MASTER CLASS BY GIWAYEN MATA ANNOUNCED

Atlanta-based, all-female, dance, percussion, and vocal ensemble to demonstrate an teach techniques indigenous to Afrikan Diaspora. Master class will be taught day preceding their full concert at the Murphy Fine Arts Center.

Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) August 30, 2003

The Atlanta-based, all-female, dance, percussion and vocal group, Giwayen Mata (pronounced GEE–wy–enn MAH-tah), will be in concert on Friday, September 13, 2003 in the Gilliam Concert Hall of the Murphy Fine Arts Center. This acclaimed ensemble—that is celebrating its 10th year together—will also conduct a master class on the evening preceding the concert. Their master class will include African dance and drumming techniques.

The class is for all (over the age of 14). Dance, movement, and drumming skills and techniques to that are indigenous to the Afrikan Diaspora will be demonstrated and taught. Anyone interested in dance/stage movement is welcome to attend. Participants are asked to “dress to move.” The cost for the master class is $10 per participant. Reservations for space in the class can be made by calling 443-885-4336 or 443-885-3507.

The name Giwayen Mata is from the West African (northern Nigeria, parts of Ghana, Niger and Togo) Hausa language; and it means 'Elephant Leaders of Women.' Giwayen Mata is an Atlanta-based, “all-sistah,” dance, percussion and vocal group.

Giwayen Mata’s troupe members are trained in ballet, jazz, modern, hip-hop, Afrikan and Caribbean dance and rhythms, production and stage-managing, studio percussion, and background vocals—skills used in the company’s work and used to enhance the work of other artists. Giwayen Mata’s following is huge in the Atlanta area; and one of the group’s proud achievements is performing in the closing ceremonies of the 1996 U.S. Olympics. Some of the group’s members have performed with the pop group TLC.

Roni Sarig of Creative Loafing Atlanta writes: “Giwayen Mata communicates with a force and eloquence that manages to get its message across regardless, no matter where you are now or where your ancestors lived 300 years ago . . . and it makes the heart race to keep up.”

Giwayen Mata will also perform one show only on Friday, September 13, 2003 at 7:30 PM in the Gilliam Concert Hall. Ticket prices are $5 for Morgan State University students; $10 for other students (i.e., non-MSU); and $25 general admission.

Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster (http://www.ticketmaster.com or 410-481-SEAT /

202-432-SEAT / 800-527-6384) and at the Morgan State University box office (443-885-1522).

Related websites:     

http://www.giwayenmata.com

http://www.atlanta.creativeloafing.com/2003-05-29/feature.html

http://www.murphyfineartscenter.org/mfac/mfac.htm

The Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts Center, located on the Southeast edge of the Morgan State University campus, opened its doors in December, 2001. Since then, the Murphy Fine Arts Center has showcased world-renowned performers such as Ray Charles, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and INDIA.Arie. The Murphy Fine Arts Center’s tagline: “Northeast Baltimore’s Gateway to the Arts,” underscores the Center’s commitment to delivering a breadth of genres, artists, performers and entertainers to Baltimore-Washington area audiences in a state-of-the-art facility.

The centerpiece of this great venue is the James H. and Louise Hayley Gilliam Concert Hall, with seating for over 2,000. With the Concert Hall, and three other performance spaces, the Murphy Fine Arts Center is able to accommodate a wider range of productions than any other facility in Baltimore: from Broadway / off-Broadway productions–to studio theatre; musical performances from symphony–to recital; or dance performances from chorus lines–to classical ballet–to African dance.

The Murphy Fine Arts Center is located at 2201 Argonne Drive in northeast Baltimore, and is 4½ miles north of downtown Baltimore and 5 miles south of the Baltimore beltway (I-695).