In Our Own Voices proudly presents...

 

 

Sober Dance 2010: Moving Forward into the Future

 

Date: Friday, June 4, 2010

Time: 9:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Location: First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, 405 Washington Avenue

Description: This is a clean and sober dance for those in the LGBT community and their allies who are in recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction. DJ Spice will play the hottest House, Hip Hop, R&B, and Latin music. This is a FREE event for those 18+ with ID.

Sober Dance 2010: Moving Forward into the Future is In Our Own Voices way of recognizing our LGBT brothers and sisters, their friends and allies who are living in recovery to support their sobriety from alcohol and other substances. The dance also provides a space for anyone in the community who want to celebrate in an environment free from alcohol and drugs. We would like to thank our generous sponsors, the Addictions Care Center of Albany and the Eleanor Young Clinic for enabling us to host this wonderful event.

About DJ Spice

Originally from the Bronx, NY, DJ Spice has been in the Capital Region since 1988. By day, he works in the field of Alcohol/Substance abuse, as well as an HIV Transitional Planner working within the correctional settings. By night, DJ Spice has been spinning for the last 18 years, and enjoys playing Old School, Hip Hop, R&B, Salsa, Meringue, Reggae and Reggaeton – with the occasional slow jam thrown in! DJ Spice just recently celebrated his 22nd year of recovery, in April 2010.

 

About Our Sponsors

Addictions Care Center of Albany 

Since 1967, ACCA has been a part of the community, strengthening the lives and improving the futures of thousands of individuals. Through intensive, proactive programs customized to individual needs, The Addictions Care Center of Albany touches the lives of more than 6,000 people throughout the Capital Region each year.

ACCA offers the broadest continuum of addictions care in the Capital Region and is a leader in best practices for addictions treatment and prevention. Several of ACCA’s award-winning prevention programs have been distributed nationally and are utilized across the country to educate and equip school children with the knowledge to prevent addiction and live healthy and productive lives. ACCA’s programs are recognized nationally as solid evidence-based models with exceptional rates of success in treatment and prevention.

 

Eleanor Young Outpatient Clinic

The Eleanor Young Clinic is a licensed alcohol and drug outpatient program with an intensive component. Our program is designed to provide treatment at different levels, moving from an intensive phase to a work-ready phase.

We have staff that are both trained in the field of addictions as well as mental health, and together offer a comprehensive array of services, while looking for ways to further enhance the quality of treatment.

The Eleanor Young Clinic believes that the whole person should be treated physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Each client receives individualized treatment that is suited to their needs.

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Say It Loud!: Black & Latino Gay Pride – The Celebration

 

Date: Saturday, June 5, 2010

Time: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Location: Albany Riverfront Park at the Corning Preserve

Description: The main event! Enjoy the afternoon along the Albany Riverfront while participating in one of the many events planned for the day. Live entertainment throughout the day, including music, dancing, and other performances; free food will be served.  Free admission. Events include:

  • Kid’s Corner – free activities for children, ages 5 – 12;
  • Games Tent – join a friendly game of spades or dominoes;
  • Free entertainment from national and local artists, poets, musicians and dancers.
 

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE)

  • 12:30 PM - Opening/Welcome

  • 12:00 - 5:00 PM - Health & Wellness Expo

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  • 12:00  - 5:00 PM  – Bouncy Bounce & Activities for children will be available in the Kids Corner

  • 1:00 – 4:00 PM – Spade Tournament under the Main Tent

  • 1:00 PM – Performances by local talent

  • 3:30 PM - A special performance by Vogue Evolution will begin at 3:30pm.

  • 5:30 – Closing

 

About Vogue Evolution

Vogue Evolution is a vogue dance crew from New York City that competed in the fourth season of America's Best Dance Crew. Although only five members appeared on the show, Vogue Evolution consists of more dancers and sees itself as a movement more so than only a dance crew.

Assembled in early 2008, Vogue Evolution brought voguing to mainstream media when in August of 2009 five members; Malechi Williams, Jorel Rios (aka Prince), Dashaun Williams, and Devon Webster (aka Pony) and a Puerto Rican transgendered woman, Leiomy Maldonado competed on Season 4 of America's Best Dance Crew until September 6 when eliminated in 5th place. They initially auditioned in the second season of ABDC but did not make it to the live auditons. Vogue Evolution made ABDC history by being the first openly gay crew and having the first member of the transgendered community, Leiomy Maldonado, on the show.

Each member has surpassed feats at young ages, from numerous awards to appearances on television. More notably, Pony choreographed for Mariah Carey and Dashaun is the creator of the "5,000" dance move.

In September 2009, they performed on It's On with Alexa Chung, shortly after being eliminated from the show. All seven eliminated crews made reappearances for the season finale.

For the finale, Vogue Evolution performed alongside We Are Heroes and Artistry in Motion to a master mix of Far East Movement's "Girls on the Dancefloor".

In early February 2010, Vogue Evolution performed alongside drag queen, Sahara Davenport as part of the University of Texas' Evolution Ball.

On February 25, 2010, Dashaun was featured as a backstage correspondent for the taping of week 2 of America's Best Dance Crew (season 5) then on March 22, 2010, the entire crew attended the week 6 taping, the "Magic Challenge".

VOGUE EVOLUTION WILL PERFORM AT 3:30 PM ON SATURDAY!

 

 

Albany Salsa will be at The Celebration!

AlbanySalsa Dance Studio first opened its doors in 2007. We set out to teach Salsa to those who fell in love with this dance. Later we’ve expanded to offer lessons in various popular social dances. We believe the love for dance should not be limited to one dance or style only and the continued learning of music and movement will keep the mind, body and spirit young, healthy and happy.

 

At our studio we teach you to dance! It’s that simple. Our instructors focus on the fundamentals which get you dancing from day one. You will be immersed in the music early on and dance with numerous partners right away. Our approach is the reason why time after time we are told to be the best studio around.

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Health & Wellness Expo

Date: Saturday, June 5, 2010

Time: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Location: Albany Riverfront Park at the Corning Preserve

Description: Part of the Celebration, the Health and Wellness Expo is a collection of local organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for LGBT POC, will include HIV/STI testing, diabetes screenings, and others. Last year, over 24 health & human service providers, community organizations and businesses were on hand to show their support and provide information and resources to our community. Last year’s exhibitors included:

    • AARP
    • AIDS Council of Northeastern New York
    • American Cancer Society
    • Albany County Crime Victim & Sexual Violence Center
    • Albany Damien Center
    • Capital District Gay & Lesbian Community Council
    • CARES, Inc.
    • Community Cradle/Maternal Infant Network
    • Community Hospice
    • Empire State Pride Agenda
    • Equinox Inc.
    • Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York
    • The Legal Project
    • National Kidney Foundation
    • New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
    • New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault
    • Project Hope
    • Rainbow Access Initiative
    • Samaritan Crisis Services/United Way 2-1-1
    • Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood

 

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 Say It Loud!: Black & Latino Gay Pride – The Afterparty

Date: Saturday, June 5, 2010

Time: 9:00 PM – 4:00 AM

Location: Waterworks Pub, 76 Central Avenue, Albany

Description: After the festivities at the Riverfront Park, Join In Our Own Voices at Waterworks Pub on Central Avenue in Albany to dance the night away at the official Black & Latino Gay Pride Afterparty! Live DJ will play the best R&B, Hip Hop, Rap, Old School, and Reggaeton. Must be 18+ with proper ID. $10.00 admission.

 

 

About Crystal Waters (from Wikipedia):

Crystal Waters is an American dance music singer and songwriter. She is the great-niece of singer/actress Ethel Waters. Waters enjoyed three major pop–dance hits in the early/mid '90s: "Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)" (1991), "100% Pure Love" (1994) and "Say... If You Feel Alright" (1997).

She is also the singer in "Destination Calabria", a 2007 hit release by Alex Gaudino, a mashup which uses vocals from her 2004 "Destination Unknown" and instrumental from Rune RK's 2003 "Calabria".

Waters lived in New Jersey, but later moved to Washington, D.C., to study computer science at Howard University. After graduation, she worked as a computer technician at the Washington, D.C., Parole Board.[1] She took her demo tape of "Gypsy Woman" to a Music Business Forum, and the only people to call her about it were a quard of club disc jockeys who formed the Basement Boys.

"Gypsy Woman" became a worldwide hit, memorable for its la da dee la dee da refrain and its often sampled keyboard riff. The track reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, and found even more success in Europe, reaching #2 on the UK Singles Chart. The track was also parodied in the memorable sketch "My Songs Are Mindless (I Should Be Homeless)" (Performed by Kim Wayans) on the television series In Living Color in 1991. Wayans skewered the song's simple rhythm and melody by singing "Hey look at that it's Fred and the Flintstones! That's a song now, I got a song now: Yabba Dabba Doo Yabba Dabba Da, Yabba Dabba Doo Yabba Dabba Da...." The clip from the comedy show would sometimes show up mixed into Waters' own composition at Gay clubs with video screens. Scarcely a year after its release, a new version turned up on the Red Hot + Dance AIDS fundraiser disc (1992, distributed by Sony Music), gaining its remixer (Joey Negro) his first real American exposure.

Despite some additional contributions by remixer Steve "Silk" Hurley, Waters' next releases were promoted only in the dance music markets, but she made an unexpected mainstream comeback in 1994 when "100% Pure Love" hit #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the longest charting singles on the Hot 100 at 45 weeks ("Gypsy Woman" remained on the chart for an average 16 weeks).

Her 1997, self-titled album included another Top 40 US hit, "Say...If You Feel Alright," but mainstream success in the US has since eluded her. However, Waters remains successful on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play and the Hot Dance Airplay charts with recent hits like "Come On Down" and "My Time," both of which peaked at #1, the latter making top 40 in the UK. "Gypsy Woman"'s keyboard-chord was recently sampled on rapper T.I.'s 2006 mega-hit "Why You Wanna." Also, as a side project, Crystal Waters wrote and voiced a single called "Right and Exact" under the alias Chrissy Ward in 1998.

In 2007 Waters embarked on a world tour; performing sold out shows in Russia, Egypt, the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, and Dubai, among other locations. In 2007 her track "Destination Calabria" hit the Top 10 on the UK Singles Chart.

In May 2008, Waters issued the single "Dancefloor", giving Waters yet another Top 10 Dance hit. "Never Enough" hit #20 on the US Dance Charts in February 2009.

 

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Unity Brunch

Date: Sunday, June 6, 2010

Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Location: First Unitarian Universalist Society at Albany, 405 Washington Ave.

Description: A perfect way to close the celebration! Enjoy a FREE brunch of fruit, bagels, and waffles. Live music, and other events planned.