Tonight at South Middle School in Aurora, the Denver- based nonprofit Celebration of Children hosts an evening of music, dance and spoken- word performances.
The “Summer Illuminate: Dance Smashup” will be a two-hour event to raise funds and awareness for the Pay It Forward project, another area nonprofit that promotes small businesses and community building.
“We can help bring awareness to a local nonprofit while giving local artists an opportunity to perform,” says Naomi Foster, founder and creative director of Celebration of Children, a youth arts organization. “It’s all in the spirit of giving and giving back.”
Celebration of Children has a roster of local artists and groups that donate time and talents in the spirit of community outreach.
“Our main goal is to provide an outlet for people who have these gifts and can sing or dance,” Foster says. “The secondary goal is community service for organizations who can’t afford to pay for an artist at a fundraising event.”
With street-sytle dance performances interspersed with spoken-word and gospel groups, tonight’s lineup is an artistic melting pot. The schedule includes hip-hop artist Hancock, street-style dance crew Melodi Movement and spiritual dancer Aveechayil.
The 50+ Denver Delta Divas also will take the stage to for a stepping performance, or a percussive, African-rooted dance style that includes stomping, clapping and spoken word.
“Just about every African- American sorority or fraternity has a step crew,” says Foster. “But these ladies really know how to hold their own for being 50 and over.”
For many artists, the chance to perform on stage provides an outlet for personal expression, but for Michael Hancock — a.k.a. rapper and singer Hancock — taking the stage has a larger meaning.
“I want to show kids a different way to use their time and talents,” Hancock says, “and hopefully stay away from the streets and gangs.”
Foster hopes that when tonight’s audience sees others embracing the arts, children especially will be inspired to explore their own talents. “This teaches young people the importance of being yourself, and getting a sense of accomplishment just because you got up there, and you did it,” she says.
