Allied Arts offering community dance, visual arts opportunities this month

Published 7:00 am Thursday, January 4, 2024

Allied Arts is kicking off the New Year with a couple of new and exciting events for the community to enjoy.

An African dance class is scheduled for this month that will offer a new and unique experience for the community. 

“We’re really just trying to bring a new event to Milledgeville to give some variety,” said Kristin Allen, program coordinator at Allied Arts.

Serving as instructor for the classes will be Jason Aryeh, a renowned dance instructor and lecturer of dance in the University of Georgia’s Department of Dance. According to UGA’s website, Aryeh is a traditional and contemporary trained dancer and historian from the coastal area of Accra-Ghana. He has toured the world extensively with traditional and contemporary West African dance groups and has diverse experience as a performer, teacher, choreographer and movement research scholar throughout West Africa and the United States. 

In addition to a lengthy list of experience on his impressive resume, Aryeh is the artistic director and founder of Africa Alive Dance Company, a research-oriented movement performance ensemble in Accra. Aryeh earned his bachelor of fine arts (BFA) degree in dance and African studies from the University of Ghana and his master of fine arts (MFA) degree in performance and choreography studies from State University of New York, College at Brockport. He has shared his research expertise both in the classroom and in the movement studio at many universities and colleges both internationally and in the U.S. Aryeh travels to Africa each year and incorporates the traditions he experiences into his dances, allowing him to share culture and life experiences with others through dance. He teaches contemporary, jazz, hip hop and African dance.

Organizers say they are excited for Aryeh to bring his skills both to the community and to the local school system. Aryeh will spend one day working with students during his visit. On Jan. 19, he’ll teach a master class at Baldwin High School for BHS dance students and Oak Hill Middle School dance students from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. He’ll also give a performance at the BHS Little Theater from 2 to 3 p.m.

Then, on Jan. 20, Aryeh will offer an African dance class to the community from 10 a.m. to noon. The cost for the class is $20. Aryeh will give a free performance for the community at 2 p.m. at Allen’s Market the same day. 

Residents can register for the dance class by visiting Allied Arts’ website at milledgevillealliedarts.com. Allen said she is hopeful that those attending walk away pleased to have been a part of a unique experience.

“[It’s] just something different, something we haven’t seen before [and] just a whole new experience,” she said. 

Also in January, local artist Porsha Luca’s work will be on display at The Marlor House Jan. 5-26. An opening reception is scheduled for Jan. 5 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Luca hails from San Antonio, Texas, where she grew up in a melting pot of ethnic and cultural influences. With her love of travel, sci-fi and fantasy, she displays many of her interests in her art. She explores many subjects that range from ancient mysteries to theoretical physics and even space exploration. 

Luca utilizes vibrant colors in her work. Color exploration is one of her favorite journeys as an artist. She often works in acrylic and oil paint, but she also finds herself wandering to other media such as charcoal, pastels and graphite. With the belief that art is subjective, she often leaves interpretation to the eyes and imagination of the viewer. She does, however, have a personal and deep-rooted connection with each painting.

Allen said 30 of Luca’s pieces will be on display during the exhibit, and she is excited for the community to experience her unique artwork. 

“It’s some of the coolest stuff you will ever see,” she said. 

The Marlor House will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the exhibit. It is located at 201 N. Wayne St.