Universal African Drum and Dance Ensemble Visit PAC

February 10, 2022

Last week, our students were in for a special Black History Month celebration when Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble (UADD) visited and performed at our new Performing Arts Center (PAC).

Hailing from New Jersey, UADD is the first outside group to perform in the PAC, which is special in itself. But the fact that they came during Black History Month speaks volumes!

CCS prides itself on the diversity in our staff and student body, and welcoming a group like UADD to showcase their talents shows this. Mrs. Burton, Curriculum Supervisor, said, “As we celebrate BHM, I searched for an African music presentation to share with our students because of the powerful connection between music, dance, and the celebration of culture and life.”

Consisting of 77 members, Universal has performed all over the world, and every performance ends with positive messages like this one from UADD Leader Wanda Dickerson: “Love yourselves, your teachers, your family, and those you don’t know.” She also said, “It costs nothing to be kind.”

Wearing traditional African clothing, UADD used the entire stage to play their drums and dance to the different beats. Many of the younger dancers learned how to dance by watching their parents, some starting as young as a year old! One UADD performer, Robert Dickerson said, “We must display and be the beauty, righteousness, and love of our original culture.”

When Collegium Center Stage Theatre Artistic Director Kim Christman was asked why she thought UADD’s performance was so important during Black History Month, she said this: “Black History is a living, breathing history that was not only made in the past but also has a powerful impact on how we live our lives in the present moment. To initiate Collegium’s Black History Month celebration, bringing in performers who exemplify the ways our past informs our present was a central consideration.”

UADD’s performance means a lot to the CCS community because it is vital to seek opportunities to integrate joy into education and students’ daily lives. This should always be a primary goal and aspiration of education. 

We look forward to welcoming UADD back to campus for our rescheduled High School assemblies currently scheduled for Friday, February 18th.