Fountainhead®
Tanz Theatre
founded 1980, Berlin/Germany
Black International Cinema Berlin/Germany & U.S.A. founded 1986, Berlin/Germany
The Collegium Forum & Television Program Berlin Magdeburg/Wolfsburg/Dessau founded 1995, Berlin/Germany in association with Cultural Zephyr e.V. founded 1990, Berlin/Germany
Prof.
Gayle McKinney Griffith
Co-Founder/Director: Fountainhead Tanz Theatre, Black International
Cinema,
The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin and Cultural Zephyr
e.V.
Original
Fountainhead Tanz Theatre Logo, ca. 1980
Design by Prof. Gayle McKinney Griffith
...are an international, intercultural community of persons engaged in achieving increasing understanding and cooperation between individuals and groups in support of democratic procedures and the elimination of violence, religious, ethnic and gender persecution, youth exploitation, homophobia and racial hatred through the process of art, education, culture and dialogue.
...sind eine internationale, interkulturelle Gemeinschaft von Menschen mit dem Engagement für ein besseres Verständnis und wachsende Kooperation zwischen Individuen und Gruppen, mit Unterstützung des demokratischen Prozesses und der Beseitigung von Gewalt, Verfolgung aufgrund religiöser, ethnischer und geschlechtlicher Zugehörigkeit, Kindes- und Jugendmissbrauch, Homosexuellen-Feindlichkeit und Rassenhass, durch die Mittel der Kunst, der Bildung, der Kultur und des Dialogs.
...sont une communauté internationale et interculturelle de personnes engagées à promouvoir la compréhension et la coopération croissantes entre les individus et les groupes, à l´appui des outils démocratiques et à travers l´élimination de la violence, de la persécution religieuse, ethnique et sexuelle, de l´exploitation de la jeunesse, de l´homophobie et de la haine raciale par le processus de l´art, de l´éducation, de la culture et du dialogue.
...kültürler ve uluslar arasi bir topluluk olarak, bireyler ve gruplar arasinda daha iyi bir anlayis ve is birlikteligi için angaje olmaktayiz, bununla demokratik bir sürecin destegiyle sanat, egitim, kültür ve dialog araciligi ile siddet, antisemitizm, homoseksüel düsmanligi ve irklar arasi kin ve nefret duzgusuna bir çözüm getirmek istiyoruz.
...é uma comunidade international e intercultural de pessoas empenhádas em melhorar a compreensão e aumentar a cooperação entre indivíduos e grupos, apoiando o processo democrãtico e a eliminação da violência, anti-semitismo, discriminação homossexual e racismo, a trave's da arte, educação, cultura e diálogo.
...sono una communità internazionale e interculturale di persone impegnate per una migliore comprensione e cooperazione tra gl'individui e i gruppi, con la meta di dare un impulso al processo democratico, eliminando cosi la violenza, l'antisemitismo, il rassismo e la discriminazione degli omosessuali - per questa realisazione ci sono gl'instrumenti dell'arte dell'educazione, della cultura e dello dialogo.
...son una comunidad internacional e intercultural de personas empenadas para una mejor comprensión y cooperación entre los individuos y grupos, con la meta de dar fuerza al impulso democrático y asi de eliminar también la violencia como el antisemitismo, el racismo y la discriminación de los homosexuales. Por eso se usan los medios del arte, de la educación, de la cultura y del diálogo.
Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith, co-founder/producer/publisher/director of the Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre, Berlin/Germany (1980), Black International Cinema Berlin (1986), The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin and other cities (1995), "Footprints in the Sand?" - Exhibition (2000) and Cultural Zephyr e.V. (1990).
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre was founded 1980 in Berlin/Germany by the Professors Donald Muldrow Griffith and Gayle McKinney Griffith together with three other artists. Since then both are co-producers and directors of the Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre. Fountainhead® is a production, performing and teaching unit. People with different national, cultural, ethnic, social-economic and religious backgrounds, of both genders and different sexual orientations are working together in a variety of artistic and cultural fields with the intention to create, promote and bring about an intercultural exchange with the projects available.
The philosophical premise upon which these organizations are based is:
Increasing international and intercultural understanding and cooperation between individuals and groups in support of democratic procedures and the elimination of violence, religious, ethnic and gender persecution, youth exploitation, homophobia and racial hatred through the process of art, education, culture and dialogue.
Professor
Donald Muldrow Griffith completed his studies in Psychology and Pedagogics
at the University of Loyola, Chicago Illinois, U.S.A..
After considerable time as a practicing Group Therapist, Elementary School
teacher and Probation Officer for Juvenile Offenders, he began his training
in acting, voice, speech and diction and also studied a variety of dance
techniques, including ballet, modern, jazz and African dance. His stage,
choreographic and production career began in the U.S.A. as an actor, singer,
dancer, fashion model and choreographer and he performed featured roles
in musicals, theater, television commercials and film productions.
Prof. Griffith played the starring roles in the Broadway Musicals "Pippin,"
"Stop The World, I Want To Get Off," "Lyrics Of Sunshine And Shadows,"
where he portrayed the poet, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, and was also awarded
the "Most Promising Off Broadway Actor," by the New York Broadway Critics
for his featured roles in "Contributions," a three act drama in which
Donald Muldrow Griffith appeared in two of the three acts.
He also staged fashion shows for major clothing manufacturers and fashion
houses at venues such as, Lincoln Center, Waldorf Astoria, Regines and
other New York City locales.
Prof. Griffith narrated industrial shows in the U.S.A. for a number of
years for clients such as Ford Motor Company, Buick, Metropolitan Life
Insurance, Western Electric, Trans World Airlines, Detroit Diesel and
other major companies in the U.S.A..
He also danced with the Rondo Dance Theater and Fred Benjamin Dance Company.
In addition, he managed the careers of artists, such as Oscar Brown Jr.,
in Chicago, Illinois and New York City.
Prof. Griffith's quest for further creative and educational opportunities was enhanced by an invitation to Berlin/Germany for performing, teaching and choreographing at Theater des Westens. As a result, Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre was established in Berlin/Germany by Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith, Prof. Gayle McKinney Griffith, Lynnda Curry, Ricky Powell and Detlef Bäcker and has become a source of creative and educational endeavors in Berlin, elsewhere in Europe and the U.S.A..
Prof. Griffith´s direction and choreography of "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf" was awarded "Special Judge´s Award" for Choreography and Music in the European-wide Tournament of Plays by the US. Army.
As a result of their educational and artistic backgrounds in the U.S.A./Europe and after an international university search, he and his wife, Prof. Gayle McKinney Griffith were selected and invited to Indiana University South Bend, U.S.A., to establish a dance theater department.
Prof. Griffith´s talent, creativity and experience as a singer, actor, dancer, narrator, writer, producer, director and choreographer are characteristic of FOUNTAINHEAD's undertakings and productions today.
Besides a variety of activities in the fields of dance, theatre, music, film/video, publication and television, the production, direction and realization of the annual intercultural, interdisciplinary film/video festival Black International Cinema Berlin and the television program The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin, weekly broadcast on Sundays from 7-8 pm, Mondays from 3.45-4.45 pm, Thursdays from 10-11 pm, Saturdays from 10-11 am at Alex - Offener Kanal Berlin, belong to the focal point of work by the Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre. In addition to the foregoing productions of Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre is the annual "Footprints in the Sand?" Exhibition, a visual arts documentation of Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre and international artists.
In 1990, Fountainhead® founded Cultural Zephyr e.V. as a non-profit organization.
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre is a production, performance and distribution unit, which was initiated and developed by Prof. Gayle McKinney Griffith and Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith, both experienced artists from the U.S.A. Fountainhead® engages people from various national, cultural, ethnic, socio-economic, religious backgrounds, and sexual identities, and works in a variety of artistic and cultural areas, with the goal of creating, experiencing and communicating intercultural exchange within its projects and to the world community. Since its founding in 1980, Berlin/Germany, Fountainhead® has presented a variety of international, intercultural and interdisciplinary productions in the areas of dance, theatre, film festivals, television programming, film distribution, publications, seminars, exhibitions, workshops and musical presentations.
Fountainhead® presented productions such as:
"Fountainhead® meets Mombasa", 1980; "The Crazy Horse Suite", 1980; the Cultural Festival "Fountainhead and Friends", 1983; Europe's first "Black Cultural Festival Berlin", 1986, a 3-week event, March 3-23, which presented the contributions of Black people to world culture through film, theater, dance, music, workshops and seminars, and was an homage to the legendary tap dancer, Carnell Lyons; the venues were the Theatermanufaktur am Halleschen Ufer from March 3-16, music - dance - theatre; Hochschule der Künste Berlin on March 11, symposium; Kino Arsenal from March 17-23, film. Organization and Artistic direction: Prof. Gayle McKinney Griffith (USA/Berlin), Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith (USA/Berlin), Donald Muldrow McKinney Griffith II (USA/Berlin), Dr. Ntongela Masilela (South Africa); in cooperation with: Prof. Dr. Abdul Alkalimat (USA), Uazuvara Ewald Katjivena (Namibia), Getinet Belay (Ethiopia), Joliba Africa Center; Organization: Erika Gregor (Arsenal Cinema/Germany); Organization Assistance: Annette Koschmieder (Germany);
since 1986, Fountainhead® has annually presented the "Black International Cinema Berlin", which originated from the Black Cultural Festival Berlin, other European cities and the U.S.A. since 1990; the choreographies for "Tucholsky in Rock", Schillertheater Werkstatt, 1983; "Cabaret", director: Günther Krämer, Altes Schauspielhaus Stuttgart, 1984; "Die Letzte Rolle", a film by Egon Günther, ZDF 1985; the films "A Man Without Limits", documenting Europe's first Black Cultural Festival Berlin and "I Dream A World", both in cooperation with Polish Television were awarded "best films" in 1988 by the Polish commission for film arts.
For
the revision of "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When
The Rainbow Is Enuf", a prizewinning piece by N. Shange, Fountainhead®
was awarded the "Special Judge's Award," for best choreography 1988
in the "European-wide Tournament of Plays."
Fountainhead®
has written several articles for dance magazines and published five
Black International Cinema Anthologies.
For
the revision of "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When
The Rainbow Is Enuf", a prizewinning piece by N. Shange, Fountainhead®
was awarded the "Special Judge's Award," for best choreography 1988
in the "European-wide Tournament of Plays."
Fountainhead®
has written several articles for dance magazines and published five
Black International Cinema Anthologies.
In 1987, Fountainhead® initiated the youth dance ensemble "Space & Times", and presented the production "Crossroads" with invited guest artists, Nana Shineflug and The Chicago Moving Company. In 1989,"Crossroads" was successfully presented at the Hebbel Theater Berlin. Fountainhead® was awarded a special proclamation by the Mayor of Chicago, Richard Daley.
Besides creating for other dance performances, in 1990 the documentary film, "Crossroads," was created in cooperation with Michael Andre in Berlin.
Various activities in the field of cultural work with young people followed and subsequently the organization of an audition for the Walt Disney Film Production "Swing Kids".
FOUNTAINHEAD®
TANZ THEATRE
ORIGINS
from left:
Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith,
Ricky Powell,
Prof. Gayle McKinney Griffith, Lynnda Curry
In 1992, Gayle McKinney Griffith and Donald Muldrow Griffith received professorships and responsibility for founding the subject area of Dance at Indiana University South Bend (IUSB) U.S.A.. After their "Inaugural Dance Performance" at IUSB, which was sold out, varied activities followed, such as a television production for the local TV-station W.N.D.U., "People, Places, Neighbors & Things", a nomination for membership in the "Indiana Arts Commission" as well as for the "Michiana Arts & Sciences Council" USA. The Black International Cinema Interdisciplinary Film - /Video-Festival was also presented in Chicago in 1994 with the participation of the Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre Company.
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Guide
to Indiana University South Bend
Dance Program Collection
at the IU South Bend Archives
The
collection for the Dance Program at the
Indiana University South Bend Archives
documents the history of Donald and Gayle Griffith,
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre Berlin Germany,
as directors of the Dance Department from 1992 to 1995,
with numerous visual material as recent as 2011.
http://library.iusb.edu/archives/inventory/Dance.shtml
http://library.iusb.edu/archives/inventory/Dance.doc
http://library.iusb.edu/archives/inventory/Dance.pdf
The Collegium, in association with Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre, Black International Cinema and Cultural Zephyr e.V., was founded in Berlin, Germany on May 14, 1995 by Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith, Prof. Gayle McKinney Griffith, Mark Headley and Calvann Cole as an open forum enabling and supporting informational exchange by undertaking projects among The Collegium participants in conjunction with other individuals and groups, where feasible.
In 1996, Fountainhead® became a member of the Black History Month Committee in Berlin. Fountainhead® also began production and direction of a television broadcast entitled "The Collegium", a monthly magazine program presented at the Offener Kanal, Berlin (OKB).
Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith is appointed Chairman of the club, BAU, (Berlin Americans United e.V.), and in August 1996, project leader (director, choreographer, dance instructor) at the RAA, Berlin (Regionale Arbeitsstellen für Ausländerfragen, Jugendarbeit und Schule e.V.).
He directed and choreographed the intercultural youth musical "Woah Woah", which was presented at the Hackesches Hof-Theater in April 1997; "Paul Robeson - A Portrait of a Giant", a theatre performance including readings, dance and video, which was presented on "The Collegium" television program and also during Black History Month 1997 celebration.
Mark Headley
& Lynnda Curry
The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin/Munich in association with Dr. Themba Kadalie, other individuals and groups, presented a four day interdisciplinary and intercultural program from February 26 - March 1, 1998 at the Werkstatt der Kulturen and SEKIS in Berlin entitled, "An Aspect Of History"; the presentation of the XIII. Black International Cinema Berlin/Cottbus, Germany & U.S.A. 1998 from April 16 - 19 occurred at the Werkstatt der Kulturen, Berlin, with films, videos, dance, theatre presentations, workshops and seminars. On April 27, films and videos were screened at the Obenkino, Cottbus.
The XIV. Black International Cinema Berlin/Cottbus, interdisciplinary, intercultural film/video, dance, theatre, music & seminar presentations, Germany & U.S.A., was presented by Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre, The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin/Munich and Cultural Zephyr e.V., in association with the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and in cooperation with the Hochschule der Künste Berlin, April 30 - May 8, 1999.
The XIV. Black International Cinema Berlin 1999 produced a 250 page Anthology, featuring original documents from the Humbolt-Universität zu Berlin archives of W.E.B. DuBois, Mildred Harnack Fish and Paul Robeson. The Anthology also includes the complete XIV. Black International Cinema Berlin 1999 program of film, theatre, dance, music and seminars.
For information regarding the acquisition of the XIV. Black International Cinema Berlin 1999 Anthology and additional BIC Anthologies, please contact us through our distribution service, www.black-international-cinema.com/distribution.html.
Marion Kramer and Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith were elected to the districts of Schöneberg and Tempelhof Cultural Commission, which reviews and offers recommendations for proposals of cultural projects to be presented in the combined districts of Schöneberg and Tempelhof, as part of the Berlin city re-organization.
The year 2000 witnessed production of the XV. Black International Cinema Film-Video Festival in Berlin, Düsseldorf and Cottbus, accompanied by theatre, music, seminars and dance presentations.
The Collegium - Forum & Telelvision Program began production every Sunday 9 - 10 p.m. with film, discussion, arts calendar and in addition, produced three television programs of the venture, entitled "Classic In Black 2001", undertaken by Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre in association with and initiated by Harry Louiserre.
Articles for magazines regarding various subject matter were published throughout the year. The Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre website, www.fountainhead-tanz-theatre.de, was presented an award for "A Highly Recommended Cultural Website."
2001 was underpinned by the presentation of the XVI. Black International Cinema in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Cottbus and Munich, accompanied by a regular Sunday presentation of The Collegium Television Program from 9:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. and articles published in English and German.
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre / Black International Cinema was granted the official status of "Associated Projects to the UNESCO Slave Route Project."
2002 witnessed the presentation of the XVII. Black International Cinema Film-Video Festival in Berlin and Düsseldorf. Filmmakers from Israel, Switzerland and the U.S.A. were guests during the Black International Cinema premiere in Berlin.
The Collegium Television Program is a weekly presence, Sunday 9 - 10 p.m. on the Open Channel Berlin (OKB). The Collegium Television Program is also distributed to the German cities of Magdeburg, Wolfsburg, Trier and Kaiserslautern.
Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith was an invited panelist, to discuss Distribution & Festival Planning during the Global African Diaspora Cinema Symposium 2002 in Salvador/Bahia, Brazil. The invitation was extended by the City of Los Angeles, U.S.A. Department of Cultural Heritage and the African Marketplace Inc., U.S.A. The Symposium occurred December 6-12, 2002 in conjunction with the Pan African Film Festival as a program within the IV. Mercado Cultural Festival Salvador/Bahia, Brazil.
XVIII. Black International Cinema 2003, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Vienna/Austria, Ljubljana/Slovenia will co-operate with The Pan African Film Festival Salvador/Bahia, Brazil during the annual presentation of Black International Cinema Film/Video Festival Berlin/Germany, May 8-11. - Klick Filmtheater; Düsseldorf, May 22-25. - Black Box Kino, Filmmuseum; Ljubljana, June 11-15. - Cinema Vic.
2003 witnesses a launching of the FOUNTAINHEAD® DISTRIBUTION-Film/Video/Publishing-Sales & Rental Service, with sales, rentals and publishing resources offered to our audience.
Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith (co–founder/director of Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre) was invited by the Cultural Affairs Department of the city of Los Angeles to participate as a panelist to discuss Distribution and Film Festival Planning during the Global Cinema and Urban Entertainment Conference, sponsored by African Marketplace, Inc. and the Cultural Affairs Department of Los Angeles, California, U.S.A..
A subsequent invitation by the African Marketplace, Inc. and the Cultural Affairs Department of the city of Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., has been extended to Prof. Griffith to attend the 4th Annual Souk Ukaz Festival in Amman, Jordan, September 16 – 18, 2004, as panelist on behalf of the Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre/Black International Cinema. The event is directed towards creating dialog and bringing together Pan-African and Middle Eastern Film and Entertainment professionals.
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre produced choreographic works entitled “Funky Sweatpearls Present Weight Watchers”, “Hol' mir mal 'ne Flasche Bier”, “The Children Of Abraham” and “Ode To Bahia” for presentation on The Collegium Television Program.
Mark Headley
In addition, Cultural Zephyr e.V., under the direction of Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre, and the institute for cultural diplomacy are combining resources to produce and direct the first phase of a five year project entitled, “Interactive Mirror – Spiegel Interaktiv”. An initiative designed to provide an intercultural and artistic environment for young people 14-17, leading to cooperative co-existence in society, as the project objective. The project is scheduled for initial presentation during the XIX. Black International Cinema Berlin 2004 seminar series, May 7-9, 2004.
The XIX. Black International Cinema Berlin 2004 was presented in cooperation with the Humboldt University of Berlin, in association with Classic In Black and the institute for cultural diplomacy and under the auspices of the Commissioner of the Berlin/Germany Senate for Integration and Migration, Günter Piening. The XIX. Black International Cinema Film Festival occured May 6-9 at the Klick Filmtheater and the XIX. Black International Cinema Seminar Series were presented May 7-9 at the Studiobühne of the Humboldt University of Berlin/Philosophy Faculty III.
A distribution agreement has been established between Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre Distribution and Freunde der Deutschen Kinemathek e.V. (Friends Of The German Film Archive), Berlin/Germany, for selected participating films from the annual Black International Cinema Berlin.
2005 marks the anniversaries of Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre (founded Berlin/Germany 1980 / 25 years), Black International Cinema Berlin (founded Berlin/Germany 1986 / 20. edition), The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin (founded Berlin/Germany 1995 / 10 years) and Cultural Zephyr e.V. (founded Berlin/Germany 1990 / 15 years).
The XX. Black International Cinema Berlin 2005 occurred May 5-8 at the cinema, die kurbel with film/video presentations from the U.S.A., South Africa, Canada, Ghana, Germany, United Kingdom, Cuba, Senegal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Mexico, Austria, Iran, France and Argentina.
"Footprints In the Sand?" 2005, a visual documentation of a people's efforts and success, at constructive cultural contributions in an international arena. Presentations: Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre and Classic In Black.
Fountainhead®
Tanz Theatre & Placement in Concert
In cooperation with Placement professioneller Raum für Tanz-Theater-Kunst
und Körperarbeit, Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre produced, directed and
choreographed an interdisciplinary multi-media production entitled "Literature
+ Photography + Paintings + Choreography + Dance = Performance" which
was presented during THE COLLEGIUM Television Program on September 18,
2005.
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre also produced, directed and choreographed a
multi-media production entitled "Remembrance" which combined dance,
film and music and was created for THE COLLEGIUM Television Program´s
10th anniversary broadcast, November 20.
In
2006 Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre presented an exhibition entitled "Odyssey
- Photographic Exhibition - Visual Documentation" including "Footprints
in the Sand?" and Classic In Black, which has been on display from February
13 until March 31, 2006 in the gallery of Kiezmeile/bunddesign in Berlin-Prenzlauer
Berg.
Accompanying the exhibition was a presentation February 17/18 at 8.30
p.m., in French, English and German incorporating literature concerning
social-political, artistic thinking and undertakings from Carter G. Woodson,
James Baldwin, Countee Cullen, Claude McKay, Aimé Césaire
and other distinguished writers.
The presentors-readers of this presentation, entitled CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS
OF BLACK WRITERS FROM THE 19th THROUGH THE 21st CENTURY, were Harry Louiserre,
Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith, Marion Kramer and Khadija Tarjan McKinney
Griffith, interspersed with music from rap, jazz and documentary recordings.
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre also published articles entitled "A Berlin Original", an overview of the history and accomplishments of Fountainhead®, "Odyssey", accompanied the exhibition with the same title, and an article regarding a film critic about the film "A Conversation With Oscar Brown Jr. - People, Politics and Art", in the magazine "Kiezmeile".
XXI. Black International Cinema St. Louis, Mo., U.S.A./Berlin, Germany 2006. The XXI. Black International Cinema occurred on invitation of and in cooperation with the University of Missouri, St. Louis, Mo./Center for International Studies, U.S.A. at the Saint Louis Art Museum from April 22-24 and in Berlin/Germany at the cinema filmkunst 66, May 4-10.
"Odyssey
- Berlin/St. Louis/New York City/Berlin 2006", A documentary film production
by Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre
A documentary film entitled "Odyssey" was filmed at the Saint Louis Art
Museum and the Romare Bearden Foundation and presented by Fountainhead®
Tanz Theatre as a part of THE COLLEGIUM - Forum & Television programs
during July and is currently screened internationally.
LADY
SADIE Please, pass it on!
A "Dance Theatre Konstruction" in 3 acts
A "Dance Theatre Konstruction" and international cooperation, designed
to raise awareness intellectually, emotionally and spiritually regarding
the devastating effects of violence - internationally, nationally, domestically
and personally, was created by Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre for presentation
in the U.S.A., 2007.
A documentary film in Berlin/Germany was sponsored by the University of Michigan/Center for European Studies and the Center for International and Comparative Studies, Ann Arbor, U.S.A. regarding the efforts of Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre to utilize art and culture for peaceful purposes and will be presented in 2007.
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre presented the MusiKal TheaTre TIME KonsTrucTion - ON AIRE², A Moment in "Time"- at the Nickelodeon cinema in Berlin-Mitte on February 9 and 16, 2007. This multi-media presentation connected various artistic elements and the participating artists through their artistic disciplines. The production is a musical theatre depiction of the passage of "Time", as measured by humans whose "Time" is always fleeting, in relationship to the machinations of nature which functions at will, regardless of "Time". A portrayal of the co-existence of life and "Time" as presented through film, song, dance, spoken word and music.
THE XXII. Black International Cinema Berlin 2007 was presented from May 3-6 at the Nickelodeon cinema. In addition to film, this year's festival hosted several seminars. Prof. Akin Euba presented a seminar entitled "Dialogue in Music: Addressing The Challenges to 21st Century Musicians - Africa and Europe in Berlin 2007". Panelists were: Alexis Pope, Lisa Bryce, Cornelia & Reggie Moore, Charles Wynn, Queen Yahna and Lere O. Shakunle.
Further seminars were "Formula 1 in the 21st Century" presented by Darius Leoncavallo, President, CEO and Founder of the Leoncavallo F1 Racing Team, and "Communication via Television, Internet und Film", presenters: Angela Kramer, Cordula Alkert and Marion Kramer.
"The Bosporus-Project in Istanbul 2008" is a growing, peaceful, intercultural art-project by Yutta Saftien in cooperation with Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre/XXII. Black International Cinema Berlin 2007.
Again, the MusiKal TheaTre TIME KonsTrucTion - ON AIRE², A Moment in "Time" - was performed during the XXII. Black International Cinema Berlin 2007 on May 5.
In November 2007 Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre produced and directed in association with Cultural Zephyr e. V. and in cooperation with Offener Kanal Berlin (Open Channel Berlin) the special edition of the television magazine THE COLLEGIUM - Forum & Television Program Berlin under the title "A Complexion Change": Intercultural Dialogue within a Migratory Society. The future is with us, how do we respond to the inevitabilities of population change, clash or cooperation? Partial Portrait / Past, Present, Future? A relationship of Europe to the world and the human contributions to a developing Europe, at the dawn of the 21st century. The broadcast was presented in English, German and Polish via television and internet. Among the presenters were Günter Piening, Commissioner of the Senat of Berlin for Integration and Migration, and Anna Grudzinska, Foundation Diversity Forum/Poland.
2008 witnessed preparations for the XXIII. Black International Cinema Berlin/Germany, Warsaw/Poland & USA 2008, with film submissions from the USA, Germany, Mali, Iran, Bahrain, India, Canada, Belgium and Senegal. The festival was presented at the Moviemento Cinema, May 8-12 with accompanying seminars.
In addition, the 2nd edition of “A Complexion Change” was televised May 29th via television, internet and radio in English, German, French and Arabic.
“A Complexion Change”, Vision III was presented on Nov 1, 2008 as the last in a series of three special television, radio, internet presentations, produced and directed by Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre for THE COLLEGIUM - Forum & Television Program Berlin, regarding the opportunities and challenges of demographic adjustments, resulting from international migration.
An invitation from the Aspen Cultural Diplomacy Forum U.S.A., provided an opportunity for Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith to attend a conference in Paris France, November 13-15, 2008, in which he served as a presenter and panelist during the seminars “Music as Cultural Diplomacy” and “New Technologies in Arts and Culture - Preservation and Presentation”.
Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009, provided an auspicious occasion for a four hour television, internet, radio production by Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre for THE COLLEGIUM - Forum & Television Program Berlin regarding the inauguration day ceremonies of President Barack Hussein Obama. The program was re-broadcast May 1 and will be repeataed on May 22.
The XXIV. Black International Cinema Berlin 2009 was presented at the Rathaus Schöneberg (city hall of Schöneberg) in cooperation with the Commissioner for Integration, Gabriele Gün Tank, district Tempelhof-Schöneberg of Berlin, May 7-10. Films were screened from Cape Verde, Benin, France, the U.S.A., Iran, India, Togo, Senegal, Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom, Colombia, Spain, Nicaragua, Switzerland, Italy and Madagascar. In addition, seminars and readings were presented.
In November 2009, Fountainhead® was invited for the fifth time to participate in the bi-annual award ceremony of the Senate of Berlin/Germany, which presents awards to persons who are engaged in voluntary community service and working with social and cultural organizations based in Berlin. This document of appreciation and recognition is presented to the persons of Berlin, who have engaged in honorary undertakings and positions. Fountainhead® has been granted permission from the Senate of Berlin to nominate persons for the Volunteer Certificate Award.
Fountainhead® was invited by the Commissioner for Integration of the district Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Berlin, Gabriele Gün Tank, to participate in the project "CrossKultur 2009", a series of productions from the district office of Tempelhof-Schöneberg. On this occasion, Fountainhead®Tanz Theatre produced, directed and presented the program A COMPLEXION CHANGE - International & Intercultural Diplomacy entitled "InterRelations", a collage of film and text interpretations interspersed with music, which was presented on November 17, 2009 at the cinema of the Rathaus Schöneberg (city hall), Berlin.
THE COLLEGIUM - Forum &
Television Program Berlin continues the path of cinema, state of affairs
and artistic presentations on a weekly basis of Sundays, 7-8 pm, Thursdays
10-11 pm.
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre produced and directed two special editions
of THE COLLEGIUM - Forum & Television Program Berlin under the theme
of A COMPLEXION CHANGE, January 17 and February 21, Slices of Life - Personal
Vignettes, featuring the Young People's Artist Group and special guest
actors, who offered their personal experiences from various places in
the world through oral presenations.
The 25th anniversary edition of the Black International Cinema Berlin was presented by Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre at the Rathaus Schöneberg (city hall of Schöneberg) in cooperation with the Commissioner for Integration, Gabriele Gün Tank, district Tempelhof-Schöneberg of Berlin, May 4-8, 2010.
"...Art and culture can build bridges,
cross borders and pull away from stereotypical categorized thinking. Therefore,
initiatives such as Black International Cinema Berlin are important for
the capital of Germany. In 2010, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of
Black International Cinema Berlin.
I extend my congratulations to the organizers of Black International Cinema
Berlin, a cultural highlight which is unique Germany-wide..." Gabriele
Gün Tank
The annual international and intercultural diplomacy film/video festival presented under the theme of A COMPLEXION CHANGE - International and Intercultural Diplomacy - Opportunity, please knock....We Have A Dream and Still We Rise.... films from South Africa, Antigua, France, the Ivory Coast, the USA, Iran, Iraq, Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Senegal, Denmark, Germany, Colombia, Spain, Austria und Canada. In addition, film discussions, performances, readings and seminars were presented.
The photographic exhibition and visual documentation "Footprints in the Sand?" was presented by Fountainead® Tanz Theatre at the Rathaus Schöneberg (city hall) foyer from June 1 - July 31, 2010. The exhibition documents the activities of Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre & James V. Burks, African Marketplace & Cultural Faire, City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs, USA in association with International Artists.
Fountainhead® was invited in 2010 by the Commissioner for Integration of the district Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Berlin, Gabriele Gün Tank, to participate for the second time in the project "CrossKultur 2010", a series of productions from the district office of Tempelhof-Schöneberg. On this occasion, Fountainhead®Tanz Theatre produced, directed and presented the program A COMPLEXION CHANGE - International & Intercultural Diplomacy entitled"....We Have A Dream and Still We Rise....", a collage of film and text interpretations interspersed with music, which was presented on December 14, 2010 at the cinema of the Rathaus Schöneberg (city hall), Berlin.
The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin is televised Sundays from 7-8 pm, Mondays from 3.45-4.45 pm, Thursdays from 22-23 pm and Saturdays from 10-11 am at Alex-Offener Kanal Berlin and additionally in Magdeburg, Wolfsburg and Dessau.
The 26th edition of the Black International
Cinema Berlin 2011 was presented from May 4-8 in cooperation with the
commissioner for integration of the district Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Berlin
at the Rathaus Schöneberg (city hall). Up to 40 contributions were presented
in the program, among them productions from Jamaica, USA, France, Mali,
Australia, UK, Liberia, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Nepal, Iraq, Italy, Colombia
and Burundi.
The film program was accompanied by film discussions, performances, seminars
and musical presentations. The seminars dealt with themes such as justice
for Mumia Abu-Jamal and the abolishment of the death penalty worldwide,
the importance of private grass-root-level initiatives for cultural exchange
and the difference between anonymous aid and personal cooperation, as
well as the Airport Tempelhof as an international meeting place for the
pursuit of freedom and future.
Artistic performances were presented by Mike Russell, OKBeat on Stage
with music and text in addition to the Suzuki Violin Group of the John-F.-Kennedy-School
Berlin.
From Juli 1 - August 31, 2011 Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre presented "Footprints in the Sand?" - Visual Documentation / Photograph Exhibition in the foyer of the Rathaus Schöneberg (city hall) Berlin. The exhibition paints a picture of the activities of various people during their historical contributions to Berlin, elsewhere and hence, the portrait seeks to prevent these undertakings from becoming "Footprints in the Sand?". On display were documents attesting to the history of Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre as well as artistic works by invited international artists: Gabriela Rosa da Silva, Paris/Frankreich, Andrea Brehme, Berlin/Deutschland, Regina Gerschke, Berlin/Deutschland, Michael Jurisch, Berlin/Deutschland, Lonnie Braxton, New London, CT/USA, Karen D. Brame El-Amin, Dayton, OH/USA, Matthew Frazier, Memphis, TN/USA.
Fountainhead® was invited in 2011 by the Commissioner for Integration of the district Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Berlin, Gabriele Gün Tank, to participate in the third presentation of the project "CrossKultur 2011", a series of productions from the district office of Tempelhof-Schöneberg. Fountainhead®Tanz Theatre produced, directed and presented the program "A COMPLEXION CHANGE - View to the Future/Blick in die Zukunft", a collage of film, text interpretations, dance and music. The theatre piece was presented on December 10, 2011 at the cinema of the Rathaus Schöneberg (city hall), Berlin.
Juanita Nuñez
Origins
from
left:
Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith, Lynnda Curry,
Prof. Gayle McKinney Griffith, Ricky Powell
MOTTOS:
"I
MAY NOT MAKE IT IF I TRY, BUT I DAMN SURE WON'T IF I DON'T..."
Oscar Brown Jr.
"MANKIND
WILL EITHER FIND A WAY OR MAKE ONE."
C. P. Snow
"WHATEVER
YOU DO..., BE COOL!"
Joseph Louis Turner
"YES,
I CAN...!"
Sammy Davis Jr.
"YES,
WE CAN...!"
Barack Obama
Black International Cinema Berlin
21
Years of Black International Cinema Berlin Film Awards
1991 - 2011
The Collegium - Forum & Television Program
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