C
O
R
A
L
G
A
B
L
E
S
S
E
N
TuI
O
R
H
I
G
H
rn Th e th to F Ap r at e ha atur il Fo sn es ol’ ’t ha for s Iss pp all ue en th ed e n – y ew et. s
highlights 4 5 0 B i r d R o a d , C o r a l G a b l e s , F L 3 314 6
Issue 6,
M a r c h 2 014 ,
Vol. 54
Black history show steps it up By Mia Tolpin & Maggie Rivers
Etta James’s “At Last” by Miami Conservatory teacher Amy Ione, covers of Jimi Hendrix songs by Quantum Waves, a performance of Amy Winehouse’s “Stronger than Me” by senior Danessa Corton and her band and finally a rap by alumn Kraig Smith. “I felt kind of nervous because it was the Black History Show and I had to represent my people well,” said Williams. “I was proud to be teaching others who don’t know much about black culture.” The rest of the show was devoted to dance with pieces by SWA, Mckinnon, and senior Tiah Caldwell. “I did a liturgical dance, which is praise dancing; praise dance was first inspired by African Americans to express their spirituality and religion,” said Mckinnon, who danced to Tamela Mann’s “Take Me to the King.” “My culture is very importnt to me, and I’m very proud to be African American. So I was involved as much as possible to make sure the audience could learn all of the positive things African Americans have done and what they will continue to do.” SWA wrapped up the show with another one of thier iconic step routines along with their SWA sweethearts, or as they are officially known as, the Brothers of the SWA Steppers (BOSS). “I had a lot of fun performing at my very last Black History Show. It was fun showing the different eras that hip hop went through,” said SWA captain Winny Delcin.”I loved watching the crowd react to the different songs we stepped and danced to. It was definitely an experience I will never forget.”
UNDERLING & TSARITSA
ne
Feb. 21: In the midst of an inctricate combination of steps, a fierce stomp sends a performer’s chain flying into the audience. The moment is quickly overshadowed by the echo of more steps and the flurry of pink figures moving across the stage. Sistas with Attitude (SWA) is on stage at the annual Black History Show and they run this. Also running the show were masters of ceremony Erin Williams and Rada Mckinnon, who introduced each act by giving the audience some background information about its significance to black history. The school’s jazz band kicked off the show by playing music that defined some of the most prominent black cultural revolutions, such as the Jazz Age and the Harlem Renaissance. Divaaz followed with their rendition of R&B favorites. Although most of the show was centered on song and dance, show curator Porsha Smith included acts that were more informational. Several students took on the character of celebrated black figures and shared excerpts from some of those figures’ best known works and speeches. “Some students may have never learned about African American greats like Jimi Hendrix; this show forces [students] to acknowledge them,” said Smith, who has organized the show for six consecutive years. Other acts included a dance by the Gablettes, a rendition of
Maggie Rivers/highlights
ws
POST UP: Sistas with Attitude members Winny Delcin, Amber Williams, Romys Duran, and Noemi Rodriguez take the stage at the Black History Show for a step routine that explored the beginnings of Hip Hop. Delcin and Williams started off the routine dressed as eldery women who were trying to prove to Erin Williams, acting as a youngster, that they still got it.
Arts for Learning: Canvas of opportunity By Jordan Payne
He got out and started doing graffiti and drawing other people just for fun and then he got known, and that’s the same story as mine,” said Hernandez, a former gang member himself, who hopes to attend art Seniors Damiya Evans and Cristina Paredes and juniors school if given the opportunity. Michael Hernandez, Laura Ordonez, Arliz Dezayas, and Cassius The experience isn’t limited to the studio or the history lessons Jackson participate in an Arts for Learning program and are either. The students get a taste of what it’s like to be a teacher, taking mentored by mixed media artist Yanira Collado at the Lewis the Little Cavaliers to the studio and teaching them how to draw. On Arts Studio in Coconut Grove every eighth period. Arts for top of that, they take field trips away from the studio, including a trip Learning (A4L) is a nonprofit organization that strives to link to Art Basel to witness what it takes to be a successful artist. student artists to the surrounding community. A4L provides “It’s a different environment at the studio because it’s more free. services for over 13,000 students in 100 schools around Miami-Dade It’s a different dynamic than the student-teacher relationship. It’s more County, targetting minority populations along with geared towards what we want to do,” said He got out [of jail] and started Paredes. low to moderate income families. doing graffiti and drawing Every even day since the beginning of the The students held an exhibition, a other people just for fun and school year, these six students have braved the 20 culmination of four months of work, then he got known, and that’s entitled “Is It Because I’m Not,” on Jan. minute walk under the Miami sun to the studio the same story as mine. A4L rents out at 101 Grand Avenue. There, they 30. There, they displayed approximately work with Collado until about 3:30 on sculptures, pieces each, ranging from paintings to Michael Hernandez, 20 cartoons, mixed-medias, paintings, 3-D and freesculptures. Their next exhibition will take junior style work, and collages. Collado, a professional place in May at the studio. artist, teaches them different artistic methods, “I’m going to keep living my dream shows them videos on different art subjects, and gives art history to be an artist and this is helping,” said Hernandez. lessons. The aspiring artists watch documentaries and learn about In exposing these students to the artistic world around them, A4L artistic legends, ranging from Michelangelo to John Lennon. One such strives not only to show the students what it takes to be an artist but artist is Michael Vasquez, whose story spoke to Hernandez. also to set up connections. By linking the students with a professional “He was like the same as me…He was a former gang member but and a studio, the students not only become better artists, but to become then he started tattooing. He was in jail and he started jail tattooing. better prepared to enter the race to become a successful artist.
Income levels represented by A4L
news
UNDERLING
71% low to moderate other
Demographic represention by A4L
‘‘
Maggie Rivers/highlights
57%
31%
Hispanic
10% 2%
Black White Asian/Indian Multiracial Source: Arts for Learning
PG. 15 Latin Burger and Taco makes its restaurant debut on Miracle Mile
the scene
PG. 10 Real news can get old, so we made up something more fun
features
news
PG. 4 Culinary program raises over $10,000 at annual culinary gala
29%