LC New Brochure 2012

8/3/2019 LC New Brochure 2012

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African Diaspora Roots Culture

MusicDance

SpiritualityEducationSolidarity

Community-Building

Our vision is that every youth and adult of African Diaspora heritage will be

well-versed in at least one cultural arts tradition of his or her heritage and wield

their cultural art for personal wellness, community building, and social change.

Established 2005www.thelegacycircle.org 646-924-7187 All Rights Reserved.


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The Legacy Circle

c/o Manuela Arciniegas, 74 West 92 St. #14B, New York, NY 10025, Tel:

646.924.7187 Email: [email protected]:

www.thelegacycircle.org

Peace and Blessings be With You!

My name is Manuela Arciniegas, and I am the founder and director of The Legacy Circle,

an award winning cultural arts non-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the cultural

and artistic work of artists and educators from the African Diaspora. Founded in 2006

through a prestigious social justice fellowship from the NYU school of public leadership,

we provide healing and wellness opportunities, leadership development, and creative

expression through an exploration of African diaspora culture and art.

We are currently inviting collaborations for a variety of our programs, including

bookings for performances, workshops, teaching artist residencies, our adult Tuesday drum and

dance class, and our monthly womens drum circles. Our programs are run by professional and

top-level Afro-Caribbean performance companies and artists. Our vast network includes award-winning artists specializing in Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena, Haitian roots music, Dominican

Palos and Congos, Hip Hop, R&B and Soul singers, Latin Jazz, Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, and

much more.

Our educators and performers are highly trained traditional musicians and dancers

who've worked with youth in elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the 5 boroughs.

They hold more than 10 years experience working with youth and adults in the most diverse

communities of New York and have been extremely successful in helping people grow

artistically, culturally, academically, and socially. Our approach is to help youth and adults learn

about the contributions of Afro-Latino, African, and African-American culture in the Americas,

help audiences and participants identify their talents and aspirations, and enjoy learning and

performing the vibrant music and dance forms of our cultural heritage.Enclosed are presskits for our womens drum band, as well as the flyer for the monthly

drum cyphers and for our co-ed, Tuesday evening adult drum and dance classes. Please print

and share the attached flyer with your networks. In addition, we are currently booking

educational programs, workshops and performances with schools, non-profit organizations,

libraries, public and for-profit groups who welcome a fun and educational opportunity to

participate in our vibrant cultural arts. Whether you're looking to celebrate Black History or

Women's History Month, celebrate a birthday party, wedding, or staff party, please do not

hesitate to call.

Please let me know if you are interested or would like to connect us with someone who might be

interested in our work.

In art and spirit!

Manuela Arciniegas

Founder & Director,

PhD. Candidate in Ethnomusicology, City University of New York/The Graduate Center


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Table of Contents

1. About The Legacy Circle: pp.4

Mission, Strategy, Goals, Valuespp.5

2. Our Programs: pp.6

Teaching & Performance Artist Programs

Womens Monthly Drum Cypherspp.8

Sankofa Saturdayspp.9

Spirit Circlepp.10

Adult Drum & Dance Classespp.11

3. Staff Biographies: pp.12

Performance Groups15

To learn more about our programs,become a member, contact Manuela

Arciniegas, Director at:

Tel: 646-924-7187,

[email protected]

Join our Group Page, The Legacy Circle,

on Facebook, or visit our website:

www.thelegacycircle.org


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About The Legacy Circle

MissionThe Legacy Circle isdedicated to empowering African Diaspora youth and adults in New

York City through cultural arts education. Our goal is to awaken young people and

adults to their identity as African descendants and their legacy as leaders.

Our Strategy involves Education, Art, Community Building, and

Activism.

We provide workshops, organize events,

lectures and presentations on Afro-Caribbean

traditional music & dance that bring artists,

youth and community members together to

learn, practice, and honor our ancestral

cultural legacy. Our workshops are aimed at

helping people gain knowledge of themselves

and tap into their personal power to heal

themselves and others.

Our Annual Goals are to:1) Build a new cadre of practitioners of

traditional music,

2) Build solidarity & sense of community

between people of African descent

3) Build skills and knowledge ofparticipants to heal ourselves and take

care of each other through our culture and

spirit.

Our Organizational StructureWe are a series of collectively run Circles

headed by Chiefs who manage and

support volunteers to enact our mission and fulfill our goals.


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Our Values

1. Spirit- Everything is connected and everything has an innate life force. Our spiritual

belief systems honor and protect our interconnectedness. We honor our ancestors and

their spiritual and medicinal practices because they fought to protect our traditions and

ensure our survival. We believe in putting spirit at the forefront of our work and our

actions.

2. Community: We value community and resist isolation and individualism.Culture

brings people together and can teach us how to take care of each other. Our community

celebrates our interconnectedness and cooperative work.

3. Creativity & Art: Our creativity is our stamp of uniqueness and divinity.

Unleashing our creative force allows us to strengthen our intuition. Creativity also

allows us to heal from the silence and violence we have faced, rediscover joy and

expression, and articulate new solutions.

4. People Development: We support the development

of all people, including youth and women, because we

recognize that the most marginalized voices are needed to

lead our community.

5. Resistance: We believe in our legacy as warriors and

our power to resist domination, colonialism, capitalism,

racism, sexism, and all forms of oppression. We resist

through continuing to practice our culture even if our

environment may be at times hostile to it.

6. Leadership: We believe in women-centered

leadership, youth-centered leadership, and the leadership

of upstanding, honorable, humble and humane men of

color. We believe that by developing practitioners who become future teachers of our

tradition, our culture will never die.

7. Culture: Our culture allows us to teach the values and practice the behaviors that

can create a healthier, more humane, more harmonious world. Through our culture we

create a sense of belonging, of interconnectedness to each other, and a way of being thatrestores vitality to our spirit and well-being to our community.


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Our Programs

Educational Programs

The Legacy Circle

collaborates with schools

and after-school

programs to educate

youth about the music,

dance, and visual arts of

the African Diaspora.

Our organization is

committed to helping

youth and adults unleash

their latent talents

through exploring their

culture of origin and theleadership and

contributions of people

of African descent in the

Americas.

Our educators are highly trained traditional musicians and dancers who've worked with

youth in elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the 5 boroughs. They hold

more than 10 years experience working with youth in the most under-served

communities and have been extremely successful in helping the youth grow artistically

and socially, which has in turn supported their academic growth. Our approach is to

help young people identify their talents and aspirations, and connect to the history of

inspirational leaders of their respective cultural backgrounds.

Teaching Artist Residencies and Workshops

The Legacy Circle provides workshops to

youth, parents, and teachers during daytime,

afterschool and evening programs by

collaborating with service providers and

public and private schools and organizations.

Our cultural arts education work explores the

connections between African Americans and

Latinos, our legacy as leaders and positive

contributors to our community, increased

self-esteem and positive youth development

through the arts.


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The academic benefits of our cultural arts programs are expansive. Our tailor-made

curriculums integrate Social Studies/World History, English Language Arts/English

Language Learners, and Spanish academic subjects. Our past collaborators include

Middle School 8 in Jamaica, Queens, P.S. 62 in the Bronx, Validus Prep, Bronx Charter

School for the Arts, Urban Assembly Academy, Eagle Academy, and various others. The

New York State Council of the Arts has recognized and awarded our educational work,

as have various principles and organizations who have seen first-hand the power andvalue of our educational work. To see a video of our educational programs, please visit:

Performances for youth, adults, and families

Whether its a celebration for Black History or Hispanic Heritage Month, an interactive

discussion and demonstration on the connections between African American and Latino

youth, an exploration of African Diaspora Culture in the Americas, or birthday

celebration or a holiday staff party, our educational and entertaining performances

always bring joy to a variety of audiences. We are a not-for-profit 502 (c )-3 organization

and can be hired through a licensed Department of Education vendor.

Whether at a cultural festival, a professional performance at Lincoln Center, or a private

birthday party, our diverse artists and performers quickly move any crowd to learn,

celebrate, sing and dance in our interactive and ancestral drumming and dance.


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Monthly Womens Drum Cyphers

Every month, women of African descent gather in a female-only, safe and relaxing space

where they share resources, to make music, dance, meditate, and put their collective

energies to solving urgent problems they face as women in this society. Our monthly

revitalizing drum cyphers are meant to foster continued growth and leadership of

women, cultivating their power as leaders, their connection to community and eachother, and their access to traditional roots culture. Hosted on the second Saturday of the

month at the Dominican Womens Development Center at 609 West 179th Street from 3-

5pm, women and girls are all welcome!


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Sankofa Saturdays: Monthly Educational Event & Concert

Hosted at the avant-garde Bruckner Art Gallery in the South Bronx, Sankofa

Saturdays presents workshops, film screenings, and concerts by contemporary and roots

emerging and established artists from the African Diaspora. Dedicated to helping

promote solidarity between people of African descent, the event encourages us to all

Sankofa, the Akan word from Ghana encouraging us to go back (into the past) and getit. Usually a magical night featuring a film screening, a lecture or workshop, followed by

an electrifying performance, Sankofa Saturdays have featured New York Citys best

conscious and inspiring roots and contemporary performers. Past artists include

Mahina Movement, The Welfare Poets, Alkebulan, Storm, Alma Moyo, Kalunga Neg

Mawon, Kumba Carey, Bodoma Garifuna, 809 ladies, and many others.


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Spirituality Circle

Our spirituality circle seeks to introduce & educate people of African descent about

African Diaspora traditional belief systems and their historical contributions to the

Americas. Every year we host an educational conference entitled Mayombe: Which Craft?The goal of

the event is to highlight the nourishing cultural and spiritual elements ofPalo Mayombe,

Santeria, Vodoun, and other sacred African Diaspora traditions. The discussion will take adeep look at the role and responsibilities of thePalero healer in our society. It will also spark a

more critical conversation about witchcraft (wanga) and the power of a Palero. Panelists will

challenge the bias and myths aroundPalo Mayombe as purely a religion of negative magic. We

aim to foster increased awareness around Bantu-Kongo traditional teachings and their potential

to heal community while restoring human balance to each other and mother nature. Presenters

have included the world's leading scholar on Bantu Kongo philosophy, Tata Fukiau Bunseki,

and New York Citys legendaryPalero (a traditional healer/priest knowledgeable in the ways of

plants and herbs from the Cuban-Kongo derivedPalo Mayombe tradition)--Florencio Miguel

Garzon, otherwise known as Loanganga Bejuco Nfinda. world famous drummerAnthony

Carrillo, and high priestAlexander LaSalle.


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Adult Ancestral Dance/Drum Classes on Tuesday Nights

For the past 4 years, The Legacy Circle has been cultivating the next generation of

drummers and dancers of Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba and Afro-Dominican palos, salves,

congos, and Haitian rara. Our weekly adult drum and dance classes include hands-on

instruction in the sacred roots traditions essential to our culture, and they also include

discussions on the philosophical and historical components of these sacred traditions.Classes are offered at affordable fees and they are open to adults and teens.


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Staff Biographies

Manuela Arciniegas (drummer, dancer, founder,

director) founded The Legacy Circle in 2005 through the

Social Justice Fellowship awarded to her by NYUs

Wagner School of Public Leadership. She is a PhD

candidate for Ethnomusicology at the City University of

New Yorks Graduate Center. Manuela graduated from

Harvard University in 2001 and since then has been

working in education, cultural arts, and community

organizing. She was the former director of Education for

the Caribbean Cultural Center/African Diaspora

Institute, where she coordinated over 100 arts education

programs citywide managing a budget of close to

$500,000. Manuela has been performing and teaching

Afro-Puerto Rican and Afro-Dominican music with various troupes around New York City, including Yaya

All-Womens Drumming Troupe, Alma Moyo, La 21

Division, Kumba Carey, Grupo Kalunga Neg Mawon,

Nchila Ngoma, William Cepedas Afro-Boricua, and

many others. Manuela has worked as a foundation officer

with the Active Element Foundation, a community organizer with Sustainable South Bronx, and

a school business manager with the NYC Department of Education alternative school district

79s Suspensions Program.

Alexander LaSalle, (singer, drummer) is the

founder/director of Alma Moyo, a music and danceensemble dedicated to the preservation and continuation

of Puerto Ricos artistic and cultural heritage , especially

Bomba. He is one of the best young drummers and

singers in the Bomba tradition. In addition, LaSalle is

considered one of the top young scholars/historians of

the musical traditions of the Caribbean and United

States, as well as Kongo traditions in the Americas. He

has presented at lectures and demonstrations at Yale

University, Columbia University, New York University,

Lincoln Center, Heritage Jazz Center in New Orleans.

Alex has been a teaching artist since 2001, working

through arts education organizations such as Harlem

School of the Arts, Caribbean Cultural Center, Citylore,

Free Arts NYC, and has taught children grades K-12 at

over 25 public schools in the Bronx, Queens, and

Manhattan.


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Julia Gutierrez-Rivera, (dancer, drummer) is

one of New York Citys premier Bomba and Plena

dance instructors, performing and teaching with

Grammy Nominated group Los Pleneros de la 21,

Inc. in New York City, Puerto Rico, Texas, Berlin,

and various other locations. She has been teaching

since with Alma Moyo and Los Pleneros de la 21, Inc,

and performing with groups such as Bambula, Papo

Vazquez and Los Piratas, and William Cepedas Afro-

Boricua, Citylore, Caribbean Cultural Center/African

Diaspora Institute, Arts Horizon, at P.S. 11, P.S. 62,

P.S. 78, and JHS 008. Julia has been performing

since she was a child and is a candidate for a Masters

from the Milano School of Non-Profit Management.

Julia was the former director of Association of

Hispanic Arts and is currently the program

coordinator for Los Pleneros de la 21, Inc.

Genaro Ozuna was an integral member of the prestigious

Dominican National Ballet Company founded by Fradique

Lizardo, specializing in the traditional music and dance of

Dominican Republic. He studied dramatic arts in the Bellas

Artes School, and graduated from the University of Artes

Plasticas of Puerto Rico with a specialization in Arts Education.

Genaro has been teaching students grades K-12 in NYC public

schools through the National School and Community Forum and

the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute at P.S.

152, PS 210/21st Century Academy, New Day Academy,

Hermanas Mirabal Community School, and various others. He

has performed dance with all of New Yorks Afro-Dominican

musical groups including Grupo Kalunga Neg Mawon, Kumba

Carey, La 21 Division, Asa Dife, and various others.


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Performance Group Biographies

The Legacy Circle Women's DrumCypher is an all-women's traditional musicalgroup rooted in Afro-Dominican and Afro-Puerto Rican traditions. Our women are the

next generation of NYC's most gifteddrummers, singers, and dancers of Afro-Caribbean music, including Palos, Congos, Salves, Bomba and Plena, the Afro-Indigenous roots music of the Caribbean. Ourgroup makes music that celebrates the fiery,nurturing, defiant, yet wise touch thatmujeres (women) have. We recognize that wepossess feminine power that holds up ourcommunity, and honor the immensecontributions women make everyday. Our

performances are only part of our process of building sisterhood with each other andimbuing our audiences with joy and strength. Featuring original and traditional songs,our sultry and booming vocals, precision drumming and expressive dance encourageseveryone to raise their voice and celebrate our heritage!

809 Ladies was founded by Mireya Ramos, a gifted violinist and vocalist hailing from Puerto Rico withMexican and Dominican Roots. The band features adiverse group of women who are on the cutting edge of

fusing original songs with the traditional rhythms of LaBella Quisqueya, including Bachata, Merengue, and salsaas well. They have performed at Havana Room, 809 Bar,and various venues throughout New York.

Alma Moyo Afro-Puerto Rican Music Group was bornin 2002 at a lively drum jam session at La Casita deChema, a community garden in the South Bronx.Founded by Alex LaSalle from Moca, Puerto Rico, AlmaMoyo is an intergenerational crew of Puerto Ricans andDominicans who promote the diverse regional drum andvocal styles of Bomba with a Caribbean-blues sentiment.Illegal throughout parts of Puerto Rico as recently as the1940s, Alma Moyos Bomba is laden with revolutionarydefiance, sorrowful lament, and therapeutic chanting.Alma Moyo pays homage to the rich contributions of Ayitito BOMBA and to Africans in the Americas.


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Grupo Kalunga Neg Mawon is amusical dance ensemble that consists ofmembers who have spent most of theirlives researching and studying Africanculture in the Americas. Their aim is topreserve aspects of African tradition and

identity existing in QuisqueyaAyiti,known today as the Dominican Republicand The Republic of Haiti. They use thename Kalunga to highlight the Congolesecultural aspects retained inDominican/Haitian culture andthroughout the African Diaspora of thewestern hemisphere, such as Cuba, PuertoRico, etc. Kalunga is a Goddess of theCongolese people known also as theMuntu-Bantu or Bakongo. She is the

universal cosmos, the great bang from which all life originated, including thedepths of the seas and the oceans. Kalunga also represents a time when Congoleseculture was dominated by a matriarchal system where women played a prominent rolein society. Neg Mawon translates into Black Maroonsthose who fought against slavery,many of whom were Congolese descendants like Sebastian Lemba. They use the termNeg Mawon to symbolize our resistance against slavery and colonialism in a struggle tomaintain and develop our African identity against overwhelming odds.

Bodoma Garifuna Band Speaking of Carlos

Norales; is speaking of a humble, simple andtalented young singer and drummer crihoyoGarifuna culture, which through his music, connectsthe youth with the ancestral and beyond. He wasborn in November 1974, on a ship named Kety SantaFe, which was facing the Bay of La Ceiba and wasfull of passengers including his mother who wastraveling from Puerto Cortes to Santa Fe Colon inHonduras. Their music is a testament to the richand healing African drums of the Garifuna people.

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