Prospect Park South
Starry-eyed students
Budding musicians wowed the crowd at Maa Sa Akhi Performing Arts Academy’s annual talent show on June 2 at PS 249.
The electrifying gig — emceed by honor students Oneika Webster and Marquis Sutton — dazzled more than 200 family, faculty, and friends, including community activist Ed Powell, who stomped, clapped, and yelled along to traditional African beats.
Rhythm Babies Logan McIntosh, Brice Brian, and Andrew Knowles — led by director Mut Hefen — opened the show with syncopated patterns on snare drums. The Rhythm Orchestra followed with traditional South African Boot Dancing selections that had everybody rockin’ some more.
Standing O pal Mut (Kamitic for “mom”), explained why students put their all into the performance.
“Getting the whole body involved in learning complex rhythms through clapping, stomping and singing-shouting the word count is an excellent way of helping young students to execute what they will later more easily have a better understanding of,” said Mut. “It’s just like a child learning to speak correct grammar because of hearing and experiencing correct grammar, long before ever learning grammar rules.”
Standing O adds its own standin’, stompin’ shout-out — with extra hootin’ and hollerin’ — to the stellar bunch.
Maa Sa Akhi Performing Arts Academy [25 E. 16th St. between Caton and Church avenues in Prospect Park South, (347) 414–5486].
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