PORTLAND, Maine — The 2024 theme for Black History Month nationwide is "African Americans and the Arts" to celebrate how Black culture has had a dynamic impact on music, literature, and film.
In Portland, exposing students to the power of theater and expression was the focus of several presentations at five different schools Friday.
Joshua Hughes is on a mission to show kids from all backgrounds the fullness of Black history. The artist manager who co-founded entertainment company Joshua Hughes Entertainment brought a team of performing artists from Philadelphia to Breakwater School.
Taylor Samuels is one of the members of John Graves Productions. The nonprofit entertainment and arts company is owned by John Graves, who writes, performs in, directs, and produces numerous stage productions, such as the musical "Moses."
Students in third through eighth grade learned about team building, as well as how to harmonize and express themselves through music and dance.
"Exposing it so kids can see it as possible, tangible, not something they can watch, and be a part of and create," Graves explained.
"I enjoyed it. The moving around and bogeying were fun," sixth-grader student Simon Royal said.
"People tend to close themselves off and not show who they are. Doing things like this can bring out who you are," eighth-grade student Cora Falby said.
The interactive performance was also a hit at Reiche School.
Hughes said he hoped to partner with the Portland School District to host performances with Graves' artists year-round.
"Catch a glimpse of black culture regularly, not just during black history month," Hughes said.