The auditorium at Jefferson High School was humming like a beehive, punctuated by giggles and squeals of excited youngsters greeting each other, and the occasional wail of a baby in their parent’s arm, all waiting for the Spring Recital of the Harriet Tubman Middle School and Faubion Elementary School.

Before photographing the performance, I had a chance to walk the dark stage, occasionally taking a picture of the students, blurry in the absence of good, well, almost any light. The blurriness matched the mood to perfection, though – everyone was eager to go, quick on their feet, slightly nervous and wondering if all the hard work they had put in for months on end would pay off. Sort of a fleeting moment before the show started for real.

And what a show it was: the energy on the stage amplified by the appreciative reception in the hall, the musicians’ visible joy amplified by the stomping of quick feet, competing for control over the speed, the room lit up by the smiles of the performers, amplified by the proud smiles of their parents.

The school leadership, the teachers, the musicians, the choreographers all pulled something together that was remarkable. The dancers themselves were a wonder – making it work in ways that integrated everyone from beginners to young people who might as well be professionals. The same was true for a grand finale drumming performance that had the audience stomping in the aisles.

And I asked myself, why are not more people coming to applaud these kinds of achievements? How are we, the community, represented when it comes to providing encouragement to projects like these? For all the talk of helping underserved populations, where are we when our mere presence could provide some actual support?

I had the privilege to listen to the drumming of Hakim Rashad Muhammad and Derrel Sekou Soumah Walker, the students’ teachers, on many previous occasions. Sekou’s wife, the intensely talented Karida Griffith Walker, is going to be part of the teaching faculty at Portland Tap Dance Fest, coming up next weekend. You can read about her below.

2019 Festival Faculty

I will be watching the Friday night performance of our cousin Bethany Reisberg and her colleagues – if you want to be uplifted, consider coming as well!

2019 Festival Events

And here is a clip that shows Griffith Walker tap dancing a few years back with Dorrence Dance.