Feature: Urban Souls Dance Company Presents the AFRICAN AMERICAN DANCE FESTIVAL: AND STILL WE DANCE

"Black History Month provides an incredible opportunity to honor, remember, and enjoy the contributions of African Americans in our various fields," says Harrison Guy, founder and artistic director of Urban Souls Dance Company and this weekend's inaugural AFRICAN AMERICAN DANCE FESTIVAL: AND STILL WE DANCE.

"I did not want to miss this opportunity to celebrate the achievements of African American dancers, choreographers, and dance teachers [and] students."

It is an opportunity Guy takes seriously, saying that he is most excited about honoring the festival's featured guests. Friday's program will focus on the youth, with dancers from performing art schools and youth dance ensembles, and will honor Josephine Macklin, who has taught dance in HISD since 1981. Saturday's program will bring an eclectic mix of professional performances from companies and artists around the area and a tribute to Sherese Campbell, the Artistic Director of Houston City Dance, and dancers Rachel Eckroth and Vincent James. "These are all dancers, choreographers, and teachers who made a significant contribution to the field of dance, and deserve to be honored!"

Guy says that he curated the festival with the black experience and black expression in mind. The two-day festival will showcase performances from Houston City Dance, Statements Dance Company, Hope Stone, Met Dance, and two works by Urban Souls Dance Company including Black Birds, choreographed by Guy.

Black Birds was inspired by Janet Baker, the mother of Jordan Baker, an unarmed, 26-year-old Houston Community College student who was shot and killed by a Houston police officer in January 2014. "Black Birds is a piece that honors mothers who have lost their children to violence. It takes a look at how they are often not allowed to grieve and are immediately thrust into the activist role."

AND STILL WE DANCE certainly has a socially conscious, community building focus as on Saturday morning Guy says "the youth will take class together, have lunch together while learning about the past, present, and future of blacks in dance, and then they will see the professional showcase together as a group."

"As they make new dance friends and build community, they will also learn more about how blacks in dance have helped to add to the vibrancy of the arts and dance."

Don't miss Urban Souls Dance Company's inaugural AFRICAN AMERICAN DANCE FESTIVAL: AND STILL WE DANCE this weekend, February 25, 26, and 27, at The Match, 3400 Main Street. For more information, call 713-521-4533 or visit www.urbansouls.org.

Photo Credit: Ben Doyle

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