Harlem Stage Unites for Haiti With Free Outdoor Concert 7/17

"Konbit Pou Ayiti: Harlem Stage Unites for Haiti" is a free outdoor community event presented by Harlem Stage to celebrate Haitian culture through pan-Caribbean performances in music, dance, and spoken word. The five-hour event comprises activities for the whole family, including the building of a "Tower of Power" commemorative sculpture. A tribute to Bengi Jolicoeur, a dancer lost in the Haitian earthquake, is featured along with relief organizations who distributing information about ongoing efforts for the country and its people.

WHEN:
Sat., July 17, 2010. Gates open 4 p.m. with activities and DJ music. Performances 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

WHERE:
Bruce Paltrow Field at P.S. 161, located 134th Street at Amsterdam Avenue, adjacent to the Harlem Stage Gatehouse. Chairs not allowed on the field; guests are encouraged to bring blankets.

Event is free. Visit www.HarlemStage.org or call 212-281-9240, ext. 19 or 20 for information.

INFORMATION:
Harlem Stage - one of the country's premier presenters and producers of performances by artists of color - presents "Konbit Pou Ayiti: Harlem Stage Unites for Haiti" - a free outdoor community event featuring traditional and contemporary performing artists in dance, music, and poetry.

The concert features a headlining performance by Haitian songwriter and vocalist Emeline Michel ("Haiti's Reigning Queen of Song") with special guest violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain. Musical performances include: Haitian artist Mika Benjamin; Los Terrys, a family of Cuban musicians whose music reflects influences from Africa to Camaguey; singer Eddy Francois; Tabou Combo, the original ambassadors of Haitian music; and DJ Jephté Guillaume. Ase Dance Collective presents a special performance of "Libation" in tribute to Bengi Jolicoeur, one of Haiti's finest dancers who was lost in the January 2010 earthquake.

The event features activities for the whole family, including the interactive creation of a "Tower of Power" sculpture for Haiti. Attendees are encouraged to bring pictures of loved ones lost in the quake, add personal or handmade items to the altar-like tower, and create pictures and remembrances to add onsite. Other cultural aspects of the day include Haitian and pan-Caribbean cuisine, merchandise vendors, and relief organizations including Haitian Relief for Artists, distributing information about, and accepting donations for, ongoing relief efforts.
The Bruce Paltrow Field at P.S. 161 will be open from 4 p.m.-9 p.m. on concert day. The show begins at 5 p.m.

For more information visit www.HarlemStage.org or facebook.com/myharlemstage, or call 212-281-9240, ext. 19/20.

Target® is the lead sponsor for "Konbit Pou Ayiti: Harlem Stage Unites for Haiti." Additional support is provided by Ford Foundation Lead Support of "Inside/Out," Harlem Stage's performance series.

ABOUT Harlem Stage
Since its inception, Harlem Stage (formerly Aaron Davis Hall, Inc.) has earned a local, national, and international reputation for world-class programming and commissioning of new works. Established in 1979 as part of The City College of New York, the organization became an independent non-profit in 1983. Harlem Stage has hosted legendary artists such as Harry Belafonte, Max Roach, Bill Cosby, Abbey Lincoln, Maya Angelou, and Tito Puente. Its primary mission is to perpetuate the Harlem's contributions to American culture by presenting and supporting the development of new work and the work of emerging artists, providing educational opportunities to thousands of public school children each year, and connecting programs to the community's rich cultural traditions. Harlem Stage opened its new facility, the landmarked Gatehouse, in October 2006.

ABOUT TARGET®

Minneapolis-based Target Corporation serves guests at 1,699 stores nationwide and at Target.com. Target is committed to providing a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to unique and highly differentiated products at affordable prices. Since 1946, the corporation has given 5 percent of its income through community grants and programs like Take Charge of Education. Today, that giving equals more than $3 million a week.

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