Baltimore, MD, September 29, 2008- Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation has announced that it will provide support for the presentation of Habib Koité & Bamada, Le Vent du Nord, Regina Carter Quintet, STREB, and Universes during the 2009-2010 season through the Mid Atlantic Tours program. Mid Atlantic Tours allows the Foundation to select tours that are targeted for special purposes, such as reaching presenters addressing communities that are underserved by the arts, focusing on specific art forms, and supporting international cultural exchange. Funding for these tours is made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program.
These artists in the following performing arts disciplines are available for booking between July 1, 2009 and August 31, 2010:
Dance: STREB
Elizabeth Streb’s daring choreography integrates the disciplines of dance, athletics, boxing, rodeo, circus, and Hollywood stunt-work into a bristling, muscle-and-motion vocabulary that combines daring with strict precision in pursuit of the public display of “pure movement.” Founded in 1985, the company and its artists have received numerous awards, including a New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award. STREB has been seen on the David Letterman Show, CBS Sunday Morning, CNN Showbiz Today, Nickelodeon, NBC’s Weekend Today, MTV, and ABC Nightly News with Peter Jennings and on Larry King Live. Streb is a 1997 recipient of the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship.
http://www.strebusa.org/
Folk/Traditional: Le Vent du Nord
Le Vent du Nord is one of Québec’s finest traditional ensembles combining the bouncing, rhythmic fiddle styles, unique tunes, and ancient songs of Québec’s rich musical heritage. The group’s first recording in 2004 received a JUNO (Canadian Grammy) for Traditional Album of the Year/Group. In 2005, the group received an OPUS Award for Concert of the Year/Jazz and World Music and its second recording was awarded a FELIX Award for Traditional Album of the Year. Le Vent du Nord has toured extensively in the U.S, Canada and Europe and been featured in numerous international television and radio broadcasts, most recently on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition.
http://www.leventdunord.com
Jazz: Regina Carter Quintet
A virtuosic violinist receiving rave reviews in major press, Carter and her quintet have performed for enthusiastic audiences worldwide. She has played with a range of jazz luminaries such as Ray Brown, Dr. Billy Taylor, Marian McPartland, Kenny Barron, Wynton Marsalis and Cassandra Wilson as well as pop icons Dolly Parton and Billy Joel. She has the distinction of being the first jazz musician and first African American to play the legendary Guarneri del Gesu violin owned by classical music virtuoso and composer Nicolo Paganini, leading to a critically acclaimed recording of her playing the treasured instrument on Verve records. Carter is a 2006 MacArthur Fellowship recipient and the 2007 recipient of the International Society for the Performing Arts Distinguished Artist Award.
http://www.reginacarter.com/
Theater: Universes
Universes is an ensemble of multi-disciplined writers and performers who fuse poetry, theater, jazz, hip-hop, politics, down home blues and Spanish boleros to create moving, challenging and entertaining theatrical works. Recent works include their highly acclaimed full evening work Slanguage, where traditional theater synthesizes with poetry, storytelling rhythm, music, song and dance and BLUESUITE, a jazz-based work is currently on tour. Live from the Edge showcases the ensemble’s special brand of fusion theater in a "best of" evening that tracks the evolution of their poetic language, from childhood rhymes and community rituals to poetry and theater, hip-hop and gospel.
http://www.universesonstage.com/HOME.html
World: Habib Koité & Bamada
Habib Koité is one of Africa's most beloved and popular musicians and “the biggest pop star of the West African nation of Mali,” according to Rolling Stone magazine. His most recently released album, Afriki, features an appealing set of songs that reflect Habib's unique approach to the diverse styles of Malian music. His strong fan base can be attributed to his gift of integrating the rock and folk sounds of the Western world, without watering down his cherished Malian roots. Habib descends from a line of griots, traditional troubadors who provide wit, wisdom and entertainment, and his charisma and magnetism translates across cultures.
http://www.imnworld.com/habibkoite
Presenters in the mid-Atlantic region (DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, USVI, VI, and WV) are eligible to receive support toward artist fees, although not all the roster artists are eligible for support in all the states and jurisdictions. Supported engagements must include at least one complementary activity that builds appreciation for and a greater understanding of the performance or the art form.
Presenters interested in booking any of the 2009-2010 Mid Atlantic Tour artists and receiving fee support should contact the groups’ agents directly. While there is no application process for Mid Atlantic Tours, funds are limited. Presenters are encouraged to pursue this opportunity and secure artist engagements as soon as possible to increase their chance of receiving support.
Agent Contact Information
Dance:
STREB
Rena Shagan, Rena Shagan Associates
Phone: 212-873-9700
E-mail: rena@shaganarts.com
Folk/Traditional:
Le Vent du Nord
Sandy Peevers
On Queue Performing Artists
Phone: 607.547.9494
Email: info@onqueueartists.com
Jazz:
Regina Carter Quintet
Myles Weinstein
Unlimited Myles
Phone: 732.566.2881
Email: myles@unlimitedmyles.com
Theater:
Universes
Maya Lang
H-Art Management
Phone: 212.868.2134
Email: maya@h-artmanagement.com
Word:
Habib Koité & Bamada
Jeanna Disney
International Music Network.
Phone: 978.283.2883
Email: jeanna@imnworld.com
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation supports the richness and diversity of the region’s arts resources and promotes wider access to the art and artists of the region, nation and world. To learn more about MAAF, its programs and services, visit our Web site at www.midatlanticarts.org
