Nearly 4,500 grade-school children recently enjoyed prime seating to watch the thrilling dancers of Urban Bush Women, a Brooklyn-based dance troupe, at the Con Edison-Town Hall Black History Month Festival, held Feb. 5 and 6.
The children will have a chance in the spring to win prizes for submitting essays and posters about the performance.
“This is no ordinary partnership,” said Lawrence C. Zucker, executive director of the Town Hall, about the longstanding partnership with Con Edison in sponsoring three performances during the festival.
“Our unique collaboration with the Town Hall gives thousands of children an educational, hands-on experience that lasts long after the show,” said Frances A. Resheske, Con Edison’s senior vice president for public affairs. “It’s a natural fit to build productive partnerships and to give back to the communities we serve.”
Backstage at the Town Hall performance, Zucker saw inquisitive wide-eyes and heard delighted screams from the children as they watched the professional dancers. The artistic programs are tailored to infuse history lessons with entertainment.
After the show, the Urban Bush Women took a few moments to teach a number of students modern dance moves. Troupe member Tendayi Kuumba enjoyed instructing several students who attend P.S. 001X in the Bronx.
“After 18 years of partnering with Con Edison, I know first-hand that the kids have a great time at these shows,” Zucker said. “It’s been an honor to present quality artists that the children genuinely appreciate.”
Con Edison supports hundreds of nonprofit organizations in New York City and Westchester County to strengthen neighborhoods, sustain communities and improve lives. These philanthropic efforts support the arts, environment and important educational initiatives in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Many of Con Edison’s 14,000 employees share a personal commitment to the region’s vitality through their own volunteer efforts and also choose to support education by utilizing the company’s matching gifts program. To learn more about Con Edison’s Strategic Partnership – Power of Giving programs, visit www.coned.com/partnerships/.
The Town Hall is among New York City’s most historic venues. Built in 1921 by a group of suffragettes, the Town Hall began as a lecture hall and public debate forum and grew to be a national landmark institution for arts, culture and education. Over the decades, Eleanor Roosevelt, Margaret Sanger, Billie Holiday, Igor Stravinsky, Marian Anderson, Bob Dylan and Miles Davis have graced the stage. It was home to the legendary radio program“America’s Town Meeting of the Air,” dozens of historic albums and recordings and American debuts of musical legends. Today, the Town Hall boasts the very best in music performances, spoken word, comedy and dance, including speaking engagements with presidents and senators, live broadcasts of Garrison Keillor’s “Prairie Home Companion” and a number of new and critically acclaimed music series. Visit www.the-townhall-nyc.org.