LOVE AMERICA CONCERT SERIES – Watoto Academy

LOVE AMERICA CONCERT SERIES

About the Love America Concert Series

As a musicologist, historian and performing arts instructor, Donald O’Conner of the WatotoAcademy of the Performing Arts, is passionate about exposing his students to moments and events in American and African American history that reflect joy, cultural diversity, unity, cultural values and most of all humanitarian love. It is this passion that led to his creation of a family friendly stage production concept known as The Love America Concert Series.

Student participants engage in research surrounding the music, dance, fashion, historical events, and important people during selected periods in American and African American history. Combined with rigorous performing arts training in the areas of dance, singing and acting, their research and artistic efforts are used to develop a unique, exciting and joyful Broadway type stage production which features the students.

Civil Rights icon Ruby Bridges endorsed the Love America production concept with her attendance and a book signing at the debut production entitled “Love … Everybody!” which premiered on January 18, 2018. The event was held in America’s first theater, the historic Dock Street Theater in Charleston, South Carolina. The debut performance served as a kickoff event for a 5 state tour, in which the Memphis Civil Rights Museum, in Memphis TN, was its final destination in honor of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev.Dr. Martin Luther King.

The Love America Concert Series has become an annual event and is now recognized as a must see experience in the city of Charleston, SC for the community and its tourist.

Watch & enjoy “Love… Everybody!” concert highlight featuring the

WatotoCharleston Ensemble and Ruby Bridges https://youtu.be/Pk4hJMu5F6M.

Made in America

Birthed in the African American cultural experience, musical styles such as Blues, Gospel, Jazz and R&B are considered to be original American art forms. The history of the creation of these musical styles led to the title “Made in the America” features highlights from previous Love America Concert Series productions that celebrate each of these musical styles.

That Sweet Soul Music

Travel back in time to the origin of one of America’s greatest musical and artistic treasures, Soul Music. Experience the artists, the times, and most of all, the music and its positive effects on America’s cultural and social landscape during a difficult time in American history.

This Joint Is Jumpin’

Enjoy the music, dance, fashion, artist and social culture of one the most exciting and amazing periods in American history the, Harlem Renaissance. This production will explore this cultural rebirth phenomena expressed through dance, music and literature as a results of the Great Migration.A cultural rebirth that began in the African American community an impacted America, Europe and the world.

The Sounds of Joy

It is well known that most African American musical artist and performers began their artistic journeys as children of the Black Church music experience. The also true that artistic styles like Blues, Jazz and R&B music can trace their origins and roots back to the sounds of African American worship. This production was created to take the audience back in time to experience the history, events and people that birthed African American worship music.