Citified: Arts and Creativity East of the Anacostia River
odd: label: Introduction
content: The 2012 Citified program looked at creativity, identity, and community in Far Southeast Washington, D.C., neighborhoods. Presented in collaboration with the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum, it highlighted the connections among residents of urban communities as expressed through arts and creativity. The title alluded to the fact that many African American residents living east of the Anacostia River have parents or grandparents who migrated from the rural South, particularly North and South Carolina, and who continue to maintain connections with their southern (although often no longer rural) heritage.

Citified also referred to the ongoing transition from cultural and performance traditions shaped primarily by rural agrarian environments to those shaped primarily by wage work in urban industrial environments. Here, in place of rural quilting bees, quilters such as the Daughters of Dorcas & Sons get together in churches and community recreation centers to pass on shared traditions. It is here, too, that the sounds of rural church choirs and musicians, as well as blues and country music traditions, transform into urban popular music and become the foundation of go-go music.

The Citified program was part of a long-term Anacostia Community Museum initiative, Call and Response, which explores arts and creativity through exhibitions and installations, museum collections, and community-focused programs. The Anacostia Community Museum is dedicated to a mission centered upon contemporary urban communities, and to research, documentation, and programming that are community-focused. At the core of the museum's work is the belief that active citizen participation in the recovery and preservation of community historical assets, cultural and arts activities, and community advocacy are important and powerful instruments for creating and maintaining a sense of community and civic ownership.

The Festival program celebrated the creativity and cultural expression found in schools, churches, community organizations, businesses, and other venues in East-of-the-River neighborhoods. Visitors could meet master artists and creative, inspiring residents from this part of Washington, D.C.; enjoy performances by line dancers, African dancers and drummers, church choirs, hip-hop artists, comedians, and go-go bands; listen to storytellers; watch demonstrations of tattoo art; learn how to make quilt blocks from members of a multi-generational quilting guild; and participate in craft activities.

Portia James was Curator, with a Curatorial Team consisting of Olivia Cadaval, Robert Hall, and Diana N'Diaye; Sheila Reinckens was Program Coordinator.

The program was produced in collaboration with the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum.
label: Presenters
content: Khadijah Al-Amin-El, Marcia Baird Burris, Camila Bryce Laporte, Jenelle Cooper-Tolson, Eduardo Diaz, James Early, Joshua Gorman, Robert Hall, Pat Lindsey, Linda Maxwell, Diana N'Diaye, Shelia Parker, Mark Puryear, Maria Smith, Tony Thomas, and Ranald Woodaman
label: Participants
content: Individual Artists

Abdul Aleem Bilal "AB The Pro", rapper, producer, singer, Washington, D.C.

Bryant K. "BK" Adams, 1972-, visual artist, Washington, D.C.

Charles "Coco" Bayron, tattoo artist, Washington, D.C.

Christylez Bacon, progressive hip-hop artist and musician, Washington, D.C.

Vance Levy "Head-Roc", hip-hop artist, Washington, D.C.

Jay Coleman, visual artist, Washington, D.C.

Melani N. Douglass, poet and arts educator, Washington, D.C.

Baba C. (Lorenzo Calender), storyteller, Washington, D.C.

Allen "AJ n Company" Johnson, Jr., 1980-, urban designer, Washington, D.C.

Artists Groups and Ensembles

African Heritage Dancers and Drummers  -- African Heritage Dancers and DrummersMelvin Deal, Executive Director, Washington, D.C.Yao Hunt, drummerRobert Meyers Jr, drummerRobert Meyers IV, drummerJoseph Ngwa, drummerAnthongy Phillips, drummerAntonio Resper drummerDwayne Smith, drummerAdrian Sommerville, drummerVaughn Taylor, drummerEarlene Cooper, dancerSheena Fogle, dancerArnette Jones, dancerLaVerne Jones, dancerLavonda Jones, dancerVeronica Resper, dancer

Albus Cavus, public arts collective  -- Albus Cavus, public arts collectivePeter Krsko, 1978-, Washington, D.C.Chor BoogieJoshua CoganChanel ComptonTim ConlonBrian ConnerAlicia CosnahanSteven CummingsRick FreemanKevin IrviTendani MpulubusiLuis PeraltaJuan PinedaMichael PinnixLeon RainbowTim RodgersRoderick TurnerAniekan UdofiaAnthony Prelli Williams

Anacostia Rollers and Friends, roller skaters  -- Anacostia Rollers and Friends, roller skatersBetty Dodds "The Show Master," CEO, president, producerFrank Mobley "Magnificent Mover," vice president and co-producerJames Allen "Big Jim," assistant co-producerHenry BushMichael Bush, sergeant-in-armsJohn Butler (Bunnie), assistant co-producer, master of ceremony, vocalistLeslie & Alexis Dockery "The Dockery Sisters," hip-hop dancersLarry Galloway "Shocka Hammer," stage managerGraylin Presbury (DJ Graylin)Amy Reed (Hanadi), belly dancerErica Smith "Diamond," public relations directorHenry Washington "Skate King"Keith Washington, hip hop dancer

Chosen  -- ChosenPamela Koonce, Choir Director, Washington, D.C.Atiya AskiaBeverly AskiaTina DaileyGloria EvansGregory HawkinsJaninne Hutson-BlackNichelle JohnsonDarryl LewisJohn McCarter

Cold Hearted Go-Go Band  -- Cold Hearted Go-Go BandMark Griffith, Washington, D.C.A.B. Jones, general managerAronGregory BouwerEmoneyMarques GusterLil LoveJhon PrinceCardel PrineMike Shoatz

Da' Originalz, beat ya feet hip-hop dance  -- Da' Originalz, beat ya feet hip-hop danceJohn E. Pearson, III, Washington, D.C.Keiron Brown (Kay-K)Kevin Davis (NOODLEZ)Sha'Quiel JenkinsRobert Lewis Jr. (GoGo Rob)Shawn Murchinson (GET DOWN)Herbert Murray (Herb)Erich RobinsonJerell Silvers (JAY ARUH)Davon ThompsonBernard Trowell (McLovin)

Dancing with a Purpose Ministries, Inc., liturgical dancers  -- Dancing with a Purpose Ministries, Inc., liturgical dancersLois Void, Pastor, Washington, D.C.Faye Johnson, ministerJoVan Lucas-Wills, ministerAlexandraDeQuanDyQuanJaylaKaylaMalachiNyaSeanShannon

Daughters of Dorcas & Sons Quilters  -- Daughters of Dorcas & Sons QuiltersAnnie Strivers, Washington, D.C.Barbara AlfordNancy BerryToni E. DiarraJanice L. DoughertyMaxine DoughertyAlice DoveAlyce FosterCamille GorhamLinda Hamilton-GilbertJocelyn HerbertPatsy HuffPansy LovelaceMaxine MorganRuth StokesGeraldine Whitley

East of the River Boys and Girls Steelband, steel pan ensemble  -- East of the River Boys and Girls Steelband, steel pan ensembleGladys Bray, Executive Director, Washington, D.C.Roger Greenidge, musical directorKevin AndersonNina AndersonAtiya ArtisMeccah BurchArnézjah CrawfordAisha DozierAyana DozierAshley GaskinsHorus PlazaJeffrey PlazaDonté RobinsonGeonte StevensonShayla Washington

Fayzez U Know, soul and funk group  -- Fayzez U Know, soul and funk groupKenneth Hughes, leader, Manassas, VirginiaKah-el Gross, vocals/writerHalima Peru, vocals/writerDwayne Lee, guitarLoyde Lucus, guitarAndrew Woolfolk, guitarCraig Clipper (Clip), percussionQuentin McNair, percussionScott Carter, spoken word & rapMario Ennis "Rio," drumsDoc Hughes, bassAndrew Parker, sound engineerAnthony Talley "Tom Tom," keyboard

Galilee Baptist Church Choir  -- Galilee Baptist Church ChoirBeverly Hayes, Suitland, MarylandKenneth Chism, minister of musicJackie Baker MartinLawanda BennettJackie CooperDelores DiggsLeslie GibsonTakia GloverDenise GoodwinFlorestine GrahamRenard HuckbyDarren JonesMarian JonesMelissa JonesWilliam KellyAdrienne LittlejohnShelia MoodyRickie Owens-DavisMozell PadgettDianne PorterClearance PoseyMike PoseyWilliam PoseyJustin PowellShirley SimmonsTammy ThompsonMarkia Wade

Iverson Mall Line Dancers  -- Iverson Mall Line DancersMildred Johnson, 1935-, President, Clinton, MarylandDaisy ArringtonLaura I. BrownYvonne ConteeThelma EvansLillian GreenRita HarrisonEsther HodgesDorothy HughleyJean JacksonErnesteen JohnsonGertrude W. JohnsonDwight R. JonesDorothy Lee SwinsonHelen LeePeggy MaskeBrenda MatthewsJanice MeadowsPhyllis W. SettlesBenjamin StevensonConstance StevensonBertley B. ThomasMarydot ThomasElaine E. TuckerAmelia Yarbrough

Junkyard Band, go-go musicians  -- Junkyard Band, go-go musiciansMaurice Shorter, Washington, D.C.

Metro Mambo, Latin musicians  -- Metro Mambo, Latin musiciansJames Byers, Jr., Program Coordinator, Washington, D.C.Verny Varela, director and vocalistNayla Angola, dancer and vocalsJohnny Aquipa, trumpetJim ByersRalph Eskenazi, timbalHarold HarristonManuel Hernandez, bassJorge Martinez, pianoAntonio Orta, saxPercy Recavaran, tromboneGary Sociyas, bongoAdan Tafur, conga

Smooth & EZ Hand Dance Institute  -- Smooth & EZ Hand Dance InstituteLawrence Bradford, Washington, D.C.Calvin BeidlemanVeronica BestJackey BrayboyWilliam ColemanMilton EnglishMarion Ennis Jr.Francina FergusonLisa HamiltonVictor HowardGabrielle JamesGregory L Owens, Sr.Lisa LawsonGreg MeadsCharles MouldenJonathan V. NewtonNilajah NyasumaBetty ParkerVanessa QuinnRenee ReedCarolyn RhonePatricia RussoHelen (Vicky) Swann DavidsonLinda TaylorAngela TindleCynthia TrueheartCharlene WadeMelvin WalkerGerald WoodforkGloria Woodfork

Taratibu Youth Association,  -- gumboot --  dancers  -- Taratibu Youth Association, gumboot dancersArla Scott, Founder and Director, Hyattsville, MarylandNaima Hylton, co-directorYlynne Brown, team managerVictoria Mitchell, captainDaiya AjoseJahkiyah AndersonSarih AndersonAhneenah ButlerMoriah JohnsonTrinity McNeillMicah MeadowsTaeja MoffittMarkia MortonKelanji MushalaKupewa MushalaAlea ShippLeyah SmithAyana Wallace
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2012 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.2012, Series 3
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials