Art Reviews

The National Black Arts Festival is an Atlanta festival that celebrates the art, music, and culture of people of African descent. The family friendly festival is scheduled from July 6-15 and includes activities such as literary, musical, and theater performances, fine arts exhibits, and an international market. Although a few events are ticketed, many of the activities are free.

The main weekend of the festival is July 12-15, with many activities taking place at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta. Festival attendees can visit the International Marketplace, which will feature artisans from all over the world. Offerings will include paintings, sculpture, clothing, jewelry, and other items. In past years exhibitors have come from such diverse places as Jamaica, Haiti, South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Brazil, Canada, and India. The kids will be entertained at the Childrens Educational Village. This years theme will be Destination Africa and Beyond. There will be musical entertainment all weekend from the concert stage. Local and international chefs will be giving cooking demonstrations at the Publix Healthy Cooking Pavilion. Attendees can learn to prepare healthy and balanced foods as well as enjoy tasty samples. All of these activities are free to the public.

Several other free events are planned during the festival. City Gallery at Chastain will present JOuvert: At the Devils Playground, featuring the work of Jamaican born photographer Radcliffe Roye. The exhibition, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence, will run from June 14-July 28. An artist talk is planned for June 30 from 1-3pm. Pre-registration is required for the talk. Jah Music- A Celebration of Traditional Jamaican Music, featuring the Tallawah Mento Band, will take place on June 24 at the Auburn Avenue Research Library. The program is scheduled for 3-5pm, and pre-registration is required.

There will be two free screenings of A Raisin in the Sun at the Southwest Arts Center. This will be the original film version of Lorraine Hansberrys play starring Claudia McNeil, Sidney Poitier, and Ruby Dee. Screening dates are July 6, and a special screening for seniors and students on July 11.

The Hagedorn Foundation Gallery will host an exhibition of intimate photos of Michael Jackson by his personal photographer, Todd Gray. The Gray Room with Act 1 of the Performance Piece, Caliban in the Mirror is scheduled for July 6-August 31. The Coretta Scott King Book Fair will be held on July 11 at the Central Branch of the Atlanta Fulton Library. Attendees will meet award winning author Walter Dean Myers and award winning illustrator Michele Wood. The event is free, but pre-registration is required.

The festival also includes several ticketed events. Those events include a gala fundraiser and tribute to actress Ruby Dee on July 14. The play Guess Whos Coming to Dinner? will run July 10-29. There will be an exhibition of the art of Vivian Schuyler Key at the Hammonds House Museum and the exhibition Rise Up: Hale Woodruffs Murals from Talladega College at the High Museum of Art. A benefit event for the National Black Arts Festival, Slavery By Another Name: The Dialogue is planned for July 12.

MIAMI, FL Internationally renowned dance director and choreographer Samay promises a mesmerizing night of magic as she takes you on a journey to Egypt without having to leave your seat. The much anticipated yearly Middle Eastern dance recital will showcase the talent of over 200 student performers on Friday April 30th, 2010 at the Manuel Artime Theater. With previous shows having sold out to more than 2,000 attendees in only days, this years production guarantees another eager full house. Titled Egyptian Nights, this show will provide a cultural display of Middle Eastern music and dance including thrilling masterworks and much awaited new choreographies.

Standing side by side with Samay on this yearly production is the School of Community Education of Miami Dade College. Here, students in the Middle Eastern Cultural & Arts Program are offered an array of classes under the direction of Samay to meet different needs. Students in the classes range from beginner levels to advanced troupe levels which provide a chance for certification, or levels of dance that are simply for fun and fitness. Even the choice of learning to dance with customary props, such as Zills, Veil and Shamadan, is offered. Within the program, students can learn and understand all aspects of the art form such as movement, history of dance and music, as well as different styles of raks sharki and folklore from all regions of the Middle East. Since 1997, this successful program at MDC’s Kendall Campus has been and will keep growing into one of the largest of its kind within the state of Florida. I am proud to have trained many future performers and instructors in South Florida and I am determined to continue the hard work and dedication of training future stars, says Samay.

Belly dancing itself has significantly grown in popularity in recent years. Today, the dance is known by over thousands of women who admire its captivating charm and exquisite technique. Although always evolving, there is no doubt that Samay has a love for traditional Egyptian dance. Graceful women like Samia Gamal are within the range of dancers who rose to fame during the golden years of the Egyptian film industry and certainly inspire Samay to choreograph such elegant dances for her wonderful shows. This year marks the eighth anniversary of one of the most awaited events of the year. Directed by an international award winning dance company, it is Samays goal as an artist and instructor to have others embrace the art form of Middle Eastern Dance.

For more information about the 2010 show or about Samay Performing Arts, please contact Danna Prpich at 305-726-1195 or visit www.mdc.edu/ce/kendall/bellydance/default.html or www.bellydancebysamay.com .

About Samay
Samay is an internationally known professional Middle East dance artist, instructor and choreographer. She has extensively traveled the Middle East to acquire the technique and cultural aspects of Middle Eastern Dance including raks sharki (proper term for belly dance) and folklore. In 2004 Samay was awarded first place in the Ahlan Wa Sahlan International festival and competition in Cairo Egypt hosted by world renowned Raqia Hassan. Samay has been featured as a performer and instructor in the Ahlan Wa Sahlan festival, the largest Raks Sharki festival in the Middle East and also recently featured in Europe. Samay has had the honor of studying and participating in seminars with world renowned Egyptian and local artists such as Raqia Hassan, Yousry Sharif, Dina, Nagwa Fouad,Tamalyn Dallal (Samay’s main instructor), Jihan Jamal and many more.

It was Remy Presas who developed Modern Arnis back in the 1960s. The moves taught in this guide is to be utilized in dangerous situations and not for competition. There is a great deal of bonus items that include the greatest mind training system, the martial arts manual of the US Marines, the secrets of Jujitsu and many other valuable guides.

In the US, students training in Bando do so under the auspices of the American Bando Association, which Maung Gyi founded in the 1960s. When you discover what others do to your techniques, you can use it to your advantage. Fortunately there is the Inner Secrets of Martial Arts Success multimedia pack, which will teach you how to do it along with other useful training.

In addition to the books, his package includes videos, and ten extra books from the public domain. With joint locks and submission techniques, lots of practice is going to be required for you to be great at it. Modern Arnis students make use of rattan sticks when they start their training, even though they also train in bare-hands defense.

Advanced Bando students also start training in animal attack routines in order to introduce them to the more difficult self-defense techniques. If you are caught in an actual fight or panic situation, you’ll react automatically without thought. They’ll have a chance to have first hand experience without getting injured if they are able to do it at a martial arts school in front of their teacher or instructor. To prevent injury, you’ll normally wear full body and head gear during practice. During the 1960s, Remy Presas created the contemporary form of Arnis. Every belt also has degrees — for instance 1st degree green belt, 2nd degree green belt, and so forth.

When they have learned the basic techniques, Bando students are then taught the empty hand forms (aka). This will help them become familiar with the basics and defensive concepts of the Bando system. It was Remy Presas who created Modern Arnis in the 1960s. This information bundle from Rod Turner will add to virtually any martial arts training you are receiving.

There are unofficial groups and schools teaching different Modern Arnis variations. It’s crucial to note that the quality of teaching varies from one establishment to another. Students master the 9 elementary kicks, punches, blocks, and so forth. In the course of training, students strike at their opponent’s rattan sticks. Nonetheless, in genuine fighting scenarios, the strikes must be made on the hands that hold the weapon to effectively disarm the adversary.

In general, however, Bando thaing includes self-protection, self-development, and self-defense. This extraordinary package includes 42 books as well as over six hours of training videos. Security systems, cops, alarms, it doesn’t really matter, when you’re under a threat, you’ll most likely be alone. All fighting styles use sparring, just like several sports, including wrestling and boxing.

Hence, Modern Arnis emphasizes guardedness and respect for the adversary. The style advocates disarming the adversary, a principle known as “defanging the snake”. The CD he produced contains videos, bonuses and 10 public domain text. One particular martial art form that makes use of sparring extensively is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu simply because grappling exercises need another individual to practice with to be effective. As they train, students direct their attacks at the rattan sticks held by their enemy. In a real life combat situation, however, the strikes have to be aimed towards the hands holding the weapons to fully disarm the opponent. The rounds often last for a few minutes, but they vary. You may be doing a martial art style for exercise or just for fun, but if you are doing it to learn to protect yourself, sparring will make you better. Higher levels demand a lifetime of practice.

The Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technology allows you to acquire the knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to incorporate technology, tools, and instructional systems in a variety of learning environments including online learning. Discover how the latest technology tools can impact the learning experience, from K-12 students up through corporate trainees. Embark on a variety of courses that will provide you with the skills to apply the latest technology to teaching and online learning, as well as to serve as a resource for your fellow teachers and colleagues.

Career Opportunities

With your Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technology degree, you will be qualified to pursue a career in any of the following arenas:

Public Schools
Private Schools
Charter Schools
Corporate Training
Consulting
Online Instructor

The Master of Education in Teaching (with multiple concentrations) has been developed to meet the needs of licensed classroom practitioners by linking what has been learned about effective teaching to best practices in the classroom. Coursework is structured within the context of three essential areas that affect todays classroom teachers: instruction, curriculum, and professional development. Through interaction with faculty members who are committed to the collaborative and integrative investigation of problems in practice, students will experience a comprehensive study of current educational research and critical analysis of classroom teaching and learning. Graduates of the program will earn a Master of Education: Teaching degree. The Master of Education (M.Ed.): Teaching program is not designed to lead to certification or licensure. See instead the M.Ed.: Teaching – Elementary Education, the M.Ed.: Teaching – Secondary Social Studies, and the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Certification Program (Graduate Certificate.)

Degree Program Objectives

In addition to the institutional and degree level outcome objectives, this degree also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates. Graduates in this degree program will be able to:

Demonstrate commitment to students and their learning.
Evaluate the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students.
Manage and monitor student learning.
Systematically assess their practice and learn from experience.
Engage as members of learning communities.
Integrate problem-based inquiry in course experiences.
Interact with program mentors, academic specialists, colleagues, parents, and community stakeholders.
Integrate the use of action research to enhance student achievement and address problems in practice.

Students must choose a concentration for this degree program and may select from concentrations in Curriculum and Instruction for Elementary Teachers, Elementary Reading, English Language Learners, Instructional Leadership, Online Learning, or Special Education.

This concentration is for K-12 teachers who wish to further their studies with an advanced degree focused on elementary education curriculum and instruction for grades K-6. Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the issues that continue to influence professional practice in the field. Candidates will use research, experience, and professional judgment to collaborate and work with others in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of effective instruction and services for elementary students.

Candidates will have an advanced understanding of the developmental characteristics, culture, and background of elementary aged, special needs learners and how the differences among them influence the learning condition. The program meets the needs of students with interests within the traditional public and private school arenas and includes an emphasis on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), research-based teacher leadership skills, and 21st Century professional practices in instruction. Completion of the concentration does not lead to state certification or licensure. The program includes a total of 36 semester hours and is comprised of 12 online courses including a capstone action research project conducted on a school or other pre-approved professional site.

This concentration is designed for K-12 teachers who wish to further their studies by achieving an advanced degree with a focus on working with students to promote elementary level reading and literacy development in grades K-6. Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the foundations of best practices in elementary reading curriculum and instruction, use a range of research-based practices, methods, and materials to support curriculum development, and will use a variety of assessment practices and tools to diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate effective literacy instruction.

The program meets the needs of candidates with interests within the traditional public and private school arena and includes an emphasis on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), International Reading Association (IRA) standards, research-based teacher leadership skills, and 21st Century professional practices in instruction. Completion of the concentration does not lead to state certification or licensure. The program includes a total of 36 semester hours and is comprised of 12 online courses including a capstone action research project conducted on a school or other pre-approved professional site.

You May Qualify For Financial Aid.