Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Dancin’ in the Street at Ira Aldridge Repertory Players

Carl Overstreet, Eric Overstreet, Robbie Douglass, and Janice Edwards in Dancing in the Street
Carl Overstreet, Eric Overstreet, Robbie Douglass, and Janice Edwards in Dancing in the Street

Dancin' in the Street

Artistic Director Calvin Manson fills the Educational Cultural Complex, almost literally, with a tribute to Soul Music. Seven singers, finalists in a contest, dig deep into 20 songs, from Otis’s “Respect,” to Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together,” to Sam and Dave’s “I’m a Soul Man” — and the immortal line, “I learned how to love before I could eat.”

Conceived by Manson and Eric Overstreet, the show begins in the lobby with 20-plus teens dancing in sync. The evening also includes performances by the Thunder Squad Drumline — a 30 member, marching/dancing troupe precisely choreographed by Tyra Hawthorne — and concludes with the hugely popular Teye Sa Thiosanne African Drum and Dance Company.

Teye Sa Thiosanne African Drum and Dance Company

In the Wolof language of Senegal, the name means “keepers of the tradition” — in particular, of authentic West African music and dance. Wearing green and gold costumes, Teye Sa Thiosanne performed “Dundunba.” Two young warriors did “the Dance of the Strong Man,” accompanied by an explosion of djembe drums, the often goblet-shaped instruments said to be able to speak. The combination of daring/graceful athletic movements and percussive force of the rhythms riveted every eye and ear.

Sponsored
Sponsored

The show had a nagging, persistent problem: all seven singers had “hot” mikes. These kept most numbers on the same level of dynamics, whether ballads or rockers. At times they drowned out the lead vocalist and even the solid five-piece band.

Act one is a dress rehearsal for a talent show. The Producer/MC (often-funny though badly miked Galaxy Glen Reynolds) asks the audience to choose the “best of the best.”

It’s no easy task given the talent: Janice Edwards’ “You’re the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me” and “Mustang Sally,” Ayanna Hobson’s “What’s Going On?” Rodney Hutsona’s “Love and Happiness,” and Reynolds’ hilarious impression of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.” Plus, some of the best numbers were sung by the group.

The real honor, a first ballot, consensus “Show Must Go On” Award should go to Carl and Eric Overstreet. I saw Dancin’ on Friday night. Earlier that day, they attended the funeral of their mother, Minnie C. Overstreet. She was such a legend in the community they had to move the ceremony to a larger church to accommodate an estimated 1300 to 1500 people in attendance.

If Calvin Manson hadn’t made an announcement in the pre-show, no one would have had a clue. The Overstreets hoisted the entire evening on their shoulders and propelled it with amazing energy. Carl Overstreet’s gospel rendition of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” evoked the kind of reaction reserved only for special moments. When the song ended, the house went cold silent. Then cheers erupted.

I asked Calvin Manson afterwards how they were able to attend, and sing at, a three-hour funeral for their mother during the day, and invest completely in the performance that night.

“Minnie always told them finish what you start, no matter what.”


Minnie C. Overstreet (1922-2014). From her obituary: “Minnie will forever be known among her family and friends as a children’s Bible story teller with a strong faith and belief in God, conversationalist, opinionated, selfless, supportive, entertainer with an unconditional love for her family. She spent 35 years as an instructional assistant at Knox School.”

And while at Knox School, in 1980, she and two other teachers decided to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King with a little, three-block parade. It was certainly the first of its kind in San Diego, maybe even in America.

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Big swordfish, big marlin, and big money

Trout opener at Santee Lakes
Next Article

Halloween opera style

Faust is the quintessential example
Carl Overstreet, Eric Overstreet, Robbie Douglass, and Janice Edwards in Dancing in the Street
Carl Overstreet, Eric Overstreet, Robbie Douglass, and Janice Edwards in Dancing in the Street

Dancin' in the Street

Artistic Director Calvin Manson fills the Educational Cultural Complex, almost literally, with a tribute to Soul Music. Seven singers, finalists in a contest, dig deep into 20 songs, from Otis’s “Respect,” to Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together,” to Sam and Dave’s “I’m a Soul Man” — and the immortal line, “I learned how to love before I could eat.”

Conceived by Manson and Eric Overstreet, the show begins in the lobby with 20-plus teens dancing in sync. The evening also includes performances by the Thunder Squad Drumline — a 30 member, marching/dancing troupe precisely choreographed by Tyra Hawthorne — and concludes with the hugely popular Teye Sa Thiosanne African Drum and Dance Company.

Teye Sa Thiosanne African Drum and Dance Company

In the Wolof language of Senegal, the name means “keepers of the tradition” — in particular, of authentic West African music and dance. Wearing green and gold costumes, Teye Sa Thiosanne performed “Dundunba.” Two young warriors did “the Dance of the Strong Man,” accompanied by an explosion of djembe drums, the often goblet-shaped instruments said to be able to speak. The combination of daring/graceful athletic movements and percussive force of the rhythms riveted every eye and ear.

Sponsored
Sponsored

The show had a nagging, persistent problem: all seven singers had “hot” mikes. These kept most numbers on the same level of dynamics, whether ballads or rockers. At times they drowned out the lead vocalist and even the solid five-piece band.

Act one is a dress rehearsal for a talent show. The Producer/MC (often-funny though badly miked Galaxy Glen Reynolds) asks the audience to choose the “best of the best.”

It’s no easy task given the talent: Janice Edwards’ “You’re the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me” and “Mustang Sally,” Ayanna Hobson’s “What’s Going On?” Rodney Hutsona’s “Love and Happiness,” and Reynolds’ hilarious impression of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.” Plus, some of the best numbers were sung by the group.

The real honor, a first ballot, consensus “Show Must Go On” Award should go to Carl and Eric Overstreet. I saw Dancin’ on Friday night. Earlier that day, they attended the funeral of their mother, Minnie C. Overstreet. She was such a legend in the community they had to move the ceremony to a larger church to accommodate an estimated 1300 to 1500 people in attendance.

If Calvin Manson hadn’t made an announcement in the pre-show, no one would have had a clue. The Overstreets hoisted the entire evening on their shoulders and propelled it with amazing energy. Carl Overstreet’s gospel rendition of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” evoked the kind of reaction reserved only for special moments. When the song ended, the house went cold silent. Then cheers erupted.

I asked Calvin Manson afterwards how they were able to attend, and sing at, a three-hour funeral for their mother during the day, and invest completely in the performance that night.

“Minnie always told them finish what you start, no matter what.”


Minnie C. Overstreet (1922-2014). From her obituary: “Minnie will forever be known among her family and friends as a children’s Bible story teller with a strong faith and belief in God, conversationalist, opinionated, selfless, supportive, entertainer with an unconditional love for her family. She spent 35 years as an instructional assistant at Knox School.”

And while at Knox School, in 1980, she and two other teachers decided to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King with a little, three-block parade. It was certainly the first of its kind in San Diego, maybe even in America.

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Jazz guitarist Alex Ciavarelli pays tribute to pianist Oscar Peterson

“I had to extract the elements that spoke to me and realize them on my instrument”
Next Article

At 4pm, this Farmer's Table restaurant in Chula Vista becomes Acqua e Farina

Brunch restaurant by day, Roman style trattoria by night
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader