SummerStage Kids presented by Disney presents Harlem Family Day, a day dedicated to engaging young audiences and their families through thrilling performances! Families will also have the opportunity to participate in interactive music & dance workshops + face painting and more!
Shine and The Moonbeams is family music’s first Soul band. They bring a fresh soulful perspective to the world that belongs to families all across the planet. Take two outstanding NYC musicians with eclectic musical tastes and influences, combine their unique perspectives, add a backing band, and witness the result: a soulful, groove-heavy R&B musical extravaganza in a Rock and Roll package, capturing the sweetness, uncertainty, and simplicity of youth.
MOONA LUNA is the kindie group that the New York Daily News says is providing “the missing soundtrack for bilingual/bicultural kids.” After making a splash on the family music scene with their accordion-driven, Latin-inspired debut album, Piñata Party (2011), Moona Luna delivered something fresh in its sophomore album, Vamos, Let’s Go! (2013). Songwriter and bandleader, Sandra Velasquez, found inspiration in American pop hits of the 50’s and 60’s, and staying true to her bilingual mission, crafted Spanish and English lyrics for each song. Having bilingual lyrics is just the icing on the cake because the tunes are so finger – snapping good and cater to extremely wide audiences.
Ten year old Kojo Odu Roney loved the drums even as a baby. His father is jazz saxophonist Antoine Roney; his mother Nia Love, an established choreographer and dancer; and his uncle trumpeter Wallace Roney; Kojo sat down to his first drum set at the age of two and has never looked back. At such a young age Kojo understood how to play the drum set in jazz setting. By 4 years old, he was able to play with jazz ensembles confidently. Practicing daily helped Kojo match his understanding of rhythm and applying it to the drum set. By the age of 8 years old, he went on his first tour in Europe, which is the start of his professional music encounters. His travels included France, Italy, Switzerland and Greece. He also visited other countries including Serbia, Germany, Austria and Poland. Kojo shares the stage and performs with many professional musicians including Buster Williams, Darrell Green, Billy Spaceman Paterson, Rashaan Carter, Brandee Younger, Saadi Zain, Emanuel Ruffler and of course his father, mother and uncle. Some great highlights of Kojo’s many experiences is having the chance to sit in with The Incredible Lenny White, The Great Al Foster and legendary Jazz drummer, Roy Haynes, while great jazz drummers Louis Hayes and Grady Tate were in the audience and also having the chance to becoming friends with The Great Jimmy Cobb. Kojo currently performs with his dad and uncle. http://www.kojoroney.com/
As Founder and creative director of Starchild Enterprise, Oakland, California native Traci “B-Love” Bartlow is a woman of many talents. A phenomenal dancer, teacher, and choreographer Ms. Bartlow has worked with Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival, California Shakespeare Theater, Lorraine Hansberry Theater, Herrang Dance Camp in Sweden, as well as teaching a host of youth programs in the Bay Area. Ms. Bartlow has been a guest faculty lecturing in Hip Hop dance for UC Davis as well as UC Berkeley, and was the assistant director for the Sisyphus Syndrome; a Jazz Opera by the late Amiri Baraka. In 2011 Ms. Bartlow was named a “Frankie Manning Ambassador of Lindy Hop”. In 2013 the Eastbay Community Foundation commissioned Ms. Bartlow in the development of a new work that celebrates the birth of urban dance. This piece explores the retention of authentic jazz dance styles from the Harlem Renaissance in today Hip Hop movement. “My mission as a choreographer is to document and preserve black dance and culture while forging new ground to create a unique expression”. https://www.facebook.com/starchildenterprise1
Kwikstep , known as DJ-KS 360 on the turntables is an internationally known hip hop dancer/ choreographer/ poet/ actor and hand percussionist. In 1996 Kwikstep and his wife B-girl Rokafella established Full Circle as an internationally acclaimed non- profit hip-hop collective known as Full Circle Productions INC, it’s members are known as Full Circle Souljahs. Now DJ-KS 360 offers his smooth versatility with 360 degrees of the cultural urban and artistic New York experience that has influenced him since his youth. DJ-KS 360’s takes you on a journey through his musical selections of Rare 70’s Funk, 80’s Soul / RnB , Afro-Beat, Hip-hop, Disco, Garage, Salsa and House.