Multicultural Dance Festival to share culture, unite community

An event five years in the making will officially attain its community-driven fruition at 6 p.m. Aug. 24 at Shawnee Park Center in Cape Girardeau, with six performance groups, multiple food trucks and a �rap battle.�

Authentic Voices co-chairwoman Koreena Woodson said the Multicultural Dance Festival isn�t new for this area, but it is �the first one of its kind, for us.�

�We were going to do a three-day event, but of course when you get to the event planning, you have to work with what you got,� she said.

Food trucks and ice cream trucks are scheduled for the event, Woodson said, along with a special stage and lighting for the performances.

�[Procter & Gamble] sponsored that,� she said. �Ron North with NAACP and One City�s Mishea (Culbreath) and Raelenna (Ferguson) has also been working with us.�

A rap battle is in the works, she said, but the details have not been finalized.

The event will take place at the same area soccer and football practices are held, she said, with the event taking up �pretty much that whole back lot.�

The main goal, Woodson said, is to provide a wonderful night of entertainment for the community.

�If somebody wants to grab a bite to eat or dance to some music, you�ll have the opportunity to do it,� she said.

The event has always been a �dream� of Authentic Voices, Woodson said, and is made possible by the partnership between Authentic Voices and Community Caring Council.

Community Caring Council executive director Melissa Stickel and Woodson have been collaborating for five years, Woodson said, to make this dream become reality.

�It�s just something that�s been on the backburner that we wanted to bring to South Cape, because you don�t see a lot of major events in South Cape,� Woodson said. �We just wanted to make sure we have something positive to bring to that side of town that was free for anyone who wanted to come.�

According to Authentic Voices� Facebook page, the organization is a community-development corporation that seeks �to empower, enable and support community members in their efforts to revitalize South Cape Girardeau neighborhoods.�

One City is an independent community center in Cape Girardeau where people can meet and share experiences and resources.

More details can be found at the event�s Facebook page.

Multicultural Dance Festival performers

• UNIDID
• Peruvian dancers from Between the Scenes Studios for the Performing & Visual Arts
• Dave Harper (Dave & Dale), Lincoln University Dancers
• Jimmie Miller with Broken And Redeemed Studio
• Jos� Andr�s Mi�o Lara
• La Croix Church band

jhartwig@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3632