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With measured concentration and deliberate moves, fingers poise over piano keys, eyes follow sheet notes and feet keep step to rhythmic beats – all to musical tunes of Christmastime favorites. 

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Center for the Performing Arts students will present their free annual holiday performance, which will be a mini presentation, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16 in the Multipurpose Room in Building D at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus, 601 James R. Thompson Blvd. in East St. Louis. 

“Our students and staff have been fervently practicing to present a wonderful, exciting and joyous performance,” said Performing Arts Program Director Homer Simmons. “Our annual holiday performance promises to be entertaining and uplifting. 

“We will follow federal and SIUE COVID-19 guidelines during the concert, and students will be masked while performing.” 

Performances will range from musical numbers on the piano, chimes and drums to dance numbers that include jazz, ballet, hip-hop and Dunham Technique. 

Some of what the audience can expect to hear includes “Jingle Bells” on the piano and “Sleigh Ride” on the chimes. Such dance numbers as “A Christmas Dream” and “Frecube” will be performed. 

“The students’ ability to display a wide variety of talent is commendable,” said Jack Williams, Performing Arts coordinator. 

Performing Arts teachers include: Mary Jo Pembrook, PhD, piano and chimes instructor, Gerald Babatunde Williams, African drum and dance choreographer; and Jay’Kayla Winford, Dunham Technique, hip-hop and modern dance choreographer. 

The SIUE East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts has a long, rich history. The legendary dancer, anthropologist, and social activist Katherine Dunham founded the Center for Performing Arts at the SIUE East St. Louis Center in 1964. At its peak in the 1990s, the East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts provided year-round instruction to more than 1,000 youth and became a training ground for professional artists of all disciplines. For decades, the East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts provided performing arts classes to students and community members to develop local talent and to cultivate a love of the arts. Classes often culminated in musical and theatrical productions. 

With a focus on empowering people and strengthening communities, the SIUE East St. Louis Center is dedicated to improving the lives of families and individuals - from pre-school through adult - in the Metro East. Head Start/Early Head Start and a charter high school are among the programs that offer the community renewed hope and an opportunity to reach educational, career and life goals. The Center also assigns first priority to encouraging, supporting and improving the educational success of the residents of East St. Louis and surrounding urban communities. The Center provides comprehensive programs, services and training in the areas of education, health, social services and the arts. 

Photos:
Mary Jo Pembrook, PhD, Performing Arts piano and chimes instructor, (right) practices “Jingle Bell Rock” with Gabby Mitchell. 

Students rehearse a dance number under the supervision of Jay’Kayla Winford, Performing Arts Dunham Technique, hip-hop and modern dance instructor and choreographer. Shown from left to right are: Kayona Brown, Danae Tyus, Olivia Bell, Nia Barnes and Imani Barnes. 

Students practice “Sleigh Ride” on the chimes under the direction of Pembrook. Shown from left to right are: Pembrook, Mitchell, D.J. Lee, Aunya King, Kacien Fields, Greyson Coates and Meadow Coates. Stretching in the background is Karenza Cox.