Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts
Photo: Morgan Kilger
BY CHRIS DOODY, STAFF WRITER
The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts will be hosting the STEP team in a Black History Month showcase that takes place on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m.
“For the event, our showcase is composed of STEP routines, a fashion show, singing, dancing and poetry,” said Ronald Noel, a senior strategic communication major and co-captain of the STEP team.
The annual event highlights Black History Month and the talents of students.
“Every year in February, the STEP team provides a black history month showcase,” said Rachel Harris, executive director, Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. “We are always so pleased to host the STEP team; they do a great deal of presentations regarding the history of a lot of profound things.”
The STEP team will perform original poetry.
“I’m looking forward to the poetry being read,” said Noel. “We have some great writers on our team and we’d hope to add to that with every yearly showcase.”
The STEP team said they welcome all students and encourage them to become powerful writers.
“All our poets are powerful speakers with meaningful messages and relatable stanzas,” said Noel. “I can guarantee that anyone who hears our poems will leave our showcase with a new appreciation of black culture.”
The STEP team offers an inviting space for all to express their abilities.
“We aim to create a safe space for students of color to display their culture and talents. This allows students to showcase talents that they may not get recognition for otherwise,” said Noel
The STEP offers a chance for students to stand out and show off their talents.
“I’m looking forward to the talents displayed within our student body, so many of our students of color have hidden talents,” said Kendra Jeffrey, a senior psychology major and STEP team captain. “They get to display them to the world in a space they feel comfortable within.”
Noel said the STEP team is the only club he knows of on campus that allows students to show off their talents.
“We use our platform as an opportunity for students to show us who they are,” said Noel.
But DEI isn’t just for Black History Month, said Harris.
“We support DEI throughout our season [not just in certain months],” said Harris.
Also in February, pianist Jennifer Hayghe is performing.
“Hayghe shows her ‘girl power’ performing music written by women, for women and about women,” said Harris.
The Quick Arts Center will be celebrating music from Venezuela in March.
“The Reon Trio is coming in March with Venezuelan composers and traditional composers, as well as emerging artists from Venezuela,” said Harris.
This April the Atlantic brass quintet is doing a concert on April 11.
“Jeff Scott, an African American composer, is performing a set of poems along with a brass quintet,” said Harris.
Harris said she looks forward to creating an exhibit featuring all different cultures.
“Our future goals are to create a gallery called the fabric of our lives and talk about all of the cultures at least as many as we can,” said Harris.
The art galleries at the Quick Center present an educational opportunity for students, said Harris.
“When I take a look at these galleries all I see are lectures and opportunities that we can have to do a multicultural exhibit,” said Harris.
doodycd24@bonaventure.edu
