Celebrating Black Art: The Fifth Annual Black Excellence Showcase
Dean College’s Black Student Union and MyBlackSpeaks will be holding their fifth annual Black Excellence Showcase this Saturday, February 12, 2022. To learn more about the showcase, we caught up with Ashley Jeanty '23, a Psychology major, vice president of MyBlackSpeaks and representative of Black Student Union.
Q: Tell us a little about your organization.
Ashley: MyBlackSpeaks is a dance team that was founded by Black and Brown dance majors back in the fall of 2016. The purpose of MyBlackSpeaks is to give Black and Brown students a safe place to dance and create art. Additionally, to promote Black leadership within Black students in the Dean College environment. We promote academic excellence and unity.
Q: Tell us a little about the Black Excellence Showcase.
Ashley: The Black Excellence Showcase allows for Black and Brown creatives on this campus to showcase their art and talent – from singers, to actors, to dancers, to poets. It is a celebration of Black art!
Q: How have you been preparing for the event?
Ashley: We begin preparation in August. We start with a theme that we want to focus on and develop the show from there. We have been rehearsing our dance pieces each week, non-stop, starting in October. We've been collaborating with other student organizations on campus to develop our idea and turn it into reality. I am very thankful of all the creative minds that have come together to help me and my E-board develop this showcase.
Q: What are you most excited about for the Black Excellence Showcase?
Ashley: I am most excited to see the show come together. It started out as an idea and has become a reality. Being one of the people in charge of putting this show together, this show has become something I hold very close to my heart. I am excited to just perform again!
Q: What other upcoming events can students expect to see from MyBlackSpeaks?
Ashley: We are currently thinking up more events that are still in the process of being developed, but students can expect dance classes from us this semester.
The fifth annual Black Excellence Showcase will be held on Saturday, February 12, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. in the Guidrey Center. To purchase tickets, the Dean Community can visit Today@Dean. Can't attend? Watch the live stream.
