The Grandel

The pieces presented in “Unseen” are designed to foster conversations around our country’s often marginalized and underserved populations. This concert uses the vehicle of dance to shed light on the ongoing struggle of groups of people whose lives have been negatively affected by discrimination, conflict, neglect, or corruption. We seek to elevate the unheard voices of various unseen communities to make the invisible visible and promote collective liberation for a weekend of socially conscious performance art.   Do not miss this diverse concert featuring the work of choreographers Alicia “Sunshine” Gbaho, Jordan McDaniel, Thomas Proctor, Cecil Slaughter and Ashley L. Tate, and spoken word artist and poet, Cheeraz Gormon.

Location:
The Grandel
3610 Grandel Square
St. Louis, MO 63103

For general information, contact Ashleyliane Dance Company via email [email protected] or visit us at www.ashleyliane.com.

All of those attending MUST be ticketed. There are no refunds issued for lost or stolen tickets. Children (ages 2 and under) may attend for free if sharing a seat with a paying adult.

It’s about to go down here in the Lou! The Afrokuumba Dancers will put on a jaw dropping show!

The acclaimed Elite Afro Dance Fusion Company will give you Afro Soul. This dance concert expresses diverse characteristics of Black dance, art and music. It embodies the distinct characteristics of blackness connected to its global roots. It expresses the power and innovativeness of its genres that we believe bridges their soul ties.

You will see so many representations of the culture! from the creative expressions of our toddlers to the elite skills of our professionals. You will view the most amazing traditional  and commercial Afro dance fusion to date!

Two separate presentations:
3:30PM the younger dancers will perform.
Extended intermission which will include vendors along with the “dark room” accessibility  for food and beverages.
7:30PM the upper levels will come back with a bang!

If you’re unable to attend both no worries we appreciate your attendance, support and gratitude!

Join The McNary Experience for a soulful, powerful and engaging performance! One night only! Experience the magic of timeless classics, performed with passion, purpose, and authenticity. The McNary Experience’s soul-stirring tribute to Aretha Franklin will transport you back in time to a place where music meets the soul. With the powerhouse vocals of Qiana McNary, backed by piano/organ, lead guitar, bass, percussion, and 2 background vocalists, you will encounter an evening to remember. Performing all of her hits including Respect, Chain of Fools, Natural Woman and many more!

Lobby doors will open at 2:00 PM. The show will begin at 3:00 PM with special guest Chuck Flowers, followed by The McNary Experience.

Left Bank Books welcomes one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, who will discuss the book that every parent, caregiver, and teacher needs to raise the next generation of antiracist thinkers, How to Raise an Antiracist, in person at The Grandel and virtually at 7pm CT on June 21st. Tickets are available for the in person event or the virtual event.

Join us in person or virtually. Each ticket will include one copy of How to Raise an Antiracist from Left Bank Books to support authors and independent bookstores!

Dr. Kendi will be joined by special guest Cbabi Bayoc to celebrate the release of Goodnight Racism by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and illustrated by St. Louis artist Cbabi Bayoc.

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University and the founding director of the BU Center for Antiracist Research. He is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a CBS News racial justice contributor. He is the host of the new action podcast Be Antiracist. Dr. Kendi is the author of many highly acclaimed books including Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction, making him the youngest-ever winner of that award. He has also produced five straight #1 New York Times bestsellers, including How to Be an Antiracist, Antiracist Baby, and Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, co-authored by Jason Reynolds. In 2020, Time magazine named Dr. Kendi one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He was awarded a 2021 MacArthur Fellowship, popularly known as the Genius Grant.

The book that every parent, caregiver, and teacher needs to raise the next generation of antiracist thinkers, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Be an Antiracist and recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Grant.

The tragedies and reckonings around racism that are rocking the country have created a specific crisis for parents, educators, and other caregivers: How do we talk to our children about racism? How do we teach children to be antiracist? How are kids at different ages experiencing race? How are racist structures impacting children? How can we inspire our children to avoid our mistakes, to be better, to make the world better?

These are the questions Ibram X. Kendi found himself avoiding as he anticipated the birth of his first child. Like most parents or parents-to-be, he felt the reflex to not talk to his child about racism, which he feared would stain her innocence and steal away her joy. But research and experience changed his mind, and he realized that raising his child to be antiracist would actually protect his child, and preserve her innocence and joy. He realized that teaching students about the reality of racism and the myth of race provides a protective education in our diverse and unequal world. He realized that building antiracist societies safeguards all children from the harms of racism.

Following the accessible genre of his internationally bestselling How to Be an Antiracist, Kendi combines a century of scientific research with a vulnerable and compelling personal narrative of his own journey as a parent and as a child in school. The chapters follow the stages of child development from pregnancy to toddler to schoolkid to teenager. It is never too early or late to start raising young people to be antiracist.

The All-Star Jazz Festival is an event that will feature some of the top Jazz musicians in the St Louis area. They will be composed of unique groups of five which will both showcase never before seen performances, as well as showing the camaraderie between the local Jazz community.

12pm – 6pm