0 p .m .
•
Ï13
EMI recording artist Bobby
M cFcrrin, along with the eleven-piece
vocal group V oiccstra will be making a
special in-sotre appearance at Music
Millenium (32nd and E. Burnside) on
Tuesday,January 2 9 th at2 p .m . McFer-
rin is a truly gifted individual who is
able to use his unique vocal talents as a
musical instrum ent of incredible scope.
He’s probably best known for the world
wide musical anthem , “ D on’t W orry,
Be H appy” .
U rb a n L e a g u e
Rivergate Community Church
■-
SBN: 0-9624120-0-7
Tel: (213)393-8085
McFerrinTo Appear
At Music Millenium
The
4737 N. Lombard SL
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
the album since May 1990.
Baker, who recently won her
third N AACP Image Award for Best
Female A rtist, and was nominated
for two G ram m y Awards for “ Com
positions” said “ 1 am tremendously
disappointed to have to cancel my
tour. 1 look for the understanding of
my staff and fans as I work toward
making a full recovery that will en
able me to satisfy and entertain them
for years into the future.”
To Be Announced
NORTH PORTLAND
N O R TH E A S T P O R T LA N D
7:00
7:00
5:00
7:00
as Indonesian Dancer
Sunday
(503)297-1021
M on.
Book Cover Features Bare 4-color Portrait of Devi Dja
Program from Weight Watchers.
choice of three easy-to-follow food plans
that range from structured to flexible— whatever s right for you. It’s designed to
Tilam ook P ark Bldg.
2108 N.E. 41st Ave.
photos
you can— with the new Personal Choice
M
M arunatha C hurch
4222 N.E. 12th
(Enter on Skidmore)
Sat
9:30 a.m.
x 9") 417 pages,
$8.95 Suggested retail--Non-Fiction trade paperback--(5 3/4"
Announcement
A
1
H
m
S to p . Tbp S
"lesha" - Another Bad Creation
'2. "The Gretto" - Too Short
3. Ice Cube - "Kill at Will"
3 "Around The Way Girl" - LL Cool J
4 Ralph Tresvant - "Same"
4 "All Season" - Levert
5. Paris - "The Devil Made Me Do It"
5. "Ill Give All My Love To You" -
Keith Sweat
WE SPECIAL ORDER!
'x'* MW'
IA A A A A A