Community Newspapers CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1958
MARCH, 2011
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE JAZZ IN THE GARDENS
• • • • • • • • • NORLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS
• • • • • • • • • BUSINESS ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM
• • • • • • • • • CALENDAR OF EVENTS
• • • • • • • • •
Miami Gardens The Legacy Continues at Norland Middle School Performing Arts Magnet BY JANEY TATE On March 4, Tanisha Cidel sat at her desk while observing her magnet students’ Power Point presentations on theater production. She invited me in to see some of their work. Their presentations were detailed and organized as if they were presenting to a major production studio. I was impressed with the students’ behavior and talent. It was evident that Cidel’s passion and love for what she teaches shined through her students, who last month won the Florida State Thespian Competition—a prestigious theater competition that the Center for Arts at Norland Middle Schoolhas been winning since Sidel was a student in the program herself. Cidel, Linda Draesal- Atkinson and Lyndsey Battiste areformer students of Norland Middle, Draesal is the Visual Arts instructor and Battiste is a volunteer dance instructor, and understood the importance of coming back to the place where they were given the roots to succeed.They along with Zafere White, the music instructor, believe that preserving the legacy of the magnet program is the key to its success.
“We bring a shine of pride,” said Cidel. The award winning magnet program is like no other in the state of Florida, having won countless awards and recognition; the program stresses the importance of developing a scholar first and a performer and artist/performer second. Maribel Trujillo, the lead teacher and dance instructor for the magnet program, explained that the magnet students maintain a competitive level against the district and state
reports on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). The students must maintain a “C” average in academics and a “B” average in conduct. “I’m grooming a whole person not just a dancer,” said Trujillo in reference to the importance of the requirements.
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NORLAND, page 4
Emerging Artists join The 6th Annual “Jazz In The Gardens” Johnny Holliday, Jahfe, Dayve Stewart & Sy Smith join 10 National Acts Four of the most gifted emerging local artists join the star-studded line-up of the 6th Annual “Jazz in the Gardens” Hosted by Michael Baisden taking place at Sun Life Stadium on March 19th and March 20th. Emerging artists Johnny Holliday, Jahfe, Dayve Stewart and Sy Smith will be joining headliners The Isley Brothers featuring Ronald & Ernest Isley, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Charlie Wilson, Al Jarreau, Lalah Hathaway, Bobby Brown/Johnny Gill/Ralph Tresvant aka “Heads of State”, Gladys Knight, EnVogue, Musiq Soulchild, and Branford Marsalis. Every year “Jazz in the Gardens” is proud to give emerging and local artists an oppor-
tuntiy to share the stage with super-star performers in an effort to celebrate up and coming talent that show incredible promise on the way to their own stardom. Miami Gardens Mayor Shirley Gibson comments “The City of Miami Gardens and “Jazz in the Gardens” believes that “if we can’t do it first class, we don’t do it at all”. With that said, we know our four emerging artists are “first class” additions to an already stellar line up. Sometimes the next star in music is single performance away from achieving their dreams, and we hope that “Jazz in the Gardens” will be that break”. Jazz in the Gardens, a two-day weekend festival is now in its sixth year and has grown
to be one of the top cultural events in America. The jazz festival delivers a diverse mix of music genres that range from jazz, R&B, Caribbean and African sounds. Having something to offer all music admirers at an affordable price the 6th Annual “Jazz in the Gardens” is expected to exceed ticket sales, enjoying an attendance of almost 50,000. Ticket on sale now with prices starting at just $45, through the Sun Life Stadium Box office, www.jazzinthegardens.com or www.ticketmaster.com. For more information on the highly-antici-
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JAZZ, page 10