Spotlight: Ulysses Dove

(Photo courtesy of Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater website)

Since it's Black History Month, let's talk about choreographer Ulysses Dove. Born in South Carolina and hailing from the Alvin Ailey camp, Dove's works have been performed by a number of top dance companies, including Ailey and Royal Swedish Ballet. Sadly, he passed away in 1996.

Regretfully, your humble blogger has been out of the dance loop for quite some time and only had a vague familiarity with his name and work until now (read:  catching a performance of his pieces once or twice). Today, I had the pleasure today of seeing another Black historic institution, the Dance Theatre of Harlem, whose repertoire included a masterful rendition of his heart-wrenching piece "Dancing On the Front Porch of Heaven (below is a video of the Royal Swedish Ballet performance). If you have the chance, do yourself a favor and catch it on DTH's tour, going on now.



A great biography on the dance icon can be found here: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/freetodance/biographies/dove.html

Check out Dance Theatre of Harlem's tour schedule here: http://www.dancetheatreofharlem.org/calendar

Unplugged

So-

Rushing out of the house this morning, your humble blogger forgot to take her phone with her, which, is a borderline cardinal sin in the world of MsRanaDee.  The interesting thing, though, was how freeing it felt in many respects. While having access to all that a smart phone offers can be convenient, not having my phone on me for a while made me realize how nerve wrecking such access can be sometimes and how refreshing it is to have moments to just be.

Now that we're two weeks into the new year, how many of you made resolutions to limit your technology usage? How's that been coming along? Even if you resolved to change your technology habits, think about making an allotted part of the day technology free-no phone, TV, or computer. Even if it's just for an hour, see how it feels to be away from the wired world.

Style Icon: Janelle Monàe

So Cover Girl just released their new commercial with Janelle Monàe today. Of course, it behooved your humble blogger to dish about it. Why? Everything about Janelle's looks here demonstrates why she's a style icon. She is a master of the art of simplicity, packing the punch in the details- in this case, the wonderfully structured white sleeveless top as well as the unbuttoned 3/4 sleeve white blouse with form-fitting black pants and signature oxfords. Classic with a bit of wow. Priceless. And that's just the clothes. The makeup? On point as per usual. Then again, one can never go wrong with a natural look, especially with a pop of color (like at :06 with the lip) Black and white has never looked this good! Speaking of :06- who else would totally rock that look at for New Years? Just saying.

"Like a rose in the cold, will I rise?"...Yes.

Stain glass honoring the founders of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority at Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana

91 years ago today, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis by seven dynamic women.  While meditating on the anniversary of this organization your humble blogger has been blessed to be a member of for 5 years, a song lyric came to mind.  That lyric is the quote in the title.  Like the yellow tea rose, which is Sigma Gamma Rho's flower, the Sorority has risen "to heights of great attainment"; and, if grace allows, continue to rise.

It seems no accident that the yellow tea rose was chosen Sigma Gamma Rho's flower. The flower is noted for its foliage during the autumn months, when the chill in the air begins to be felt.  In addition, the "tea" part of the name comes from the unique tea scent it gives off.  Like it's flower, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. has risen in the midst of the cold climate that marked the era in which it began to become a 85,000 plus strong blooming sisterhood emanating its' unique "scent" of enhancing the quality of life within the community.

In 1922, Mary Lou Allison Gardner Little, Dorothy Hanley Whiteside, Vivian White Marbury, Nannie Mae Gahn Johnson, Hattie Mae Annette Dulin Redford, Cubena McClure, and Bessie Mae Downey Rhoades Martin were students persuing teaching degrees at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana.  According to Michael Washington and Cheryl Nunez, Indiana's colleges graduated black students at one every three years between 1861 and 1900. As Sigma Gamma Rho's founders were African-American, one could imagine the hurdles they had to face.  In addition, Sigma formed during the time in which the Ku Klux Klan was reaching apex in Indiana.  Joseph White notes:

" The Klan was at the height of its strenght in Indiana in the summer of 1923. The number of members probably reached its peak by late 1923"

Not even a year into its inception did the founders of Sigma Gamma Rho have to deal with forming their organization in such a climate. Add to that the inequality in the education of black students at the time, one would have to have the heartiness of a yellow tea rose in late autmn to rise.

Rise, however, Sigma Gamma Rho did. With members worldwide, and initiatives such as its partnership with the Centers for Disease Control to fight AIDS and Project Reassurance to address teenage pregnancy, she continues with her "aims soaring upward" towards its mission to "enhance the quality of life within the community".

91 years strong and beautiful as ever.  Like the yellow tea rose, you rise, bloom, and emit your unique scent. Here's to more years of "Greater Service, Greater Progress" my dearest Sigma Gamma Rho.

Works Cited

Washington, Michael H. S. & Nunez, Cheryl L. The Rise of The Greek-Letter Tradition. African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision 149.

White, Joseph M., "THE KU KLUX KLAN IN INDIANA IN THE 1920'S AS VIEWED BY

 THE INDIANA CATHOLIC AND RECORD" (1974). Graduate Thesis Collection. Paper 24.
http://digitalcommons.butler.edu/grtheses/24

UPDATE: Poetry for the People

In April 2012, this blog spotlighted JaDon Davis, Detroit poet and author of the upcoming book Poetry for the People.  In recent conversation, Davis informed your humble blogger that the book is currently in production phase.  Keep those eyes peeled for this new work!

Throwback Thursday-F.A.N.D.R.O.I.D. Edition

So-Tomorrow marks the 3rd anniversary of your humble blogger's first Janelle Monae show, and what a remarkable three years it has been!!! To celebrate, here's Wondaland's video from the meet and greet in Chicago during the Hooligans in Wondaland tour. See if you recognize anyone ;)

(Video Courtesy of Wondaland Arts Society/George 2.0)

About "Sally Ride"...

Around last week, the incomparable Dr. Nathaniel Irvin III predicted on Twitter that there will many people will be forced to blog after hearing Janelle Monae's "Sally Ride" from her new album The Electric Lady. It behooved your humble blogger to take up the challenge, and will thus muse on the masterpiece here. Firstly, this is one of my favorite tracks on The Electric Lady. It is a soul stirrer from start to finish, hitting the spirit like the waters of Victoria Falls (Yes, Victoria Falls)hitting the rocks at its base. Powerful doesn't even begin to describe it. This is due to the quality of each and every single element that went into the song. Kellindo Parker's masterful guitar notes bring you into the track, followed by Janelle's gut-wrenching wailing of the first verse. Speaking of, the lyrics pack their own one-two punch from first line: "Take me the river/ My soul is looking for a word from God". It only goes uphill (in a good way) from there. Every line is delivered with an intensity that makes it undeniable that they are coming from the heart and moves the emotions in a singular manner. This movement is one where word and sound is expressing what the soul couldn't say otherwise and prompts the imagination to action. Contemplation is the primary action that comes to mind when listening to this song. The blending of the aforementioned vocals with the stellar instrumentation of Kellindo, Nate Wonder, Roman GianArthur and Terrance Brown turn the song into an almost a magic wand. This wand conjures a desire for a place where soul and nature meet, like sitting on a secluded rocky beach during high tide at sunset. Part of that may have to do with the fact that the sound of flowing water is layered in the background of the song towards the beginning. In sum, it takes you to a place of transcendence. This mood continues towards the end, in which Janelle, Nate, and Roman sing a verse that fades out. Returning to the water metaphor, the experience of listening to "Sally Ride" is deep in every sense of the word. Be prepared to enter into feelings you may never know have existed. Guaranteed, a Kleenex or two will be needed on hand for the tears that may roll out. Granted, the entirety of Janelle Monae's "The Electric Lady" is an experience. If one song could be chosen to demonstrate why that is, "Sally Ride" would be one of them. Every part of it comes perfectly together to take the listener to a place beyond the mind or soul's comprehension. It serves as a prime example of why music should never be underestimated in it's power to move the human spirit.