Celebrate Black History Month with performance by Najwa Dance Corps
1/18/2011
In honor of Black History Month, Concordia University Chicago is offering free events throughout February.
All events are free and open to the public and will be held on Concordia’s campus, 7400 Augusta St., River Forest. Free, handicapped-accessible parking is available in visitors’ lot north of the University parking structure off Bonnie Brae Street. For more information contact Laila McCloud at 708-209-3124 or
omse@CUChicago.edu.
On Feb. 15 at 6 p.m., Concordia’s Office of Multicultural Student Engagement will screen Kobina Aidoo’s “Film For Thought: Neo African-Americans.” The one-hour documentary how rapid, voluntary immigration from Africa and the Caribbean to the United States is transforming the “African American” narrative. Following the film will be a group discussion.
Aidoo, originally from Ghana, currently works at the World Bank as a public affairs consultant in Washington, D.C. He earned a master of public policy degree with a specialty in International Trade and Finance from Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where he also served as co-chief editor of the Africa Policy Journal.
Najwa Dance Corps, a company of professional dancers and musicians performing repertoire from the different eras of African-American heritage, will perform Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. in Werner Auditorium.
The company's performances showcase a diversity of dance styles in a historical context—from the rituals of traditional Africa to the glamorous chorus girls of the swing era—that have contributed to contemporary American dance.
Created in 1977, Najwa Dance Corps was named after the founder Najwa I. Najwa means "One that’s spiritually in tune". Najawa I describes her dance company as a company that’s dedicated to the preservation of dance styles and techniques as it relates to the African American experience, from traditional African dance to swing dance, and even hip Hop dance styles