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THE ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS OF
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PRESENTS
A ONE-NIGHT-ONLY HOLIDAY PERFORMANCE BY
GRAMMY AWARD WINNING A CAPPELLA GROUP
SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK®
“National Treasures” — First Lady Michelle Obama
December 11, 2009 at 8pm
Tickets $30 – $60
John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall
MIAMI, FL November 19, 2009 – For one night only, The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County presents HOLIDAYS WITH SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK, a joyful holiday concert with the Grammy Award winning a cappella group, SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK, at the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall. Tickets range from $30 to $60, and can be purchased now through the Adrienne Arsht Center Box Office at (305) 949-6722, or online at www.arshtcenter.org.
The internationally renowned all-woman, African-American a cappella ensemble SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK will perform an array of holiday songs celebrating various cultures, and original jubilant melodies with a universally celebrated voice of hope, love, justice, peace and resistance. Rooted in a deeply held commitment to create music out of the rich textures of African-American legacy and traditions, SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK possesses a stunning vocal prowess that captures the complex sound of Blues, spirituals, traditional gospel hymns, rap, reggae, African chants, Hip Hop, ancient lullabies and jazz improvisation. SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK’s collective voice, sometimes accompanied by hand percussion instruments, produces uniquely distinct soulful harmonies and intricate rhythms.
“As we approach that wonderful time of the year when we gather with loved ones to celebrate the holiday season, SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK brings inspirational messages and touching melodies for our South Florida community to relish in,” said M. John Richard, president and CEO of the Adrienne Arsht Center. “It will be an unforgettable night as the rich and vibrant voices of this Grammy award-winning African-American female a cappella ensemble take center stage.”
As part of their education and outreach activities while in Miami, the Arsht Center will present a free school performance of SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK for Miami-Dade County Public School students in the Knight Concert Hall on December 11, 2009 at 12 noon. In addition, each SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK show includes a sign language onstage interpreter, who performs as an integrated part of the group – making the experience inclusive and welcoming for deaf audiences in a way rarely experienced.
SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK’s unique name derives from Psalm 81:16, which delivers the promise of being fed by “honey out of the rock.” The metaphor of sweet honey in the rock reflects how the repertoire of this African American ensemble of women is steeped in the sacred music of the Black church, and insightful of the struggle for justice everywhere.
Earlier this year, SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK participated in a concert at the nation’s White House to honor “Black History Month” with 180 school children in attendance. First Lady Michelle Obama gushed that SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK is one of her “favorite groups in the whole wide world.”
The notable SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK group has enjoyed a longstanding career spanning almost four decades. The six ladies who currently make up this powerful ensemble include two of the founding members, Carol Maillard and Louise Robinson. SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK also showcases Ysaye Maria Barnwell, the creator of the widely-acclaimed workshop “Singing in the African American Tradition: Building a Vocal Community,” and Nitanju Bolade Casel, a finalist in the 2006 and 2007 International Songwriter’s Competition. In addition, Aisha Kahlil, who won the International Songwriting Competition with her song “The Jewel Light,” and Shirley Childress Saxton, considered among the best in the field of interpreting music into sign language, are part of the SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK cast. Singers Barnwell, Casel, Kahlil, and Maillard also appeared in the film “Beloved.”
In 2008-2009, SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK collaborated with noted choreographer Hope Boykin and provided original spiritual sounds and driving rhythms for the stirring and powerful, “GO IN GRACE,” theatrical piece that was featured as part of the national tour and 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The tour included performances in over 20 major cities, and included the release of the SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK musical soundtrack, GO IN GRACE, that also marked their 35th Anniversary as a performing ensemble. In 1989, SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK appeared on the Grammy Award winning album A Vision Shared: A Tribute to Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly. Since then, the ladies have been nominated for multiple Grammy nominations for albums such as Experience…101 and Sweet Honey In The Rock Live At Carnegie Hall.
CALENDAR LISTING
Adrienne Arsht Center presents
HOLIDAYS WITH SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK
“Their voices are all fabulous!” (Fort Worth Star Telegram)
The phenomenally popular African-American all-female vocal ensemble brings to Miami an inspirational and fun-for-the-entire-family holiday concert fusing the many warm and wonderful traditions that mark the end of the year. Celebrate their honey-dipped sounds, ranging from blues, spirituals, gospel, rap, and reggae to African chants, hip-hop, ancient lullabies, and jazz. SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK’s collective voice, sometimes accompanied by hand percussion instruments, produces soulful harmonies and intricate rhythms that will resound to the end of the year and well into the next.
December 11, 2009 at 8 p.m.
Knight Concert Hall
Adrienne Arsht Center
1300 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL 33132
Tickets $30 – $60
For tickets visit www.arshtcenter.org, or call the Box Office at (305) 949-6722.
A special TTY line is available for ticket purchase as well: (786) 468-2011.
Visit www.arshtcenter.org for up-to-date information for details and schedules.
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is made possible by the public support of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, and Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council. Education and Outreach is funded in part by The Children’s Trust. The Adrienne Arsht Center also receives generous support from private contributions to the Adrienne Arsht Center Foundation, Inc. through its Visionary Society membership program and its Encore Circle major gifts program; American Express Company; Arison Arts Foundation; Bank of America Charitable Foundation; City of Miami Omni Community Redevelopment Agency; Dade Community Foundation; Funding Arts Network; John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; Southern Arts Federation, The Cowles Charitable Trust; The Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation; the National Endowment for the Arts; and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Arts Council.
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About the Adrienne Arsht Center for Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County
The Adrienne Arsht Center for Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is Miami-Dade County’s largest ever public/private-sector partnership, comprised of an $150 million private capital campaign conducted by the Performing Arts Center Foundation and public funding drawn primarily from the County’s Convention Development Tax revenues, as well as the City of Miami Omni Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment Agency. Greatly enhancing the artistic and educational opportunities in South Florida, the Adrienne Arsht Center will have significant and long-term economic benefits for the city and the region.
The Adrienne Arsht Center, designed by world-renowned architect Cesar Pelli of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, includes the 2,400-seat Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House, the 2,200-seat John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall, a 200-seat black box Carnival Studio Theater, the Peacock Education Center, a restored Carnival Art Deco Tower, and the Parker and Vann Thomson Plaza for the Arts, which unites the Center buildings across Biscayne Boulevard, providing a magnificent setting for outdoor entertainment and informal gatherings. The key members of the design team include theater planning and design consultant Joshua Dachs of Fisher Dachs Associates, Inc. and acoustician Russell Johnson of ARTEC, Inc., both of whom worked on the project since its inception.
The Adrienne Arsht Center is a Miami venue not only for its three resident companies (Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet, and New World Symphony), but also for many smaller South Florida arts organizations that will perform in its theaters on a regular basis, as well as for the finest popular and classical performances from around the world. With state-of-the-art performance facilities in Miami for the first time, the Adrienne Arsht Center offers South Florida audiences the best and most diverse theater, music, and dance—with a dedication to entertain, challenge, and educate all segments of the community. For more information, visit www.arshtcenter.org