Summer Residency Culminating Event-Clarendon Park

Our Kuumba Lynx Performance Ensemble and the Street Art Summer program had their final day of work and their final event for the summer at Clarendon Park yesterday [August 13]. We were joined by the families and friends of the artists and instructors and also many community members showed up to enjoy the show. There was much success this summer with both of these programs. They represented Kuumba Lynx and what it stands for in many ways of artistic expression such as spoken word, dance, graffiti art and etc. Below are some interviews by Kuumba Lynx summer program directors: Shannon Mateski and James Spurgeon NERD.

[Morgan] How did you get involved with Kuumba Lynx and how long have you been working with the organization? [Shannon] This is my first summer working directly with KL. I met Jacinda and Jaquanda last summer at the Brave New Voices Poetry Slam in Washington D.C while I was working with Youth Speaks. F.M. Supreme also invited me to do a workshop with Kuumba and from there I got this position as a program coordinator.

[Morgan] What did you do here at your program this summer and how does it relate to the Kuumba Lynx mission of youth empowerment through Hip-Hop expression? [Shannon] We focused on Hip-Hop theatre and spoken word. We also have dedicated many of our time and performances to the green initiate this summer. The youth needed a good amount of writing development so we worked on that a lot along with building personal confidence and stage presence through editing & vocab workshops and performance exercises. They were a bit resistant at first. I struggled with some lack of structure and dedication from the youth at the beginning of the program but I have definitely seen growth. I pushed them a lot which caused some difficulties but I also think it was appreciated in the end.

[Morgan] What performances or events has you and your group attended this summer and how did they go? [Shannon] They ran a stage at the Life is Living Festival at Clarendon Park in July that went really well. They also performed at Millennium Park's debut of Hip Hop performance art with over 5000 people attending and it really meant a lot to them. Lastly we just had our final event today that included an array of the different pieces that we've been working on this summer.

Morgan] What was your favorite aspect about the Kuumba Lynx summer program? [Shannon] Working with this age group was a lot of fun. They want to enjoy themselves and the art. I tend to be a more serious instructor so I was able to be influenced by them so that we learned from each other. I also really like teaching them yoga and watching them develop physically as well as mentally and creatively.

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NERD also had a similar interview about his Graffiti Street Art program and what it means to him as a artist and long time KL supporter...

[Morgan] How did you get involved with Kuumba Lynx and how long have you been working with the organization? [NERD] I've been involved with KL since Day 1, not only through the arts but also community activism and just working to give back.

[Morgan] What do you do here at your program this summer and how does it relate to the Kuumba Lynx mission of youth empowerment through Hip-Hop?expression? [NERD] Our program was graffiti based. I got them to come together as young artists. I taught them that graff isn't about solo performance so almost every canvas that we did was a joint piece with 2-3 painters. I also gave them some lessons in the history of Hip-Hop and graffiti art that was focused more on the positive aspect like youth expression rather than the illegal part. Overall they learned to come and work together. Graffiti is not a regular art form where one person gets the shine. Its a team effort; it's about the whole crew.

[Morgan] What performances or events has you and your group attended this summer and how did they go? [NERD] They did 93 foot murals at the Life is Living Festival in July. At that event the younger artists were in the shorties battle which included eight 5x5ft canvases and performance art with going green. We hung cans from trees and used an old record as the sun in a symbolic piece about the environment. They also attended the Millennium Park Hip Hop event.

Below are some pictures of the great show put on by Shannon and the Kuumba Lynx Performance Ensemble and also some of the Graffiti pieces on display done by the Street Art program:

Urban Dance Projex: North Grand HS

Another one of our Arts residencies this summer is taught by Boogie McClarrin at North Grand High School in Humboldt Park. This Kuumba Lynx apprenticeship is currently touring their creative performances and seeking venues to preview excerpts. If you are interested in booking a show for your school or organization, please call Kuumba Lynx co-Director Jae at (773) 550-3849 or contact us at kumbalynx@yahoo.com


This vibrant group of youth exudes a beautiful glow as they positively express themselves on stage through dance. Boogie's passion was apparent as she intricately instructed and constructively pushed her youth towards their dreams; or as she puts it "I want them to be what they want to be"

Here are some other things that Boogie said as she took a few minutes between the many routines to have a short interview...

[Morgan] How did you get involved with Kuumba Lynx and how long have you been working with the organization?
[Boogie] well I have known Jacinda and Jaquanda {2 of the 3 founding mothers of KL} since before the organization was formed. I watched it blossom from the first and youngest members, Eddie, Marvin, Brittne, etc. I used to teach dance classes and write grants at Colombia College and I would always look out for Kuumba because I was so supportive of what they do.

[Morgan] What do you do here at your program at North Grand and how does it relate to the Kuumba Lynx mission of youth empowerment through Hip-Hop expression?
[Boogie] Well they first have to learn about themselves through individual expression. I show them how in order to foster true creativity through dance, you must be able to know the full range of your body and how it moves.
Also, every Friday we have Choreography day in which the youth bring in their own dance routines and we learn how to translate their moves into dance vocabulary so that they can properly communicate the learned techniques. They are even beginning to promote themselves and look for bookings and want to continue dancing together as an ensemble or company after the summer. I think this shows how dedicated and empowered they have become.

[Morgan] What performance or events has you and your group attended this summer and how did they go?
[Boogie] Well they LOVED the Life is Living Festival in July. We actually thought we were only performing in the Stop the Violence March but when we realized that we would be on the Guerrilla stage also, we realized that we would be showing the crowd what Guerilla theatre actually is. It went great because it was real and dramatized..
Our next performance is at a Block Club Party of one of the students and we would also like to come to Clarendon park and do a show there.

Here are some pix of the youth practicing some of their many routines that they have learned and perfected throughout the summer..











I was also able to talk with some of the youth about their favorite aspects of the programs which included:
[Patsy]"..the stretching hour because that is when Boogie gives us our foresight for the day and what to expect. I like how its a family here so no one is embarrassed so its easier to learn and have fun"
[Devonte] We are introduced to SO many different styles of Dance. This is my passion and possibly my future so it really helps me in a lot of ways"
[Stefani]"me gusta este programa porque es perfecto por todos los personas para bailar juntos. Es una lugar muy bien para aprender y exprésese"

As you can see, there is a beautiful amount of diversity in this group but the one common thing that resounded both verbally and through the enthusiasm on stage was that "Overall, we just all want to dance.."

"Gifts from God" highlight

Gifts from God is one of Kuumba Lynx's summer arts residencies that is housed on Chicago's South Side. During a break between some strenuous practicing for the recent Life is Living Festival, MadDog was able to give us some insight into his program and some info about him as a KL instructor..


[Morgan] How did you get involved with Kuumba Lynx and why?

[MadDog] I was trained by Kuumba Lynx and have been working with the organizationfor about three years. I was reaised in the sameenviornment and situations as these youth. I want them to realize that we have been through a lot of the same struggles in life and we want the same things which is overall to achieve our dreams [As the song "I just wanna be successful" comes on in the dance room and the youth warm up to the inspirational rhythms.]

[Morgan] So what exactly do you do in your program and how does it relate to the Kuumba Lynx mission of youth expression and empowerment through hip-hop?

[MadDog] Our program is based on dance with the purpose of getting youth together and giving them the opportunity to express themselves in a way that they've already been doing for years but now they can get paid for it. This program also gives them ownership of their creativity in that hey are able to share their ideas and and they are often put into our routines rather than simply myself giving them orders. That way they can use their own skills and creativity and et recognition for it.
Gifts from God offers a positive atmosphere to share one of our most common grounds: our love and passion for dance.