Rockford Public Library Kick Offs Junteenth Friday, June 18th
The Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago headlines annual event
Rockford Public Library will kick off the 20th annual Juneteenth celebration on Friday, June 18, 2010 at 7 p.m., at the Sullivan Theatre (formerly New American Theatre) 118 N. Main St., in downtown Rockford. Highlights of this event will include a presentation by the Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago, and performances of original works by spoken word artists Henry McDavid, Debra Jo Howard and Colleen Williams. Additionally, a puppet show for children and a panel display depicting a brief history of African Americans from Africa to America will be held in the Theatre lobby. Tommy Meeks, Juneteenth organizer, and Rep. Chuck Jefferson will provide acknowledgements. This program is free and open to the public. No registration is required. For more information, please visit our website at: www.rockfordpubliclibrary.org.
This program is a kickoff to the Juneteenth Celebration, which officially begins June 19th at Sinnissippi Music Shell from 12:00 – 9:00 p.m.
About the Rockford Public Library
The Rockford Public Library, founded in 1872 as the second library in Illinois, currently has six facilities, including the Main Library and five Branch Libraries. The Rockford Public Library's mission is to enhance community life and development by informing, educating, entertaining, and providing cultural enrichment to all people of all ages by collecting information to address the diverse interests of our dynamic community.
About Juneteenth
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond.
Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. “Juneteenth.com World Wide Celebration” http://www.juneteenth.com/
About Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago
The Chicago-based Muntu Dance Theatre performs authentic and progressive interpretations of contemporary and ancient African and African-American dance, music, and folklore. A colorful and dynamic Company, Muntu brings its audiences out of their seats and into the aisles with its unique synthesis of dance, rhythm and song. “About Muntu” http://www.muntu.com/about_muntu/about_muntu.html
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