Good Camel Comedy Theater is kicking off the holiday season with a show blending stand-up, improv, and live music, all while raising funds for aspiring comedians. Over at the University of Minnesota, catch the final weekend of an exhibit that explores the many facets of Black joy through the work of five Minneapolis artists. 

At The Southern Theater, Chicana choreographer Margaret Ogas explores the “in-between”’ space of identity and diaspora, while The Cedar celebrates its 35th anniversary with a dance party featuring the debut of Minneapolis rapper Fanaka Nation’s new single “Lokomotion,” bringing Afrobeats to the dance floor.

BIPOC comedy show rings in the holidays

Local comedian John Gebretatose is launching Good Camel Comedy Theater with the “Not So White Holiday Show” a fundraiser featuring stand-up, improv and live music at the Lush Lounge and Theater. The name of the new theater is a nod to his Eritrean roots, according to Good Camel’s website.

The show will be headlined by comedian Adrian Washington, with performances by Alsa Bruno, Dorian Beal, Linc Owens, and recent graduates from the theater’s BIPOC improv class. Oglala Lakota Sioux chef Sean Sherman will share stories and Minneapolis rapper and singer Lt. Sunnie will perform.

The proceeds will support scholarships for aspiring improv artists.

Black joy on display at the U

The University of Minnesota’s Quarter Gallery is hosting “Layers of Joy,” a student-curated multimedia exhibit exploring Black joy through the works of five early and mid-career Minneapolis artists. 

Curated by students from a fall art history course, the exhibit invites visitors to share their personal definitions of joy by writing their thoughts on sticky notes and adding them to a communal board. Responses so far reflect a spectrum of joy — art, music, community, home-cooked meals, and even a nod to someone’s sister named Joy. 

The artists offer their own interpretations through their work. Leslie Barlow’s oil and acrylic paintings depict intimate scenes of family and friends. Alexandra Beaumont’s fabric tapestries, made from tulle, lace, and satin, feature silhouettes of dancers from a party she hosted at Public Functionary. 

Eyenga Bokamba’s “Ode to Joy/Ode to the Moment” includes a series of illuminated boxed sculptures, originally created for a performance piece accompanied by a live orchestra. Each sculpture features silk-printed replicas of her multicolored paintings. Cameron Patricia Downey contributed a photograph of her older cousin, drawing connections between family, heritage, and the support systems nurtured by Black women. 

Abstract painter seangarrison created eight new works specifically for the exhibit, inspired by his experience walking through the gallery and reflecting on the other artists’ contributions. His paintings, which celebrate art as a form of freedom, have been donated to the university to memorialize the exhibit.

Dance performance puts Chicana identity in motion

Chicana choreographer Margaret Ogas will debut “Soulquakes” at The Southern Theater, a 60-minute multimedia dance exploring Nepantla, a Nahuatl term describing the liminal space between identities. 

“Many Chicanos struggle to feel truly ‘Mexican’ or ‘American,’” Ogas said. “Instead, we must actively cultivate a new mode of existence that transcends the ‘in-between’ space. As a dance artist, I was interested in how this transformation manifests in the body and in space.”

Through non-linear storytelling and improvisational choreography, Ogas and dancers Libby Herrmann, Ashembaga Jaafaru, Judith Shuǐ Xiān and Taja Will will reflect on their personal experiences. 

“As I began rehearsing the ensemble, I was curious about how this concept resonated with my collaborators, who come from various lineages and diasporas,” Ogas said. “Much of our storytelling considers heartbreak and longing, universal experiences that reflect the painful aspects of Nepantla.”

A dance party and DJ performance will follow Saturday night’s performance, inviting attendees to celebrate and connect. 

Fanaka Nation debuts new single at Afrobeats dance party

The Cedar Cultural Center is celebrating its 35th anniversary with a dance party hosted by rapper Fanaka Nation, who will debut his single “Lokomotion,” featuring Kenyan rapper Trio Mio, alongside its video, filmed in Kenya and Minneapolis. 

The party will also feature Ghanaian American DJ Kwey, Salif Keita — host of KFAI’s “African Rhythms — and Minneapolis artist Bakarii, blending hip-hop, R&B, and African beats to get people moving on the dance floor.

Date: Saturday, December 14. 

Time: 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. 

Location:  The Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Ave., Minneapolis 

Cost: $15 online. $20 at the door. 

For more information: Visit thecedar.org. 

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