The Kimmel Center Celebrates Black History Month
February 1, 2003
Urban Tap Artistic Director Tamango
Kimmel Center Presents:
Garth Fagan Dance
Friday, January 31, 7:30pm
Saturday, February 1, 7:30pm
Sunday, February 2, 2:30pm
Perelman Theater
To kick off the month, the vibrant Garth Fagan Dance company will surprise and delight audiences during three performances in The Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater. The Tony Award-winning choreographer of Broadway’s The Lion King, Garth Fagan draws on Native American Indian, African and his own native Jamaican influences for his latest work Translation Transition.
Free in the Plaza!
Kala JoJo
Saturday, February 8, Noon
Commonwealth Plaza
Audiences of all ages will be enthralled by Kala JoJo as he performs traditional African folktales, poetry, praise songs, personal stories and historical narratives on the Commonwealth Plaza stage. Weaving songs and chants born of world African heritage into stories of healing, conflict and side-splitting humor, JoJo’s sensitive, interactive compositions inevitably give his listeners something to think about.
Free in the Plaza!
Monnette Sudler Quartet
Sunday, February 9, Noon
Commonwealth Plaza
Concentrating in blues guitar and vocals, this Philadelphia-born artist has played with many of the all-time jazz greats, such as Hugh Masakela, Gerald Veasly, Philly Joe Jones, Grover Washington, Jr., Freddie Hubbard, and Kenny Baron. The quartet has performed throughout Europe and the United States, including appearances at the Newport Jazz Festival, the Mellon Jazz Festival and the Berlin Jazz Festival.
Free in the Plaza!
Denise King
Wednesday, February 12, 5pm
Commonwealth Plaza
This "sultry lady of song" started singing in 1985 and has since performed in Paris, Japan, Turkey and Germany to standing room only and sold-out crowds. Her flexibility and phrasing show a sincere appreciation for gospel, blues and R&B, as she performs songs in the style of Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald.
Free in the Plaza!
Traci Hall & Co.
Saturday, February 22, Noon
Commonwealth Plaza
Local favorite Traci Hall & Co. dance ensemble brings a multifaceted, multicultural performance back to theCommonwealth Plaza stage. Originally founded in 1994, the company includes dancers between the ages of 6 and 18. With innovative choreography and high energy, Traci Hall & Co. pushes audiences’ expectations of dance for children while delighting spectators of all ages.
Free in the Plaza!
Walter Bell
Wednesday, February 26, 5pm
Commonwealth Plaza
Local jazz flute virtuoso Walter Bell is one of thefew jazz musicians to play the flute exclusively. Bell says, "The flute is the closest instrument to the human voice. I can make the instrument laugh, cry, or dance."
Kimmel Center Presents:
Urban Tap
Friday, February 28, 7:30pm
Saturday, March 1, 7:30pm
Sunday, March 2, 2:30pm
Perelman Theater
Closing out the month will be Urban Tap making its Kimmel Center debut in the Perelman Theater. Imagine a blend of hip-hop and tap, throw in some stiltwalkers, colorful costumes and lots of percussion, mix Caribbean with New York City street influence and top it all off with a multi-media presentation and you get a sense of the show that is Urban Tap’s Full Cycle.
Commonwealth Plaza performances are free and open to the public. For a complete listing of free Commonwealth Plaza performances visit the Kimmel Center’s Web site at www.kimmelcenter.org.
Tickets for Garth Fagan and Urban Tap are $30 & $42. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org or at The Kimmel Center Box Office at Broad and Spruce Streets. For group sales call 215-790-5883.
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