Page B2
November 24. 2004
Æln’JJortlanò © h s e ru e r________
Focus
Where I’m From
Jeanette Henderson
African dance, American debut
F a t a l
P r o m is e s
Novel Touches
on Southern Ills
Fatal Prom ises by A frican-
A m eric an a u th o r Je a n e tte
Henderson is a fictitious story with
real-life overtones that allude to
the ills o f society in the historical
South.
An 18-year-old black male be
comes despondent with the lack
o f opportunities in a small South
Georgia town, so he migrates to
New York, hoping for a better life.
A six-year-old black boy is em o
tionally wounded when his father
abandons his m other with no
means of support. He vows al
ways to care for his family, if he
ever has one.
A young, rich southern belle
becomes intimate with her em
ployee, whom she vows to love
forever, but fate intervenes.
Jeanette H enderson w as born
in M adison C ounty, Fla. She is
the 12th o f 15 siblings. She is
m arried to T hom as H enderson
III, is a m other o f five, and is
presently em ployed as a psy
chiatric nurse.
Zim babw ean artist Loveness
W esa will make her American de
but with her new dance production
“Langivela Khona (Where I Come
From)” which is based on stories of
young African immi grants and refu
gees living in Portland.
The performance is Friday, Dec.
3 and Sunday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
with a Sunday, Dec. 5 matinee at 4
p.m. at the Interstate Firehouse
Cultural Center in north Portland.
The evening performances are $ 10
and the matinee is $6, with dis
counts available for seniors and
students.
Before moving to the United
States from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
two years ago, W esa was well
known in her country as a musician,
dancer, actress, choreographer and
theater producer. In 1998, Wesa
founded the Kgotso African Dance
Theatre as a vehicle for bringing
w o rk s by w om en a rtis ts to
Zim babw e’s stage and became her
country's first female theatrical pro
ducer when she produced her dance
play “Brooms.”
When the popular Zimbabwean
singer and dancer moved to Port
land in 2002 and began teaching
African dance classes at the Immi
grant and Refugee Community O r
ganization, she became aware that
many young immigrants were at
risk o f losing their traditions as
they were exposed to Western cul
ture and peer pressure.
“ ‘Where I Come From' is activi
ties that I used to do in everyday
life. . .cleaning, farming, harvest
African dancer
Loveness Wesa
shares the culture of
her native country.
Loveness Wesa
ing, sw eeping.. .I’m looking at the
way we used to do things back
home and immigrant kids are losing
those things. Other kids are asking
them where they’re coming from
and they’re shy to talk about it”
W esa said.
Although many refugee kids
have suffered in their native, war-
tom land, Wesa says there are posi-
ti ve memories and traditions as well,
from before the wars began.
With this in mind, she began
working with young immigrants
from Africa, as well as African
Americans, to create her original
d an ce p ro d u ctio n , "L a n g iv ela
Khona.”
In African dance tradition, she
incorporates movements from ev-
eryday life activities into dramatic gaps between parents and children
dance that tells stories and enliv by sparking discussion about family
ens memories about African life.
life in Africa.
In this process of learning African
These stories will be told through
dancing, these young people are groundbreaking dance and music,
sharing the stories from their pasts introducing American audiences to
and journey to Portland and their W esa as a ch o reo g rap h er and
conflicts and adjustments to living dance producer.
here. Thestorymayalsobridgecom-
For reservations, call 503-823-
munication and intergenerational 4322.
MMMM
Audition Notice
PassinArt: A Theater Com pany is
holding open auditions for it upcoming
spring production of “Flyin’ W est” by
Pearl Cleage in March 2005. Open audi
tions are Saturday, Nov. 20 between 10-
12 and 12-2pm at Interstate Fire House
Cultural Center, 5340 N Interstate, Port
land, Oregon. Please come prepared with
two contrasting monologues and be avail
able for 1.5 - 2 hours. Call back is sched
uled for Monday, Nov. 22. The group is
seeking African-American and other art
ists of color (males 20-40 and females 20-
60 years o f age). If you are interested in
auditioning, please call and leave you
name and phone number or email address
at
5 0 3 -2 3 1 -5 1 6 3
or
em ail
passinart@ yahoo.com .
VICTORY
Tears o f Joy presents:
There’s a Nightmare in My Closet
The Tears o f Joy Theatre pre
sents “T here’s a Nightmare in My
Closet,” a play for kids ages four
and up, opening this weekend and
continuing through Dec. 12.
The puppet theater adaptation
of a story by Mercer Mayer is
about a little boy who is frightened
of the dark and reads stories to his
teddy bear underneath the covers
of his bed.
As the boy reads, a large shadow
screen illuminates the action as
“The Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carol
com es to li fe with animated kitchen
utensils. A jazzy rendition o f “The
Fat Cat” by Jack Kent follows. Each
story builds the suspense until the
hysterical, heart-stopping conclu
sion.
Individual tickets are $ 12 for chil
dren and $ 15 for adults, plus service
charges. For information call 503-
248-0557 or visit www.tojt.com.
Puppeteer Lance Woolen and puppet Mr. Nightmare
from Tears of Joy Theatre presents ‘There's a
Nightmare in My Closet' at the Winningstad The
ater, downtown.
M iddle S chool
At the Blazers Boys & Girls Club
5250 NE MLK (Near Killingsworth)
(503) 789-9099
6th & 7th Grade
Come Join Us Today
Adding 8th Grade Next Year (2005-06)
Great Academics!
We showed 8 months of gin
In just over 4 months last spring!
Parents bring Families to Victory for a Great Learning Experience
We educate children from “Where they arc now!”
We address strengths to meet every child’s needs,
KMHD’S
VALENTINE’S DAY
FUNDRAISER
EXTRAVAGANZA
Featuring Valerie Day &
The Knights of Swing
w/special guests...
M onday
F ebruary 14, 2 0 0 5
7 pm —1 1 pm
D oors open at 6 pm
T he M arriott H otel
1401SW N aito P kwy
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617 N.E. Fremont
M-F 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Children 18 months to 8 years (3,d grade)
15:1 Student to Teacher Ratio!
Certified teachers team with registered teachers
liven one classroom teacher has a doctorate degree!
Tuition is FREE!
89;
Full and Part Time Care • Drop-In Rates
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Come see for yourself
Come in anytime: 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
V A IU IIF DAY AND THF KNIGHTS OF SWING
D ance per couple : $50
D inner B uffet & D ance per couple : $115
D inner , D ance & R oom per couple : $230
VIP LEVEL ROOM INCLUDES ROSE BUDS AND
Special
arrangements
for Holiday,
Weekend and
Night care
(all ages)
CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES
For Regular Students!
Most special needs students are also accepted
An Luual Opportunity for A ll Victory Middle School admits students o f any race, color,
nationality ami ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally
accorded or made available to students at the school.
T ickets A vailable at
M illennium E ast or W est
or CALL 503.491.7271
Call 503-249-5594
NOW for appointments and applications
Owner: Hattie M. Porter
Manager: Makeba Grisby
I