Author Archives: Pompano Beach Cultural Center

Pompano Beach Arts Music Series Welcomes Live Audiences – Allan Harris and Leesa Richards Take the Stage at Pompano Beach Cultural Center

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department is excited to welcome back live audiences to the Pompano Beach Cultural Center for the remaining concerts in the Pompano Beach Arts Music Series. July's concert features jazz great Allan Harris and August showcases soulful songstress Leesa Richards.

Both events will be hosted by popular D.J. Tamara G. of WLYF 101.5. Tickets are $15, at http://www.pompanobeacharts.org/programs/music-series or at www.ticketmaster.com.

Tickets will not be available at the box office and there will be no walk-ups.

"We are thrilled to open our doors to patrons once again," said Phyllis Korab, Cultural Affairs Director. "We have all been looking forward to this moment for some time now, and these concerts are the perfect way to celebrate the return of live music, with a live audience, at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center."

There will be limited in-person seating for these concerts and the City requests that all guests not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 wear a mask inside any City facility.

July 17, 2021 | 8 PM Premiere

Allan Harris "the Jazz Vocal King of New York" hosted by Tamara G of WLYF 101.5

Allan Harris performs songs from his new release "Kate's Soulfood," plus Jazz Standards from the Great American Songbook.

Ever since he burst on the jazz scene in the latter part of the twentieth century, The Brooklyn-born, Harlem-based vocalist/guitarist/bandleader/composer Allan Harris has reigned supreme as the most accomplished and exceptional singer of his generation. Aptly described by the Miami Herald as an artist blessed with, "the warmth of Tony Bennett, the bite and rhythmic sense of Sinatra, and the sly elegance of Nat 'King' Cole," the ample and aural evidence of Harris' moving and magisterial artistry can be heard on his fourteen recordings as a leader; his far-flung and critically-acclaimed concerts around the world, from Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, and Washington DC's Kennedy Center, to the 2012 London Olympics, and many prestigious bookings in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

August 21, 2021 | 8pm Premiere

Leesa Richards hosted by Tamara G of WLYF 101.5

This soulful songstress will mesmerize you with her renditions of popular and timeless music, she sings with a core-resonating soulfulness that draws you in and allows you to experience the songs as a participant instead of a spectator.

A singer-songwriter, Leesa is a storyteller, a soulful voice offering a soundtrack to the narratives of life. The Detroit native's sound taps into the deep roots of soul and the poetry of jazz.

She has performed with a slate of powerhouse artists including Faith Hill, Whitney Houston, The Bee Gees, Gloria Estefan, Jon Secada, Julio Iglesias and Oleta Adams and has recorded backing vocals for Barbra Streisand and Lenny Kravitz. Her debut solo album, Mother's Child, is a rich blend of soulful ballads, rock and R&B showcases her gifts as a songwriter.

She began honing her vocal chops with soul greats Gerald Austin and Peabo Bryson and contemporary soul maverick Dionne Farris. Her first world tour was as a dancer with legendary singer Whitney Houston after which she combined her love for music and dance to earn the role of Mary Magdalene in the national tour of the Broadway musical, "Jesus Christ Superstar," earning critical acclaim which led to featured performances throughout the US and Europe.

Special thanks to our music series' sponsors WLRN Radio and The Marriott Resort Fort Lauderdale/Pompano Beach.

About the City of Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department

The mission of the Cultural Affairs Department is to provide cultural programming that includes visual arts, digital media, music, film, theater, dance and public art for the enjoyment and enrichment of residents and visitors to Pompano Beach, Broward County, and the greater South Florida area. The department programs and manages the City's premiere cultural arts venues including the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, Ali Cultural Arts Center, Bailey Contemporary Arts Center, and the Blanche Ely House Museum. The department also oversees the City's Public Art Program and the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts' Our Town grant awarded to the Pompano Beach Crossroads place-making arts initiative.

Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department is excited to welcome back live audiences to the Pompano Beach Cultural Center for the remaining concerts in the Pompano Beach Arts Music Series. July's concert features jazz great Allan Harris and August showcases soulful songstress Leesa Richards.

Related link: http://www.ccpompano.org/

Pompano Beach Arts presents Exit 36 Slam Poetry Festival

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department is proud to present the 3rd Annual Exit 36 Slam Poetry Festival, an enriching and entertaining showcase of the best local and national spoken word artists and writers. While poets will be competing live at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center from December 10-12, due to COVID-19, the festival will be live streamed to the public.

The preliminary and final bouts are $10 each, in addition there will be free virtual artist talks and workshops that require registration to receive the links. An all-access virtual pass is $25.

For tickets, registration and details, visit http://www.pompanobeacharts.org/exit36.

"We are thrilled to broadcast some of the best slam poets in the country to a national audience via our virtual platforms," said Phyllis Korab, Cultural Affairs Director. "The Exit 36 Slam Poetry Festival is an entertaining and inspiring event, featuring 15 acclaimed poets sharing their authentic selves as they battle it out for the top prize."

The first prize winner will receive $2,500, second prize is $1,500 and third prize is $1,000. The prizes are generously underwritten by the Pompano Beach Arts Foundation.

This year's competitors include:

Alex Tha Great from Dallas, TX; Meccamorphosis from Baltimore, MD; Ed Mabrey from Los Angeles, CA; Ninel Ninel from Atlanta, GA; Jahman Hill from Birmingham, AL; Lady Brion from Baltimore, MD; Ephraim Nehemiah from Baltimore, MD; Aleathia "GG" Dupree from Orlando, FL; Blacqwildflowr from Tampa, FL; Jonkel from Miami, FL; Charles Hines fromTampa, FL; Jazzmen Victoria from Dallas, TX; Alex Lu from Los Angeles, CA; Ed Figures from Orlando, FL; and Byrd from Pompano Beach, FL. Last year's winners, Jahman HIl, Lady Brion and Jonkel, are all returning to defend their titles.

Event Coordinator Sharonda 'Eccentrich' Richardson is the 14th ranked female poet in the world, an honor she received during the Women of the World Poetry Slam. 'Eccentrich' was born and raised in Pompano Beach, is the winner of a Pompano Beach Cultural Arts Award recognizing outstanding creativity and has graced the stages of over 45 venues from Florida to California. She is a member of the celebrated spoken word team, Dada, which finished first in the nation during the 2017 National Poetry Slam. Her poetry is also featured on Button Poetry, an acclaimed platform committed to developing a coherent and effective system of production, distribution, promotion and fundraising for performance poetry.

"I am very proud of how this festival has grown, and despite COVID-19, we have an incredible lineup of spoken word artists who arriving from all over the country to participate in this festival, which grows in prestige each year," said Richardson. "We hope every poet's hometown friends and family reserves a spot to experience all the emotional performances and dynamic events scheduled."

To view the daily schedule of events, workshops and artist talks visit http://www.pompanobeacharts.org/exit36

About the City of Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department

The mission of the Cultural Affairs Department is to provide cultural programming that includes visual arts, digital media, music, film, theater, dance and public art for the enjoyment and enrichment of residents and visitors to Pompano Beach, Broward County, and the greater South Florida area. The department programs and manages the City's premiere cultural arts venues including the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, Ali Cultural Arts Center, Bailey Contemporary Arts Center, and the Blanche Ely House Museum. The department also oversees the City's Public Art Program and the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts' Our Town grant awarded to the Pompano Beach Crossroads place-making arts initiative.

Media Contact:
Kay Renz
Kay@KRPRMediagroup.com

The Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department is proud to present the 3rd Annual Exit 36 Slam Poetry Festival, an enriching and entertaining showcase of the best local and national spoken word artists and writers. While poets will be competing live at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center from December 10-12, due to COVID-19, the festival will be live streamed to the public.

Related link: http://www.ccpompano.org/

Pompano Beach Cultural Center Opens with Dazzling Weekend of Events and Rave Reviews

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Pompano Beach Cultural Center (www.ccpompano.org) opened Thursday, May 11 with a spectacular ribbon cutting ceremony featuring dancers whose costume unfurled to become the red ribbon cut by Mayor Lamar Fisher and an esteemed group of City, County and State leaders.

Over one thousand patrons then toured the remarkable new venue, meeting eleven resident companies, exploring the world premiere Cuban art exhibit, "Shipwrecked of Reason" and enjoying performances by an array of musicians and dancers. The festivities then continued throughout the weekend as hundreds of patrons enjoyed The Preview Party fundraiser, Havana Nights and The Florida Grand Opera Family Day.

"The opening of the Cultural Center was truly one of the most exciting events in our City's history," said Mayor Lamar Fisher. "There had been so much anticipation surrounding this day, and everyone who attended was dazzled by the iconic beauty of this venue as much as the incredible performances."

The ribbon cutting ceremony highlighted the mission of the Center of nurturing emerging talent while showcasing internationally renowned artists. Patrons enjoyed the incredible movement of local Eta Nu Step Dancing team to the beat of Fushu Daiko taiko drummers and the Blanche Ely High School Jazz band's performance accompanied by Grammy-winning saxophone player Ed Calle.

"This four-day opening was truly a series of grand events that showcased this iconic new venue and the incredibly diverse programming that is in store for patrons," said Alyona Ushe, President and CEO of The Creatives, the organization which programs and manages the Center. "Thanks to the extraordinary vision of Pompano Beach City leaders, this community now has a venue that will draw national and international talent, while also supporting and nurturing regional and emerging talent."

"Every corner of this venue was activated with phenomenal performances," continued Ushe. "This weekend represented the excitement that will be here on a regular basis, not only with live music and dance performances, but also with visual and multimedia art. Our opening featured both local live art with Todd the Painter and the world premiere Cuban art exhibit, 'Shipwrecked of Reason.'"

This exhibit was curated by internationally renowned curator, Isabel Maria Perez Perez, who came in from Cuba for the event. The show features the top 20 Cuban Contemporary artists and will be on display until the end of July. Havana Nights featured two-time Grammy-award winner Marlow Rosado and brought the exhibit to life with Cuban dancers, big band, cigar rollers, antique cars, Cuban cuisine and coffee. "Our patrons were transported into Havana and enjoyed the best of Cuban culture throughout the night," said Ushe.

"This weekend would not have been possible without the tremendous support of so many amazing people including Melanie Riddick, who chaired the Preview Party; award winning playwright Michael McKeever, who helped produce our opening shows; Marlow Rosado who staged 'Havana Nights,' and to our many wonderful sponsors," said Ushe.

The opening presenting sponsors included Sabbia Beach, Pompano! Magazine, JetBlue, Lifestyle Magazine Group, NBC 6, OHL Building, Isle Casino and Bateman Gordon Sands.

For a full list of upcoming performances please visit http://www.ccompano.org/.

The Pompano Beach Cultural Center opened Thursday, May 11 with a spectacular ribbon cutting ceremony featuring dancers whose costume unfurled to become the red ribbon cut by Mayor Lamar Fisher and an esteemed group of City, County and State leaders.

The City of Pompano Beach Announces Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for The Pompano Beach Cultural Center and Library

POMPANO Beach, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- The City of Pompano Beach is delighted to announce that the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the Pompano Beach Cultural Center (www.ccpompano.org) and Library will take place on Thursday, May 11 at 5:30 p.m. Following the ceremony, the venue will be open to the public to view the world premiere Cuban art exhibit, "Shipwrecked of Reason: Half a Century in Cuban Art."

Guests will also enjoy live performances throughout the building. This celebration of music, dance and theatre has been conceived by the acclaimed director Michael McKeever and is entitled "Imagine: A Celebration of the Creative Mind." This presentation is proudly sponsored by OHL Building and presented by Bateman, Gordon & Sands.

Thanks to the determination and foresight of City and County visionaries, Pompano Beach will join the ranks of other great municipalities who have a state-of-the-art facility which serves as a beacon for culture and learning. The two-story structure, which spans 47,000 square feet, will encompass the Cultural Center (which includes an art gallery, a digital media arts center and a flexible space for performances/special events) and the new Broward County Library, opening this summer.

"My hope is that the Center fills a niche that no one else can offer; providing educational opportunities with the media center; providing opportunities for new and upcoming artists to display their talents; offering a venue for weddings, private corporate events; and showcasing our all-around and well-rounded City as one of the finest in America," said Mayor Lamar Fisher.

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Latin American Art Pavilion, the Center garnered an art world coup by securing the world premiere exhibit "Shipwrecked of Reason: Half a Century in Cuban Art." On loan from the Cuban government, this exhibit features the top 20 Cuban contemporary artists and is curated by the internationally renowned, Isabel María Perez Perez, who is the Chief Curator Editora Ejecutiva del sello ArteCuban. She is regarded as the leading authority on contemporary Cuban art and is celebrated as one of the top curators worldwide.

Her expertise has resulted in a multitude of projects spanning the globe; from curating internationally acclaimed exhibits to presenting symposiums on the contemporary art movement in Cuba.

Perez Perez will be in south Florida for several days offering symposiums and attending the rest of the opening festivities. The Center's first fundraiser, The Preview Party, which is proudly sponsored by Sabbia Beach and presented by Pompano! Magazine, will take place on Friday, May 12, 2017. Havana Nights, which is proudly sponsored by JetBlue, will include a VIP reception for the renowned curator along with performances by two-time Grammy winner, Marlow Rosado.

The Pompano Beach Cultural Center is located at 50 W. Atlantic Boulevard, Pompano Beach. More information about upcoming programming is available at http://www.ccpompano.org/.

The City of Pompano Beach is delighted to announce that the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the Pompano Beach Cultural Center and Library will take place on Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. Following the ceremony, the venue will be open to the public to view the world premiere Cuban art exhibit, "Shipwrecked of Reason: Half a Century in Cuban Art."

Pompano Beach Cultural Center Announces Resident Companies

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Pompano Beach Cultural Center today announced the names of the 11 regional non-profit organizations that will form the Center's resident companies. This Cultural Alliance is comprised of highly regarded performing arts organizations based in South Florida. Each will offer exciting individual performances, while also collaborating on special events and educational programming.

The highly anticipated debut of the Center is thanks to the dedication of Pompano Beach's visionary city leadership including Mayor Lamar Fisher, city commissioners and city staff. Season schedules, grand opening festivities and fundraising events will soon be announced on the website, http://www.ccpompano.org/.

"We are thrilled that the opening of this stellar venue is almost at hand," said Mayor Fisher. "The Cultural Center, and the sensational organizations that will comprise the resident companies, exemplify the incredible commitment our city has made to the arts. We are delighted that so many outstanding companies will call our Center, their home."

The organizations that have been accepted as members of the Cultural Alliance, through the end of the 2018 season, include Arts Ballet Theatre, Brazilian Voices, Curtain Call Playhouse, Dance NOW! Miami, Florida Classical Ballet, Fushu Daiko, Outre Theatre Company, Rootz of Music, South Florida Chamber Ensemble, South Florida Jubilee Chorus and TheatreSouth.

"This is an outstanding amalgamation of talent," said Alyona Ushe, President/CEO of the Cultural Arts Creatives (The Creatives), the organization hired by the city to program and manage the Center. "Our vision for the Center is to feature the best of the best of South Florida talent, and we are thrilled by the dazzling and diverse array of performing arts groups that will form the foundation of our first season."

A panel of experts in various artistic disciplines selected the collective of 11 members. The Creatives will assist resident companies with marketing, development and the use of latest technology in the creation and presentation of the best regional work.

"Each organization on their own is a dynamic artistic force. Our goal is to give them a grand showcase to display their talents and to encourage them to collaborate and utilize each other's expertise," continued Ushe, who also is planning on commissioning a work that will feature all the Alliance members.

In addition to programming from Alliance members, Ushe has scheduled several signature series including Jazz and Blues programming which will also commence in May.

ABOUT THE MEMBERS:

Arts Ballet Theatre: The company made its debut in New York at the New Dance Amsterdam Theater in 2012 and continuously tours internationally to Europe and South America. Under artistic director, Vladimir Issaev, Arts Ballet Theatre has become a force in the ballet community of South Florida. www.artsballettheatre.org

Brazilian Voices: Brazilian Voices is a women's vocal ensemble that performs at cultural community and philanthropic events. Brazilian Voices aspires to incorporate the best of Brazilian culture throughout the world. The group evolved out of a vocal technique workshop organized by Beatriz Malnic and Loren Oliveira in 2001. Since then, these two devoted women, who volunteer their voices and time promoting and preserving the rich multicultural Brazilian heritage fostering multicultural exchange, music appreciation, and education. www.brazilianvoices.org

Curtain Call Playhouse: Curtain Call Playhouse is proud to be the most active "touring" theater locally in South Florida for the past 20 years, working with over 3,500 artists, and more than 3,000 children in the arts. Appealing to both adult and family audiences, their mission is to bring the excitement of live theater to local communities with the goal of entertaining the seasoned theater-goer as well as inspiring a whole new generation of audiences. www.curtaincallplayhouse.com

Dance NOW! Miami: Julliard graduate, Hannah Baumgarten founded Dance NOW! Miami with Diego Salterini, and through Dance NOW! has toured the US from New York to Arizona, Central America and conducted residencies in and South America. Hannah directed the Magnet High School Dance Program at Dillard Center for the Arts in Fort Lauderdale for 10 years and currently serves as adjunct faculty at the Academy of Arts & Minds High School. www.dancenowmiami.org

Florida Classical Ballet: The mission of the Florida Classical Ballet (FBC) is to promote and preserve the tradition of Classical Ballet by offering audiences a repertoire of exciting programming designed to enrich and inspire the community and its culture. FCB company is comprised of highly talented and disciplined local, national and international artists and focuses on excellence through the fusion of Cuban technique and American style. www.floridaclassicalballet.org

Fushu Daiko: Since 1990, Fushu Daiko has been training in the art of Taiko, a musical art form that builds on a 2600+ year old tradition of Japanese drumming. Their music combines the traditional drums and rhythms of Japan with musical styles from around the world, such as jazz and R&B, to create an exciting, powerful cross-cultural experience that strives to cross boundaries and connect cultures. www.fushudaiko.org

Outre Theatre Company: Outre Theatre Company is a young, vibrant company that believes that theater is a living art form with the power to reimagine and reexamine ourselves and the world around us. They are a theater that nurtures the creative spirit of individuals and our community through original and established works, utilizing a variety of mediums to engage the souls and imaginations of the artists and the audience. They strive to create theatre which stimulates thought, provokes reflection, and encourages activism. www.outretheatrecompany.com

Rootz of Music: Rootz of Music, Inc. was founded in 2011 by Jazz guitarist, arranger, composer, and music educator Eugene Grey along with his wife Felicia K. Grey. Rootz of Music is committed to inspiring people and assisting in their growth and appreciation of music. One of the goals of the organization is to preserve the history of Jamaica's popular music through a series of presentations of its innovative program "American Roots of Jamaican Music: The Legacy." www.rootzofmusic.net

South Florida Chamber Ensemble: The South Florida Chamber Ensemble (SFCE), was formed in 2011 as a combination of the Art Trio and the New York Wind Trio and is comprised of six musicians from the brass, woodwind, string and percussion families. The two ensembles, who shared some of the same members, decided to join forces in order to diversify and pool resources. Their members perform throughout South Florida in orchestras like the Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet, South Florida Philharmonic and Boca Raton Philharmonia. www.sfcemusic.com

South Florida Jubilee Chorus: South Florida Jubilee is proud to be affiliated with Sweet Adelines International, a world-wide organization of women singers focused on advancing the art of barbershop singing -- four-part harmony through performance, competitions, and education. South Florida Jubilee singers enrich their lives through the enjoyment of singing a broad variety of songs from Broadway tunes, classical music, mainstream music, and gospel. These songs are arranged specifically for the rich barbershop harmonies that are identified with this art form. www.southfloridajubilee.org

TheatreSouth: Artist in Residence Group TheatreSouth one of South Florida's newest performing arts companies, is led by 42-year theater veteran, Founder/Artistic Director Herman LeVern Jones, MFA. www.deeringestate.org/theatresouth-atlanta/

The Pompano Beach Cultural Center today announced the names of the 11 regional non-profit organizations that will form the Center's resident companies. This Cultural Alliance is comprised of highly regarded performing arts organizations based in South Florida. Each will offer exciting individual performances, while also collaborating on special events and educational programming.