Music, dance to benefit DeKalb women's center
By ELENA GRIMM egrimm@daily-chronicle.com
|
| Lisa Silberhorn, of the Shakti Belly Dance Troupe, rehearses in their DeKalb studio on Wednesday. The group will be performing for the DeKalb Area Women's Center fundraiser to be held on July 11. Beck Diefenbach – bdiefenbach@daily-chronicle.com |
The DeKalb Area Women's Center will be filled with sound on Saturday evening.
"Entertainment through Music" will feature local musicians and belly dancers, with all proceeds from the event benefiting the women's center.
DeKalb composer and musician Byron Wise came up with the idea because he wanted a way to promote both local music and the center.
"One thing we can do essentially as musicians, as a collective group, is reach out and try to essentially do our part for the community," Wise said. "I've always thought that you can utilize music in a number of ways when you're utilizing it in a caring way or a serving way. It tends to make it better even."
Musicians at the benefit already perform at a monthly ritual at Java 101, a DeKalb coffeehouse. Called Coffee Jam, it's an open mic session held the first Sunday of every month, where musicians can mentor each other and foster growth, Wise said.
The entertainment benefit is the first of its kind for DAWC.
"We feel like it's a great facility that a lot of people in the DeKalb community aren't aware of," Wise said.
The Shakti Belly Dancers became involved because they also are trying to add to their performance resume while promoting resources for women.
While Sandra Schramel has been teaching belly dance for more than 20 years, her troupe began performing their work only recently. Last year, they started a goddess performance series.
"The girls were kind of wanting an outlet, so we thought, 'Let's have a performance upstairs [in the dance studio]," said Schramel, a member of DAWC. "And we started doing it. We've been kind of continuing on."
If You Go
What: Entertainment through Music
When: 7-9 p.m. Saturday
Where: DeKalb Area Women's Center, 1021 State St. in DeKalb
Cost: $5 admission; children under 13 are free
