“ASHE 17^th Season of Performances 2010 – “FULL CIRCLE”

August 29, 2010

With numerous international awards for excellence in the performing arts and innovativeness in education (edutainment) for community transformation and social development throughout the Caribbean, Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia, the Ashe Performing Arts Company celebrates seventeen years. Albeit the challenges experienced in the last 17 years the Ashe Performing Arts Company is continuing to add new, exciting dimensions to the theatre experience in Jamaica in its 17th Season of Excellence – FULL CIRCLE.

17^th SEASON OF EXCELLENCE – ‘FULL CIRCLE’ - SHOWCASE

The 2010 season of excellence will be two fold and will feature ASHE’s newest musical theatre production – SAFE, STUPID or WHAT!

PART 1

SAFE, STUPID OR WHAT takes the form of a musical television games show which features contestants with varying backgrounds, ages and lifestyle and the choices they are making choices around issues of intimacy, relationships and health. With an alarming rate of sexually transmitted infections especially among young people and women, the musical poses the question, “Are you being safe, stupid of what?”

Clothed with the full energy, creativity and music, dance and drama combination synonymous with ASHE, the musical will use the now popular reality/games show concept in a fun, non threatening way to look at these relationships and to stimulate mental processing in making sexual and reproductive health choices.

PART 2

The second ½ of each evening will showcase ASHE’s prowess in local and international cultural entertainment and cabaret featuring song, dance and drama by resident Directors and guest choreographers and teachers.

The Season of Excellence which is a celebration of Ashe’s 17 years of contribution to social development and the development and retention of our culture will run from October 1- 3, 2010 at the Little Theatre. The show will be for the entire family.

Ashe Performing Arts Company: Edutainment Initiative

April 6, 2010

The Kingston, Jamaica-based Ashe Performing Arts Company has developed an edutainment methodology designed to empower youth to make their own decisions about living a healthy lifestyle and creating a healthy environment within their communities. This project works to increase awareness and improve knowledge and attitudes through theatre productions that engage young people to examine issues in a non-threatening, entertaining, but educational manner while cementing the knowledge through subsequent discussions, workshops, and other one-on-one support interventions and activities. Whereas most theatre productions present the issues to be addressed, Ashe presents solutions to conflict resolution and anger management. The edutainment process is led by the Ashe Edutainers, who are trained peer educators.

Communication Strategies

Ashe's model is culture-based, coming from the African tradition of using the arts as a developmental tool to stimulate youth from the entry point of the expressions they are already engaged in, such as: dance, drama, music, sports, and storytelling. Ashe uses these expressions to further the mission of meaningful participation and interaction in workshops and performing arts sessions/programmes that combine recreation and skills-building. The Ashe methodology has 3 components:

1. The Multi-layered Approach - Ashe sees youth at the focal point of a cascade of concentric circles, with parents, teachers, and community leaders forming the expanding circles around them. What this means is that everybody has the same vision and is sending the same message to the youth. The youth themselves are also involved and a part of the process for the health and development of their own lifestyles and communities.

2. EIC Edutainment Model: E = Excitement. Participants are excited by participation in edutainment musical theatre performances; incentives (to travel and perform); music videos; and, in general, learning through use of culture and the arts. I = Involvement. Participants are involved by being part of the yearlong programme of learning the performing arts and having regular workshop sessions. The approach is participatory. The involvement process includes: brainstorming; group discussions; roleplaying; rap sessions; research; and sporting and performing arts classes. The idea is that the more involved they are, the more clearly they feel the impact of experience and explore their own integrity, principles, and values. C = Commitment. Commitment takes place when youth are empowered to make choices and decisions and they do so in relation to social issues that are dealt with in the programme (e.g., HIV/AIDS - they choose to abstain, reclaim their virginity, protect themselves, etc.) The youth make commitments not just for personal health and lifestyle but also for their families, the community, the country, and the world.

3. Transformational Model - This is based on the image of people moving from the stage of 'caterpillar' to that of a 'butterfly.' It is about letting go of the old way of being and creating a new way that is healthy and beneficial for all. There are 3 basic stages: i) Recognition (participants come to an awareness of their own spiritual values and principles and look at issues of integrity. They also come to align themselves with a higher concept of life and way of being). ii) Die to the Old (participants give up negative stereotypes about themselves and others through forgiveness and other techniques). iii) Be Born Anew (fulfill the mandate that Ashe has as its mission - 'to live a life of integrity and fulfillment, doing what they love and loving what they do.'

For example, "Curfew for Schools" is a half-hour edutainment theatre production, enhanced by one-on-one discussions, that addresses the rights of young people; their civic responsibilities in the fight against corruption, crime, and violence; and ways to effectively engage them in problem solving techniques and anger management skills. The musical portrays a Jamaican community in a state of siege as a result of a curfew placed to control an eruption of violence. In the face of longstanding social disorder, members of the community struggle to create peace and find balance, using all the means at their disposal.

As part of an effort to empower students in 30 high schools to develop positive alternatives to anger and violence using the performing arts, the company journeyed (January 6-9 2010) to the island of St. Eustatius via St Maarten, all clad in brightly coloured red or blue Ashe/edutainment t-shirts. The 16 member crew, selected from the company comprised of past and present members, brought across key messages through singing, dancing, and acting - stressing to students and parents alike the importance of making safe choices, abstaining, positive parenting, etc.

Specifically, the edutainment package included, first, "Parenting Vibes in a World of Sexuality". Parents came out to see the production, which focuses on using positive parenting tools (communication, discipline, knowledge) instead of negative parenting tools (preaching, mixed messages, corporal punishment). After the production, Ashe's Executive Artistic Director launched a discussion with the parents about what the musical portrayed. Some of the parents even admitted that they were guilty of practicing some of the negative parenting tools. The next show was a back-to-back performance of "Safe Stupid or What!", a talk-show-like musical about making safe reproductive health choices. Ashe performed it twice to an audience of students: both a primary school audience and a group of older students (high school). With the later group, there was a sense of prevalence of the issues portrayed, so the discussion following the performance was more colourful.

Development Issues

Youth, Sexual and Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS.

Key Points

Ashe is a Yoruba word used in Western Africa spirituality that means "the strength, the power and the God within." Launched in 1993, Ashe Performing Arts Company is a cultural organisation involved in entertainment and community building that is based in Afro-Caribbean culture.

ShareSharee McDonald-Russell

Sharee McDonald-Russell has fifteen years (15) experience in the performing arts.  During this period she received formal training in the Afro- Caribbean Arts, Modern Jazz and Drama.  Sharee has earned Seven Subjects at the CXC level, two at the advance level and a certificate in Management for University College of the Caribbean.  She has also received a Diploma in Institution Building and Strategic Planning and is trained in the Ashe EIC Transformational Model of teaching. Sharee has performed in several countries worldwide.  She currently plays a supporting role in the Jambiz production ‘Easy Street’. She has acted in a number of other Jambiz productions these includes:

• • The Last Stand
  • Ras Noah and the Hawk
  • Class of ’73
  • Cutie and the Freak
  • Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing

Sharee acted in the popular Television Series Royal Palm Estate and has done several commercials.  She has also participated in several music videos for artists such as Elephant Man, Lexxus, Spice, Cobra just to name a few.

Ashe Tours School with Curfew

The Ashe Performing Arts Company visited the island of St. Eustatius on January 6th through to the ninth 9th, starting off the year 2010 with a successful and stellar edutainment package which includes “Vibes In a World of Sexuality” and a new musical called “Safe Stupid or What!”. The sixteen (16) member crew selected from the company comprised of past and present members, who rose to the occasion and delivered great performances, bringing across the message in the musicals most effectively. Under the leadership of Executive Artistic Director Conroy Wilson and Artistic Director Michael Holgate, Ashe through singing, dancing and acting encouraged students and parents alike with the importance of; making safe choices, abstaining and positive parenting,etc.

The company flew to St. Eustatius via St Maarten , all clad in red or blue Ashe/Edutainment T-Shirts earning recognition at every turn. The journey was a colorful one as members Taunia affectionately called Tauny, Flums or Flowas and Latoya (Latty) gave thanks for landing in St. Maarten after dreading the flight to St Eustatius in the small, twenty (20) seater airplane. It was the humor of the journey to see and hear Tauny cry out and hold on Chris during the short flight, Latoya also buried her face in Paul’s shoulder for the whole flight. Although it was a serious fear for both members it was very funny to see their reactions. But we had safe flights all the way.

The first performance was that of Vibes. Parents came out to see the production, which focuses of utilizing Positive Parenting Tools (communication, discipline, knowledge) instead of Negative Parenting Tools (preaching, mixed messages, corporal punishment). The production was well received, after which Conroy got into a discussion with the Parents about what the musical portrayed. The general feedback was very good as most in attendance said they got the message clearly. Some of the parents even admitted that they were guilty of practicing some of the negative parenting tools. But there was a sense of lessons learnt from the audience. After the discussion we were asked for “brawta”, and so we performed three (3) songs from the Ashe repertoire, which sealed the deal to a great night.

The next show was a back to back performance of “Safe Stupid or What!”, a talk show-like musical about making safe reproductive health choices. The target for this musical is the young, impressionable community and so we performed twice to an audience of students. The first performance was to a primary school audience. They were young, but the feedback showed that they know what’s up in the world of sexuality and soon they will be faced with choices as portrayed in the musical. The second performance was to a group of older students (high school). Here there was a sense of prevalence of the issues portrayed and so the discussion following the performance was more colorful. All in all with the two groups, the message was well received as well. Ashe then did another “brawta” performance of songs from their vast repertoire.

The three (3) day trip to St. Eustatius was a successful one for The Ashe Performing Arts Company. Edutainment being a strong area, the company shone very brightly. It was a great start to the year for Ashe and so we continue to be “The number one Edutainment Theatre Arts Company in the world.”