Caribbean theme highlights
SUNY Brockport spring events

Spring brings warm Caribbean breezes to SUNY College at Brockport with music by Rochester's own Urban Steel, the Department of Theatre's production of "Once on this Island," performances by the Department of Dance's Sankofa African Dance and Drum Ensemble, and "Works on Paper," an art exchange with Kingston, Jamaica's Edna Manley School.

Rochester's own steel drum band, Urban Steel, performs at SUNY Brockport on Saturday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the Seymour College Union Ballroom. As a cultural exchange, at this performance, Urban Steel will be joined by not only the Hell's Gate Steel Orchestra, but also by Antigua's St. Joseph's Academy Rhythm Masters, another steel drum orchestra, as well as by the St. Joseph's Academy Glee Club.

Urban Steel started three years ago at John Marshall High School following a visit by three members of Hell's Gate Steel orchestra, from Antigua, West Indies. These three musicians built nine instruments consisting of 25 individual steel pans. Under the guidance of Music Director Mary Taylor and teacher Lisa Scott, the high school students then learned to play the pans and read music. They have performed at such events as the Lilac Festival, the Rochester Police Department Volunteer Recognition Picnic, Camp Good Days, the Rochester Rhinos games, the Maplewood Rose Festival, and the 10th anniversary dinner of Wilson Commencement Park. In April 2001, the Antiguan musicians/artisans returned to Rochester to build an additional 17 instruments, giving the band the potential to become a true steel orchestra.

Tickets for the Urban Steel are $7 general admission/$5 students and seniors, and are available by phone at 395-ARTS or at the Tower Fine Arts Center Box Office, Holley Street.

"Once on this Island" is performed April 16, 17, 23, 24 at 7:30 p.m.; and April 18 and 25 at 2 p.m. on the Mainstage at the Town Fine Arts Center, Holley Street. Tickets are $10 general/$7 students and seniors, and are available by phone at 395-ARTS or at the Tower Fine Arts Center Box Office. The performance on April 25 will be ASL sign-language interpreted.

Sankofa African Drum and Dance Ensemble presents African, Brazilian and Caribbean dance April 29-May 2 in the Hartwell Dance Theater, Kenyon Street. Tickets are $10 general/$7 students and seniors, and are available at the Tower Fine Arts Center Box Office, Holley Street, or by calling (585) 395-ARTS.

SUNY Brockport's Tower Fine Arts Center Gallery is exhibiting "Works on Paper" from Edna Manley School students April 29-May 14, with an opening reception April 29, 6 to 8 p.m. In turn, SUNY Brockport student's work will be on exhibit at Edna Manley. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, call the Tower Fine Arts Center Gallery at (585) 395-2805.