Strutting our Stuff: A West Philly Arts Fair April 29, 2006

Contact: Jacqui Bowman, Ex.Dir., University City Arts League 215-382-7811, [email protected]

The 40th Street Community Arts Collective (COAC) Presents ?Strutting Our Stuff? A West Philly Arts Fair

This fair features live performances by 17 local artists in dance, music, poetry and theater to celebrate World Dance Day.

?Strutting Our Stuff? is free and open to the public of all ages.

The event provides opportunity for artistic exchange and dialogue while showcasing local artists and arts organizations from the 40th Street Corridor. In addition to performances, there will be tables for promotional materials and opportunities to meet the artists, businesses and art organizations. For more info on tables, contact Jacqui Bowman, 215-382-7811.

Performers include: Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers Co. (Modern Dance); Philippine Folk Arts Society Dancers (Folk Dance); Leah ?Keturah? Caesar + students (Breakdance); Dolores Luis Gmitter (Flamenco); Melanie Cotton (Hip Hop); Olive Dance Company (Breakdance); Maurice Edwards (West African Dance); Kwasi Burgee (African Drummer); Ed Shockley (Theatre);Curio Theatre (Theatre); Archedream for Humankind (Dance Theatre); Gweny Love (Poetry); Frank Walsh (Poetry);
Miz Olivia (Poetry); Shawn Terreri (Poetry); Pat King (Underground Literary Alliance); and
Friends of Kathy Change/ Transformation Party with Elliot Levin.

The purpose of World Dance Day, now in its 14th year is to attract attention to the art form by introducing it to new audiences who may not attend a formal dance concert. ?

The 40th Street Community Arts Collective (COAC) is a recently-formed organization dedicated to enriching the arts in West Philadelphia. The Collective includes local artists, arts organizations, arts educators, arts venues, arts businesses, and local community development organizations, as well as faculty and staff from Penn, Drexel and the University of the Sciences. Their mission is to support and promote artists and arts-related activities, education and retail and attract new artists and audiences to the neighborhood. The 40th Street COAC began as a task force of the friends of 40th Street which itself grew out of a series of community forums on the 40th Street commercial corridor held in the winter of 2004.

Official Website: http://www.ihousephilly.org