On February 13, 2023, in honor of Black History Month, the Santa Fe Soul Festival sponsored a dance class during assembly for the entire student body of the New Mexico School for the Arts in Santa Fe. Board President Madeleine Wright gave an inspiring keynote speech and had made Kente cloth sashes to give to everyone before the dance. It was a great success from start to finish!
Many thanks to the following who made it such as success:
Shayla Patton, Theatre teacher/ArtReach Coordinator, New Mexico School for the Arts
Tracey Whitney, jazz vocal mastery instructor, New Mexico School for Arts
Deollo Johnson, dance teacher
Fred Simpson, drummer
Nfaly Drame, drummer
Mohamed Bako Camara, drummer
And a shout out to the student announcers:
Ahmia TamaPovi
Tula Campbell
Shaunti Sitonick
Gibraltar Pharell
Many thanks to the following who made it such as success:
Shayla Patton, Theatre teacher/ArtReach Coordinator, New Mexico School for the Arts
Tracey Whitney, jazz vocal mastery instructor, New Mexico School for Arts
Deollo Johnson, dance teacher
Fred Simpson, drummer
Nfaly Drame, drummer
Mohamed Bako Camara, drummer
And a shout out to the student announcers:
Ahmia TamaPovi
Tula Campbell
Shaunti Sitonick
Gibraltar Pharell
Summary of Board President Madeleine Wright's keynote speech:
The colors in Ghanian Kente cloth (red, black green and gold) are used in carnival celebrations in Brazil, the Caribbean and the Black Liberation flag. Congo Square in New Orleans was exceptional in the United States for enslaved people could gather, dance and play African rhythms. Wynton Marsalis was born in New Orleans and has promoted Jazz through Jazz at Lincoln Center. In addition to being one of the most awarded trumpeter, Marsalis’s life is characterized by excellence, humility, generosity and gratitude.
The colors in Ghanian Kente cloth (red, black green and gold) are used in carnival celebrations in Brazil, the Caribbean and the Black Liberation flag. Congo Square in New Orleans was exceptional in the United States for enslaved people could gather, dance and play African rhythms. Wynton Marsalis was born in New Orleans and has promoted Jazz through Jazz at Lincoln Center. In addition to being one of the most awarded trumpeter, Marsalis’s life is characterized by excellence, humility, generosity and gratitude.