social networking

The department now has a social networking presence. Fan us on Facebook and/or follow us on Twitter!

"Being Branded" cultural education concert

On September 17 and 18 the Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce will bring to the Twin Cities a cultural education concert, "Being Branded," to generate awareness around the branding that minorities have had in their past and to stimulate individuals to move beyond those stereotypes. The cultural and education concert is a contemporary fusion of two art forms (modern dance and figure skating) allowing for movement explorations to take place on the ice where traditionally performed jumps and spins adopt an entirely new contextual significance. The concert's purpose is to inspire the audience to witness and feel something they have never seen or experienced before: stories and complexities of racial and cultural identity being told on the ice by national and international competitive performers of color.

A free performance is offered to high school and college students:

September 17 at the University of Minnesota's Ridder Ice Arena, 1901 4th St., SE Minneapolis, MN 55455. Performance and Post-concert Discussion: 9:30 a.m. - noon.

Contact Ashley Blocton at 651-777-9119 to register for the free concert. For additional info visit www.mbccculturaleventg.eventbrite.com/

Summer 2009 issue of "The Village"

The latest issue of The Village is now available. The Village is a newsletter for friends and alumni of the Department of African American & African Studies.

Inside the Summer 2009 issue:

• welcome from the community outreach coordinator
  
• faculty spotlight
  
• your thoughts: Gates arrested
  
• opening doors in North Minneapolis
  
• course spotlight
  
• building a better Tomorrow
  
• upcoming events
  
• quote of the month

U of MN Dance introduces African Diasporic Movement

University of Minnesota Dance is thrilled to introduce a new dance technique track in African Diasporic Movement, with the goal of providing students a deep knowledge of dance forms of the African Diaspora, emphasizing impeccable technique practice and critical analysis.

Led by faculty members Patricia Brown and Marciano Silva dos Santos, this sequence begins with levels 1 and 2, an introduction to West African movement, centering on traditional dance and movement inspired by Africa, the Caribbean and the African Diaspora at large. Students learn to express energy through movement and discover the connection between drum and dance. During the second year, levels 3 and 4, students focus on Afro-Brazilian dance. Jumps and turns, floor work and rhythmic sections develop flexibility, strength and vocabulary in polycentric movement. A harmonious relationship between body and sound illuminates the constantly evolving dynamics of coordination, relaxation, breathing, and undulation.

Fall Semester Course Offerings:

African Diasporic Movement 1, 1 credit
DNCE 1500 Topics in Dance, Section 060, Class # 58916
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:10 - 11:40 a.m.
Barbara Barker Center for Dance
Instructor: Patricia Brown, (CCE Distinguished Teaching Award Recipient)
Prerequisites: none; 10 seats reserved for dance major students

African Diasporic Movement 3, 1 credit
DNCE 1500 Topics in Dance, Section 010, Class # 53677
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:10 - 11:40 a.m.
Barbara Barker Center for Dance
Instructor: Marciano Silva Dos Santos
Prerequisites: audition and department consent; 10 seats reserved for dance major students

To be considered for level 3, participate in the major and technique placement audition on Wednesday September 2, 2009, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Studio 100 of the Barbara Barker Center for Dance. Prior movement experience is not required to participate in the audition. Also pre-registration is not required, but please arrive by 8:30 a.m. More information on the audition process is online at dance.umn.edu/auditions.php. For more information about this curriculum sequence or University of Minnesota Dance please visit www.dance.umn.edu, call 612-624-5060 or email umdance@umn.edu.

Black in America 2

CNN will air two new shows in the series Black in America on July 22 and 23, 2009.

2009 Black Non-theism Conference

The first annual Black Non-Theism Conference will be held August 7-8, 2009, in Atlanta, GA. African American pantheists, deists, agnostics, and atheists will gather to discuss what it means to be an African American non-theist in the United States.

Future Scholars Program

The Future Scholars Program partners African American and African students in grades 9-11 at St. Paul's Arlington High School with University of Minnesota students to explore the steps needed to attend and graduate from college. The University/AHS student mentor pairs are currently working together to address college readiness, community, and educational issues, and will make a group presentation to St. Paul mayor Chris Coleman at the end of the mentoring period. The program was highlighted in a May press release from the University of Minnesota's Office for Equity and Diversity.