Harlem Rhythm, preserving the culture while promoting community pride
Leader
Alicia James
Location
85 Bradhurst Ave Harlem, NY 10039
Harlem Rhythm 2nd Annual Community Dance is an inter-generational cultural and educational event.
This year the event will be held at the River Bank State from 12-5PM. The annual event promotes community mental wellness, cultural heritage, community pride through genres of music and free dance instruction. The event is an opportunity for Harlem residents and guest of each generation opporttunity to engage and learn from one another.
The community will be introduced to various genres of music and four different dance forms: Swing Dance, Salsa, Chicago Steppin' and Afro Dance. The selected dances were chosen to make Harlem residents of all ages feel included. Each dance instruction focuses on a time period, certain generation and or culture. With each genre of music and choice of dance welcomes individual shared stories, life experiences and fitness fun.
The day will also be a resource day for the community. Invitations for tabling were sent to various nonprofits, government agencies and local businesses who serve the Harlem community. In partnering this year with the River Bank State Park will provide attendees activities and information about their resources.
Our goal is to make this Annual Community Dance a succesful and memorable cultural learning experience for years to come for all of Harlem residents.
We are aware of the many changes in the Harlem community and the importance to preserve it's rich culture and celebrate community pride. Harlem has a large senior community and they are it's greatest resource for it's younger generations. With all the many changes there is a need for innovative ways to promote and preserve Harlem's rich history and culture. Harlem is historically known as the great distination for black culture, arts and creative self expression, we want to preserve it's legacy.
Our goal is to create an annual educational and cultural Harlem experience in which each generation can gain from each other. The event would provide an opportunity to keep Harlem's rich culture and history a live for generations to come. Each engagement can provide teachable moments for the entire community to embrace each other and it's culture.
We are aware of the decline in the interest in certian music and dance forms as well as knowledge about Harlem's history and cultural landmarks. We are committed to preserving and promoting the "rhyhm of Harlem" for years to come through cultrual and educational community engagements.