Martin Luther King celebrations in story, song and dance abound

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Instructor Andrea Vinson leads the Joffrey Ballet Academy’s African dance master class. | Herbert Migdoll PHOTO

Updated: January 12, 2012 10:36AM

Looking for ways to enjoy the long holiday weekend and honor the memory of civil rights giant Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? Here’s a handful of suggestions, starting with the Joffrey Ballet Academy’s African dance master class.

Don’t let the word master scare you off — this is a class designed for folks of all ages and all ability levels, from the never-danced-before novice to seasoned pros.

“We really wanted to provide a class that focuses on African dance so that our students, and really anyone in the community, could come and have an opportunity to experience that more historical, ancestral dimension — the African-American dance heritage,” said Elizabeth Millman, managing director of the academy.

It’s the third year the three-year-old academy has offered the class, Millman said. All three years it’s been taught by Andrea Vinson, a professional dancer for 25 years known by students as “Mama Andrea.”

“She’s really lively, very engaging and really enthusiastic and also has years of experience with African dance,” Millman said of Vinson. “And because she is so talented at sort of drawing out the participation of students, whether they’ve had any experience with African dance or not, it really provides an opportunity for everyone from beginner to advance-level dancers to get involved, try something new.

“The other component that’s really fabulous about the class is that she brings along live percussionists and that really add a nice dimension to the class where students cannot only learn new steps but also a lot about rhythms.”

Millman said Vinson teaches all participants as a group and that dancers should come in loose clothing that allows them to move; shoes aren’t necessary as the dancing is done barefoot.

“One of the things that I think is really nice about the class is that the form lends itself to those people who have a great amount of training and those who maybe have no experience … so it’s very inclusive in that way,” Millman said.

Reservations are required to participate, so call or email the academy by days’ end Jan. 13.

Also on tap:

† The DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Place, celebrates the legacy of MLK and the Civil Rights Movement with a day full of live performances, storytelling, films, food and family activities starting at 11 a.m. Jan. 16. Admission is $10. Call (773) 947-0600 or visit dusablemuseum.org.

† The Chicago Children’s Museum, 700 E. Grand, takes families back in time during the interactive “What Does It Mean, Dr. King?” at 11 a.m. and 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Jan. 16. The presentation uses theater and song to explain the Civil Rights Movement. Admission is $12. Call (312) 527-1000 or visit chicagochildrensmuseum.org.

† The Chicago Sinfonietta pays tribute to King with two concerts: 3 p.m. Jan. 15 at Wentz Concert Hall, North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville ($35-$45), and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at Orchestra Hall Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan ($26-$96). The annual event showcases classical, gospel and spiritual pieces. Call (312) 236-3681, ext. 2, or visit chicagosinfonietta.org.

The Music Institute of Chicago presents its annual free Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration concert at 5 p.m. Jan. 15 at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago, Evanston. The 100-plus-voice Brotherhood Chorale of the Apostolic Church of God will perform traditional and contemporary gospel and jazz compositions. Call (847) 905-1500, ext. 108, or visit musicinst.org.

The Chicago History Museum commemorates the life of MLK from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 16 with family activities and crafts that reflect his messages of peace and justice. It also features a performance of “The MLK Project” by Writers’ Theatre. Illinois residents admitted free. The museum is at 1601 N. Clark. Call (312) 642-4600 or visit chicagohistory.org.

Brookfield Zoo celebrates MLK Day with free admission, and a choral presentation by the John F. Kennedy High School Advanced Choir at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 16 in the Discovery Center. The celebration also features a complete screening of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Zoo admission also is free Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays in January and February. The zoo is at 31st Street and First Avenue in Brookfield. Call (708) 688-8000 or visit czs.org.

KIDDING AROUND

†The traveling exhibit Sonic Sensation opens Jan. 17 at Kohl Children’s Museum and runs through May 10 at 2100 Patriot Blvd. in Glenview. Admission is $9.50, free for kids younger than 1. Call (847) 832-6600 or visit kohlchildrensmuseum.org.

† The Museum of Science and Industry, 57th and Lake Shore Drive, is offering several free general admission days to Illinois residents: Jan. 13, 16-20, 23-27 and 30-31; Wednesdays in February (1, 8, 15, 22, 29); and March 5. It includes permanent exhibits like “Science Storms” and “YOU! The Experience” as well as the new Fab Lab (10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday for kids 8 and older). Call (773) 684-1414 or visit msichicago.org.

† White Tigers at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand, Jan. 13-Feb. 12, features a female royal white tiger and her two cubs as conservation ambassadors. Learn about tigers and how their habitat is shrinking. Admission is $5 or $20 for families (up to six people) for the exhibit in Crystal Gardens. Call (312) 595-7437 or visit navypier.com.

Jennifer Burklow is a local free-lance writer.