I Dream a World: Songs & Verse to Inspire a Nation

This Premiere Performance is Sponsored by the Office of Councilman Patrick O. Council, South Ward Councilman, City of Newark, NJ .

Supported by Newark Alliance’s Experience Newark Event Sponsorship Program with additional funding provided by the City of Newark, Creative Catalyst Grant

This year, we are presenting a program acknowledging the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America (Semiquincentennial) featuring our musical group Five Women Performance Ensemble. I Dream a World (IDAW), the title taken from the Langston Hughes' poem of the same name, features inspirational songs, narration and verse that tell a story of the country we'd like America to be from the perspective of the Black Experience (African Diaspora).

IDAW focuses on several major events from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries with emphasis on such historic periods as the slave trade and The Emancipation Proclamation; Reconstruction, the Civil Rights movement, Black Lives Matter up to the 2024 Presidential election. It includes thought-provoking songs from such artists as James Brown, Laura Nyro, Dr. Bernice Reagon, Michael Jackson, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder and music from the West Side Story, Selma and Harriet soundtracks.

ABOUT FIVE WOMEN PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLE

In April 2015, a group of talented performing artists came together to present an event in celebration of National Poetry Month. The ensemble started with one performance at Focus on Jesus Baptist Church in the South Ward of Newark, NJ. We went on to develop and present a number of programs at such venues as The Newark Public Library, the Jersey City Free Public Library and Newark Symphony Hall. Presenting/performing under the name Five Women, the group performs the works of known and lesser-known women poets, writers, songwriters and playwrights, incorporating various genres of music. The original group featured late poet Breya “Blkbrry Molassez” Knight, singer/songwriter Kelly “Green Light” Thomas, motivational speaker and life coach Caryl R. Lucas, songstress Kim Armstrong and founder and artistic director, Celeste A. Bateman performing poetry, verse and songs.

A Celeste Bateman & Associates Production

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