Amandla!! A Celebration of African Arts
Pittsburgh, PA
Tuesday Feb. 20th 6 pm
InterPlay is the integrating tool as Masankho Banda returns to Pittsburgh to lead the intergenerational, multicultural InterPlay performance troupe, Wing & A Prayer Pittsburgh Players in five unique performances to celebrate Black History Month.
Sponsored by the Office of Diversity at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), this celebration of African Art and Culture will take audience members on a fascinating journey from the continent of Africa, through the Diaspora in the Caribbean to the African experience in North America. Performances will include African Dance, Drumming, Storytelling and Song, the principles of Kwanzaa, and InterPlay forms and practices.
InterPlay is an improvised discipline that ensures that each performance will be unique and wonderful.
Artists joining Masankho and co-artistic director, Sheila Collins include:
- Karama Sadaka, poet/spoken word artist from New Orleans
- Gwyne Dismukes, author and Kwanzaa authority from Nashville
- Marquetta Dupree, African dancer
- Laveria Bogan, storyteller from Texas
- Rebecca Estes, dancer from Texas
- Ed Haggard, African drummer from Nashville
- and the Wing & A Prayer Pittsburgh Players
Wing & A Prayer Pittsburgh Players is a local InterPlay performance company, including: Sheila Collins, Andrea Scheve, Elizabeth Downey, Pam Meadowcroft, Jim Holland, Toni McClendon, Gurney Bolster, Richard Citrin, LaVerne Baker Hotep, and special guests Legacy Arts Project dancers and the InterPlay troupe from the Sarah Heinz House.
Cost: Free and Open to the Public
Registration/Information: More info, contact Sheila Collins at 412-223-2536
UPMC Assembly Hall Passasvant Hospital
From downtown:
- Take 279 north and exit McKnight Rd./US 19 truck.
- Follow McKnight Rd 4.7 miles.
- Make slight right onto Babcock Blvd. and follow the signs to the hospital.
- Passavant is on your right at 9100 Babcock Blvd.
- Drive up to the chapel which is on the left hand side of the main entrance and has a stained glass window. Y
- You may unload passengers there and enter the building through one of the doors on either side of the chapel.
- The Assembly Hall is just behind the chapel.
- Parking is free and you may park anywhere that is not
an emergency or handicap space.
Wing & A Prayer Pittsburgh Players
Masankho is a multi - disciplinary Performing Artist, Certified InterPlay Leader, Educator and PeaceBuilder. He brings many unique perspectives to his work around the world. He learned the fine arts of storytelling and dance from his Malawian culture spending many long days and nights listening to stories and dancing to music that captivated his mind, shaped his being, nourished his soul and strengthened his spirit. Using performing arts Masankho motivates and inspires people of all ages to work together to bring about peace, social justice and cultural understanding. In 1997, he started UCanDanc—African Healing Arts to bring his passion for dance and storytelling to communities around the world. Masankho has been a Certified InterPlay Leader since 1999.
Masankho can also be reached at these phone numbers: +265 99 255 5338 or 88 113 8655 (available on Whatsapp / FaceTime)
Also: Skype : kamsisi
Facebook / Twitter: storytelling4u