Rennie Harris Puremovement, Ladysmith Black Mambazo & More Set for Ordway in February

The Target World Music and Dance Series at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts presents three distinctive performances in February. The month kicks off on Feb 7 at 7:30 pm with hip-hop powerhouse RENNIE HARRIS PUREMOVEMENT. World-renowned, 2013 Grammy Award-nominated Ladysmith Black Mambazo follows on Feb 9 at 7:30 pm and Afro-Caribbean songstress MARIA DE BARROS brings a dance party to the Ordway on Feb 19 at 7:30 pm.

Rennie Harris Puremovement (RHPM)
Friday, February 7, 2014
7:30pm
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
Tickets: $23

Critically-acclaimed RHPM's bold, original hip-hop work encompasses rich and diverse African-American traditions of the past while simultaneously presenting the voice of a new generation. Rennie Harris, a North Philadelphia native, founded RHPM more than 20 years ago based on the belief that hip-hop is the most important original expression of a new generation, with the unique ability to express universal themes that extend beyond racial, religious, and economic boundaries.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Sunday, February 9, 2014
7:30pm
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
Tickets: $23

For more than 50 years, the voices of Ladysmith Black Mambazo have married the intricate rhythms and harmonies of their native South African musical traditions to the sounds and sentiments of gospel music. The result is a musical and spiritual alchemy that has touched a worldwide audience representing every corner of the religious, cultural and ethnic landscape. In the mid-1980s, Paul Simon visited South Africa and incorporated Black Mambazo's rich tenor/alto/bass harmonies into his "Graceland" album-a landmark 1986 recording that was considered seminal in introducing world music to mainstream audiences.

Maria de Barros
Opener: Havana Hi-Fi
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
7:30pm
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
Tickets: $23

Chanteuse Maria de Barros was deeply influenced by Cape Verde's most recognized artist, Cesária Évora (the barefoot diva) but de Barros' sounds extend beyond the morna tradition. Her music travels through countries dense with culture, picking up pieces of each along the way, combining distinct inflections of Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean, France and Spain, while allowing the tradition and culture of Cape Verde to permeate. Local Minneapolis group Havana Hi-Fi opens the show with their unique Latin sound focusing on the beautiful era of old Havana.

"February is packed with performances that showcase the Ordway's unparalleled World Music and Dance series," said Dayna Martinez, Artistic Director of World Music and Dance. "From hip-hop to a cappella to Latin dance rhythms, these performances bring talent from the different pockets of the world to celebrate their vibrant art and culture."