Potpourri brings variety of traditions

R. Kelley songs, spirituals and dances will be performed at the African American Arts Institute's A Potpourri of Arts in the African American Tradition at 8 p.m. Saturday evening at the IU Auditorium. All three branches of the AAAI -- IU Soul Revue, African American Choral Ensemble and African American Dance Company -- will perform separately before a finale with all three groups performing to contemporary music by R. Kelley. \nThe 11th annual Potpourri will also kick-off the 30th anniversary of the AAAI said Director Charles Sykes. It also coincides with the Association for Black Culture Centers conference which is starting Thursday and continuing through Sunday mourning.\n"The Potpourri and the ABCC were scheduled on the same weekend by coincidence," Sykes said. "As it turns out, the Potpourri will be the featured event of the Conference."\nThe ABCC is holding a "step show" tonight at 8:30 at Alumni Hall, and the winner will also perform in the Potpourri. The contest will primarily feature black fraternities and sororities showcasing their talents said AAAI Assistant Director Angela Sharfenberger.\nThe IU Soul Revue will commence the program, as it predated the AAAI, the choral ensemble and dance company by three years as it was founded in 1971. IU Soul Revue will be performing five songs of rhythm & blues, soul and funk performed by Patti LaBelle and others. It consists of eight vocalist, four horns and a seven-member rhythm section. According to Sykes, these three styles of music evolved in chronological order starting after World War II. As all three forms of music have seen their heydays as pop music in the 1940s through 1970s, it is appropriate for them to be featured by the AAAI.\n"Soul music is an expression of African American culture," Sykes said.\nAfter the soul revue concert, the African American Dance Company will perform next with two pieces. The first will be choreographed by guest performer Modeste "Athobob" Douonign, who is from the Ivory Coast. According to the program, the dance will tell a story of an African village fighting to protect itself from an evil force. Iris Rosa said working with someone from a foreign land is a good experience for the students.\n"Working with Modeste has given the students a chance to study traditional culture, music and history," Rosa said.\nShe is choreographing the second piece title "Roots, Grounded, Manifested" which will be a general study of metamorphosis. All of the dancers in the company will be dancing in both pieces.\nThe African American Choral Ensemble will follow with five songs of various genres. They will start out with music by Undine Smith-Moore, a black composer. The choral will also perform spirituals which is the music that slaves and post-abolition black citizens used to deal with their hardships. James Mumford the director ensemble is excited to share music that the audience is not accustomed to hearing.\n"There is so much beautiful black music besides Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, and that sort of thing," Mumford said.\nBefore the finale, the winner of the AABC Step Show will perform.\nAs the finale of the show will feature all three parts of the AAAI, it will be showcasing much entertainment for the audience. It will also be a great opportunity for the performers involved.\n"The performers in the three branches do their own thing," Sykes said. "But hardly get to interact throughout the year. Playing together will one of the highlights of the year for them."\nTickets for the show are available at the IU Auditorium box office or through Ticketmaster. For more information contact Angela Scharfenberger at 855-5427. \n-- Contact staff writer Benjames Derrick at bderrick@indiana.edu.