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African drummer, dancer Titos Sompa to perform with African Drum Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble
Jackson Community College’s African Drum Ensemble and Jazz
Ensemble will welcome guest artist Titos Sompa, world famous African dancer and
drummer from the Republic of Congo, to perform in a special concert entitled “Highlife,” at
8 p.m. Thursday, April 16 in the Michael
Baughman Theater, Potter Center.
“Highlife” is the Afro-pop music of Ghana and other regions of West Africa. In this concert, the JCC African Drum Ensemble will perform several traditional dance pieces accompanied by Sompa, and then the Jazz Ensemble will then play several jazz selections. For the last segment of the concert, the two ensembles will combine to perform Highlife music, again accompanied by the exciting dance of Sompa. This marks the first time these two groups have presented a formal concert together, and the first time they’ve welcomed an authentic African dancer/performer. Both ensembles are directed by Associate Professor Ronald L. Douglass, who traveled to Ghana for nearly two weeks in 2008 to study African music and culture.
Titos Sompa is a renowned dancer, choreographer and musician, noted especially as a master Congolese drummer, percussionist and kalimba player. He utilizes his multiple talents to make known and keep alive Congolese musical and cultural traditions. He founded the first Congolese dance company in America, Tanawa Dance Company, and in 1988 founded the Mbongi Dance Theatre Project, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to advancing and celebrating the cultural arts of Africa, especially music and dance of the Congo.
Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind musical and dance experience! Tickets are just $5 and may be purchased from the Potter Center Ticket Office, 517.796.8600, or at the door.
