Student ensembles present ‘Potpourri’

Dancing shoes are advised for the 17th year of “A Potpourri of the Arts in the African American Tradition.”

The event at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater is sponsored by the IU African American Arts Institute.

Ensembles from three IU courses will take the stage Saturday, including the African American Choral Ensemble, the African American Dance Company and the IU Soul Revue.

While there is not a specified theme, many of the ensembles feature singing, dancing and live music that center around rhythm and the drum.

“Rhythm is so important to African tradition,” said Dr. Charles Sykes, the executive director of the African American Arts Institute. “It has transcended all places African culture has gone.”

Director of the African American Choral Ensemble Keith McCutchen’s ensemble will pay tribute to composer Undine Smith Moore and her impact on McCutchen’s predecessor, Professor Emeritus Dr. James Mumford.

“I hope to honor Undine and the tradition of this University,” McCutchen said.
The African American Dance Company’s performance will focus on the social and political concepts of Marcus Garvey’s idea of going back to Africa.

“The piece is about being black and proud,” director of the African American Dance Company Iris Rosa said. “There is the idea of moving back to the motherland, and at the end of the piece there is a release.”

Nathanael Mahluli, the director of the IU Soul Revue, said he wanted to keep his ensemble’s set firmly rooted in the 1960s rock and soul era.

“So much music today is electronic, ‘drag and drop’ music,” he said. “There is no artistry — the blood, sweat and tears it takes to learn an instrument and perform with others.”

At the conclusion of the ensemble’s individual performances, a finale titled “Rhythm — The Heart of our People” will unite the three ensembles.

“The finale brings the whole shows together into a theme of the importance of the drum and rhythm in African American culture,” Sykes said.

With different styles being presented throughout the performance, Sykes said each person will be able to take something with them that they enjoyed.

“I hope people learn something new,” he said. “This is an opportunity to entertain, but it’s also an opportunity to learn, whether it be a different rhythm, a different move or a different song.”