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Curating the Crowd: Beyond the Turntable

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Curating the Crowd: Beyond the Turntable CURATING THE CROWD: BEYOND THE TURNTABLE Presented as part of the Apollo Career Panel Series, Pathways to the Arts Apollo Theater | Monday, October 22, 2018 | 6:00 PM | #APOLLOCAREERPANEL PANELISTS DJ Likwuid @akalikwuid Hip Hop Fusion music artist, DJ, songwriter, music curator and educator, LiKWUiD (Stylez), born Faybeo'n LaShanna A Mickens, is committed to using her gift of song to empower the portrayal of women in the entertainment industry. LiKWUiD has performed nationally and internationally for organizations such as Photoville, Summer Stage, Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival, Doku.Tech, The Apollo Theater, Super Fine Art Fest and more. As an avid lover of music, LiKWUiD's style of djing is based around blending beats together as one tapestry of sound. As a songwriter, her film credits include placements with HBO Latino Films, IFC Films, Oxygen Network, MTV and several indie projects. LiKWUiD is fully committed to combining hip hop and education. The College of Charleston (BA) and St. John's University (MBA) graduate has performed, presented workshops, lectures and participated on panels at academic spaces such as Columbia University, BAM, the Eleanor Roosevelt School for Girls, the Hip Hop Culture Center, Uptown Vinyl Supreme, Flocabulary, Comic Con and more. She is currently a Music Curator for the audio fitness app, Aaptiv and a resident dj at Silvana in Harlem. LiKWUiD will be releasing her new album self-titled album with collaborative group EllaMaeFlossie in conjunction with Red Distribution, a division of Sony Music, in early 2019. DJ Olivia Dope @DJOliviaDope With humble beginnings as a classically trained dancer & later performing with artists such as Shaggy, Mac Miller & Chris Brown, music has always been her motivation. Olivia Dope found her true calling as a DJ using her talents as a dancer and fashion designer to create a beautiful fusion of hip hop, pop, electro, reggae, rock, R&B and house that keeps the masses engaged, both musically and visually. As a Brooklyn native, Olivia Dope is a sought-after DJ in the NYC, Miami, Atlanta, and Los Angeles music & fashion industry. Olivia is not only a DJ, but a Designer, Dancer and proud supermom to a beautiful young lady named Ava. She is better known by her entertainer alter-ego Olivia Dope; which stands for "Driven on Positive Energy". Olivia has been recognized by the NY Post as one of NYC's female DJ's to watch. Holding steadfast to her motto "LivDope", Olivia uses her passion for music, fashion and the arts to captivate her audiences and show them how to live in the moment. Olivia's unique approach to Dj'ing has caught the attention of clients such as; UNICEF, Adidas, Jones Magazine, Jennifer Hudson, The Blonds, Essence Magazine, Rita Ora, Lil’ Kim; The Russell Simmons’ RUSH Philanthropic Arts; Justine Skye; 2016 Essence Festival; 2017 BET’s Black Girls Rock and most recently, BET’s: Politics, Pop Culture & The Future w/ Congresswomen Maxine Waters. DJ Taela Naomi @taelanaomi is an award winning DJ, model and educator based in NYC whose talent and presence have gained attention both in NYC and internationally. Raised in Brooklyn, NY, Taela's early musical influences included everything from classical composers Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky to Curtis Mayfield, James Brown, and Michael Jackson. After earning her B.A. from Amherst College, Taela performed as a dancer with shows including The Producers, Dreamgirls, and Bill T. Jones' Broadway adaptation of Superfly. With her knowledge of diverse musical genres, natural ability for cutting and blending, impenetrable focus, and bubbly spirit, Taela has risen to become one of NYC's most sought after DJs. She has played all over NYC and has earned praise from the legendary DJ Red Alert and played alongside the great DJ Tony Touch. Her signature party, The Dance Party, has become a weekly go-to event for music lovers, dancers, and NYC trendsetters. Her latest party series, Rum + Pum Pum Shorts which features Afrobeat, dancehall, reggae, and soca music, has been selling out in record time since it launched in September 2017. Taela won the prestigious Uptown Battle of the Bars competition, earning her the title "Best Uptown DJ." As an educator, Taela created a course in the Art of DJing, which she teaches in public schools in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and soon Harlem. Taela's mission is to transcend the typical club experience to get people to connect and to move, to be present, and to boldly fall back in love with dance parties. MODERATOR Abhita Austin @abhitaaustin Abhita is the Founder of The Creator’s Suite, an inclusive community for women in music production. Moved by the underrepresentation of women in music technology, over the past two years, Abhita has worked diligently to create opportunities for women DJs, producers, and audio engineers. In collaboration with brands and industry thought leaders, Abhita curates workshops, master classes, and networking events. She also consults tech companies on best practices for marketing to women creatives within the music production space. ABOUT THE APOLLO THEATER The Apollo is a national treasure that has had significant impact on the development of American culture and its popularity around the world. Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo Theater has played a major role in cultivating artists and in the emergence of innovative musical genres including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hip-hop. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Sammy Davis, Jr., James Brown, Michael Jackson, Bill Cosby, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, and countless others began their road to stardom on the Apollo’s stage. Based on its cultural significance and architecture, the Apollo Theater received state and city landmark designation in 1983 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. www.apollotheater.org THE APOLLO THEATER EDUCATION PROGRAM extends the Apollo’s commitment to enhancing the life of the community. The Education Program focuses on four distinct areas of learning and engagement: residencies, workshops and tours for schools; curriculum materials aligned to state and national learning standards and study guides derived from the Theater’s history; career development for teens and adults through the Apollo Theater Academy; and discussions and lectures for the public that highlight the history of the Apollo and its impact on American art, culture and entertainment. APOLLO THEATER ACADEMY In addition to its rich history in furthering the careers of entertainers, the Apollo has a legacy of providing tangible opportunities for technicians, designers and other behind-the-scenes industry professionals. The Apollo Theater Academy advances this legacy through seminars, workshops, internships and events designed to increase knowledge of careers in the performing arts and entertainment fields such as technical stage production and arts management. @ApolloEd @ApolloedHarlem Mixcloud.com/ApolloEd Education at the Apollo Theater Leadership support for Apollo Education Programs provided by the: RONALD O. PERELMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION Generous support from Apollo EmpowerHer, Conscious Kids Inc., Con Edison, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, Insperity, The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, Ellis L. Phillips Foundation, Pinkerton Foundation, and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. .
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