Since 1993, the Potpourri of the Arts Concert has given student groups the opportunity to celebrate the spirit of African-American performance.
This year’s concert will be 8 p.m. Nov. 5 in the IU Auditorium. At 8 p.m. today in the Teter Nest, the groups will have a sneak peak of the show. The ensembles will present a preview that includes their individual expressions of African-American music.
Olivia Thompson, a graduate student working with the event, said it is open to everyone across cultural groups and appeals to a wide range of musical tastes including spirituals, jazz and other forms of black contemporary music.
“The event is going to be very uplifting, encouraging and it’s family friendly,” Thompson said. “We invite people of all cultures and backgrounds to come.”
The performance features the African American Dance Company, the African American Choral Ensemble and the IU Soul Revue, each performing individually and as a larger group at the end.
The show is sponsored by the African American Arts Institute at IU.
“It’s nice to be part of such an important event on campus because it is backed by the administration and the president of IU-Bloomington,” Thompson said. “It’s going to move people and uplift people and make people forget about their problems temporarily and just make people feel good through the evening.”
After the preview shows Wednesday, students will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with the performers and enjoy free food.
The show offers an opportunity to celebrate black culture through the sharing of many musical genres. Thompson, a writer, editor and alumni assistant, said that is what she appreciates about the show as both a former patron and a now-member of the marketing arm.
“I’ve been once before, and I think basically the fact that it focuses on black genres and art forms is very different because there’s no other organization like that in Bloomington,” Thompson said.
The diversity of the performances and the notoriety of the performers make for an entertaining experience, Thompson said. Those working on the show have been working for a while to bring the vision to the stage.
“People should come out because the music and the dance and all of the performances are going to be very good,” Thompson said. “All of the groups are world-renowned. They have toured in Germany and different places around the world. All the students have to audition, and they all have a passion for the arts and fine arts.”
