BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT: LI ARTS & CULTURE AFTER SHUTDOWN
Join Emmy-Award Winning Producer Waldo Cabrera as he follows five different cultural dance organizations as they plan, rehearse, and perform for live audiences following the COVID-19 shutdown.
Without the ability to meet in person or to perform for an audience, many cultural organizations have folded during the pandemic and others to continue to hang on by a thread. As New York re-opens, this series aims to capture the excitement within five unique cultural dance troupes as they prepare to once again share their heritage in person through their art and uplift their communities. This project’s goal is to spread awareness of these groups and their work with the intent of facilitating partnerships, collaborations, and other ways to ensure the future of these organizations.
Watch the 5-part series below featuring:
- Layla's African Drum and Dance Studio- Valley Stream, NY
- Chinese Center on Long Island- West Hempstead, NY
- Boys & Girls Club of Shinnecock Nation- Southampton, NY
- Sol y Sombra Spanish Dance Company- Huntington, NY
- S.V.V. Original Enzian Bavarian Dance- Franklin Square, NY
Back In The Spotlight is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Spotlight On: Layla's African Dance & Drum
This episode of Back in the Spotlight features Layla's Dance and Drum Studio located in Valley Stream, NY where students and parents are celebrating the start of Black History Month and the restart of public performances after a long COVID-19 shutdown. Follow the dancers as they go back in the spotlight as the halftime entertainment for the world-famous Harlem Globe Trotters!
Spotlight On: Chinese Center on Long Island
This episode of Back in the Spotlight features Chinese Center on Long Island's Lion Dance Troupe as they step back in the spotlight after 2 years of virtual performances to once again perform to a live audience for the Lunar New Year! The Chinese Center on Long Island is is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization located in West Hempstead, NY. Their mission is to provide programs to foster a respect, and appreciation of the culture and contributions made by the Chinese and Chinese-Americans to the community-at-large.
Spotlight On: Boys & Girls Club of Shinnecock Nation
This episode of Back in the Spotlight features the Boys and Girls Club of Shinnecock Nation on the East End of Long Island as they step back in the spotlight after 2 years of virtual performances to once again perform to a live audience at the Shinnecock Powwow! The Boys & Girls Club of Shinnecock Nation provides support for the physical, social, emotional, mental, spiritual, and financial wellbeing of Shinnecock youth by providing them with various resources, activities, and opportunities.
Spotlight On: Sol y Sombra Spanish Dance
This episode of Back In The Spotlight features Long Island's Sol y Sombra Flamenco Dance Company as they step back in the spotlight and prepare to perform at the 2022 Huntington Art Council's Summer Arts Festival! Sol y Sombra is a nonprofit organization that presents programs of Flamenco, Spanish Classical & Folk, Mexican, Argentine Tango and Latin Dance styles as well as other traditional dances from throughout the Hispanic/Latin world for concert series, arts-in-education programs, colleges, cultural and entertainment centers
Spotlight On: S.V.V. Original Enzian
This episode of Back In The Spotlight features S.V.V. Original Enzian, a nonprofit folk dancing group dedicated to preserving Bavarian culture and customs based out of Franklin Square, NY. Waldo Cabrera spotlights the organization as they prepare for the Long Island Bavarian Fest, an annual celebration of German culture which celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 2022.