Programs at Safari East Cultural Center

Classroom teachers receive curriculum packets with background information and suggested classroom follow up activities.

Venues include:
• New York City Public Schools – New York, NY
• London Public Schools – London, England
• Chicago Public Schools – Chicago, IL
• Amherst Public Schools – Amherst, MA
• Greenburgh Public Schools – White Plains, NY
• Greenburgh Public Library – White Plains, NY
• Art Bank – Shelburne Falls, MA
• First Night – Northampton, MA
• Brattleboro Museum – Brattleboro, VT
• New York State Museum – Albany, NY
• Brooklyn Children’s Museum – Brooklyn, NY
• Children’s Museum of Manhattan – New York, NY
• Maksud Plaza – Sao Paolo, Brazil
• Pelham Art Center – Pelham, NY
• Prospect Park Band Shell – Brooklyn, NY

 

SAFARI EAST PROGRAMS

ROOTS OF THE BLUES (College Program)

ROOTS OF THE BLUES (**Elementary / Secondary School Program)

A TRIBUTE TO DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING (College Program)

A TRIBUTE TO DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING (**Elementary / Secondary School Program)

BLUES AROUND THE WORLD (**Elementary / Secondary School Program)

Price List Below

ROOTS OF THE BLUES

(College Program)

This 90-minute multimedia musical program traces the roots of American Black music to Africa. The program explores the transatlantic slave trade into the Caribbean and North America utilizing African dance, Hip Hop dance, African storytelling American storytelling, field hollers, auction block songs, spirituals, blues and rhythm and blues to tell the story of the African Diaspora.

Roots of the Blues is a journey from Africa to Africa in America; with visits to New Orleans, with its Black social clubs, richly varied musical formats including rag time, military music, jazz, Creole music, and the blues.

The program is designed for college students whose contemporary music derives from these African foundations. Safari East improvises in the explosive style and music of the blues. Roots of the Blues connects the many styles of the Black struggle in America with the messages in Rap and Hip Hop

Interwoven with these rich and varied musical styles is a continuous slide show adding depth and definition to the interpretation of the blues.

ROOTS OF THE BLUES

(** Elementary/ Secondary School Program)

This exciting program traces the roots of American Black music from African through Caribbean rhythms and field hollers to the blues and rhythm and blues of the present day.

We celebrate New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, show how the solemn jazz funeral opens with “Amazing Grace,” and explores in the joyous, “When the Saints Go Marching In.” We “Hit the Road Jack,” with everyone joining in. We explore the development of the blues and rhythm and blues ending with a contemporary composition.

Students are invited on stage to participate in the basics of rhythm, melody, harmony, and improvisation. The program ends with a familiar song with the children joining the SAFARI EAST ensemble.

** Programs are customized by student population and grade level

A TRIBUTE TO DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING

(college program)

This 90-minute multimedia musical tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King incorporates highlights from his most powerful speeches, black classical music of the Civil Rights Era (John Coltrane, Sam Rivers, Archie Shepp, Max Roach) and Gospel singing. The program recreates the explosive environment of the 60’s, the marches, public confrontations… the story of American Black’s claiming their constitutional and human rights.

The tribute is designed for college students born after these explosive times, heirs to an America changed by the sacrifices of the heroes of the Civil Rights movement.

Safari East improvises in the explosive style and music of the period. Sounds expressing the many injustices experienced by the oppressed Black people of the 60’s alternate with the sensitive tones of Africa as transformed by the dismay and hardship of the lives of American slaves.

Interwoven with the sounds of protest and change, a continuous slide show adds dimension and continuous excitement to the chronology of the Civil Rights struggle and Dr. King’s role. This tribute to Dr. King is an unforgettable 90 minutes of continuous drama and music.

A TRIBUTE TO DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING

(** Elementary/ Secondary School Program)

This 90-minute multimedia musical tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King incorporates highlights from his most powerful speeches, black classical music of the Civil Rights Era (John Coltrane, Sam Rivers, Archie Shepp, Max Roach) and Gospel singing. The program recreates the explosive environment of the 60’s, the marches, public confrontations… the story of American Black’s claiming their constitutional and human rights.

The tribute is designed for high school students born after these explosive times, heirs to an America changed by the sacrifices of the heroes of the Civil Rights movement.

Safari East improvises in the explosive style and music of the period, connecting Hip Hop and Rap music to its roots in the sounds of protest of the Civil Rights movement.

Sounds expressing the many injustices experienced by the oppressed Black people of the 60’s alternate with the sensitive tones of Africa as transformed by the dismay and hardship of the lives of American slaves.

Interwoven with the sounds of protest and change, a continuous slide show adds dimension and continuous excitement to the chronology of the Civil Rights struggle and Dr. King’s role. This tribute to Dr. King is an unforgettable 90 minutes of continuous drama and music.

** Programs are customized by student population and grade level

BLUES AROUND THE WORLD

(** Elementary/ Secondary School Program)

Blues Around the World is an imaginative, compelling program of international music which embody the roots and spirit of the blues.

The spiritual essence of the blues is the lament of man’s suffering and his resilient quest for freedom, peace and love. The profound beauty of this music has had historic impact and immense popularity worldwide bridging political, racial and religious differences. The audience is transported on a journey that segues from America to Japan, West Africa, North Africa, the Caribbean and Brazil.

Specifically, the pieces selected for performance exemplify both the aesthetic and musical elements of this form employing the bent note or “blue note,” the minor pentatonic scale, improvisation, polyrhythms and the Grigot. The selections include The Samurai, a classical Japanese song of the Genroku Period, After Hours, a depression era historical blues by African American composer Avery Parrish, Marrakesh, a Berber composition from Morocco, North Africa, and Fire Down Below or St. Thomas, a folk melody from the Virgin Islands.

Blues Around the World is a new step forward in the cross pollenization of international culture and movement for world peace.

** Programs are customized by student population and grade level

PROGRAM PRICES

Prices Range from $800 – $3,000 depending upon program length and number of performers. Sample programs are offered to provide an idea of the services and ensemble makeup. Safari East staff will visit the performance site and meet with on-site staff to discuss grade level and audience needs. Program elements will vary as a function of program length and ensemble size.

Sample $800 Program – 45 – 60 minutes
3 musicians
1 storyteller

Sample $1,500 Program (45-60 minutes)
4 instrumentalists
1 vocalist
storyteller

Sample $2,000 Program (90 minutes)
5 instrumenalists
1 vocalist
1 storyteller
1 African Dancer
1 Hip Hop Dancer

Sample $3,000 Program (90 minutes)
5 instrumenalists
1 vocalist
1 storyteller
African Dance ensemble
African instrumental demonstration

All program prices include:
cartage (transportation)
rehearsals (2)
slide research
slides – technician
program administration