Jazz Power Youth Master Class

Thursday, January 24th, 2019 from 4:30-7 PM

United Palace, Washington Heights

Led by master teachers Eli Yamin (music) and Mickey Davidson (dance/theatre) with a special guest Clifton Oliver, students ages 10-17 will be led through a voice and body warmup and will learn a song and movement.

Students who successfully complete at least one Jazz Power Master Class are eligilble to apply for a full scholarship for 12-week Jazz Power Youth training program which runs April through June. More information on JPI Youth Training here.

This master class is free, but guardians must register their youth.

Clifton Oliver, Is a true Broadway veteran. He as had an Illustrious career in Musical Theater spanning over 20 years. Mr. Oliver, has been seen on Broadway, in such leading roles as (SIMBA) in Disney’s...The Lion King. (FIYERO) in Stephen Schwartz...Wicked. (BENNY) in Lynn Manuel Miranda’s... In The Heights.

Off Broadway/National Tours (LOLA) in Jerry Mitchell’s...KINKY BOOTS. (BERRY GORDY)... in MOTOWN. (ALOYSIUS) in Kirsten Childs...BELLA.
(VICTORIA/CHARLIE WEEMS) in Kender and Ebb’s...The Scottsboro Boys. (NINA/WILSON) in Tarell Alvin McCraney’s... WIG OUT.
Clifton, has also appeared on several Television Shows and Films. As a singer/songwriter, he is currently working on his debut album.

Eli playing

Artistic Director Eli Yamin is a pianist, composer, singer, and educator who has been spreading the joy of jazz through his work for 30 years including 10 years as founding director of Jazz at Lincoln Center's Middle School Jazz Academy. Eli tours with his blues band and jazz quartet, has released several CD's and has performed at The White House, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and over 20 countries as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. Department of State. Eli sincerely believes learning about jazz should feel as creative as playing jazz and consistently shares this experience with students of all ages.

Dancer/Choreographer Mickey Davidson won an Audelco award for choreography of "For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf" directed by Ntozake Shange. She joined Dianne McIntyre's ground breaking "Sounds In Motion" in 1975 and danced with the company for eight years. She has worked closely with jazz artists Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor, the World Saxophone Quartet and was mentored by original Savoy Ballroom dancers Frankie Manning and Norma Miller. A beloved New York veteran of arts education, Ms. Davidson has an extensive background in African American dance styles and led the African American Dance program at Wesleyan University for 17 years. In addition to teaching with Jazz Power Initiative, she teaches at the Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp in New Orleans and is a passionate advocate for making the authentic jazz dance traditions available to the next generation.

Jazz Power Initiative is an uptown, New York City-based not for profit 501 (c) (3) organization whose mission is to ignite the power of jazz arts education to transform lives by fostering self-expression, leadership, collaboration and diversity. Jazz Power Initiative was originally founded as The Jazz Drama Program in 2003 by jazz musician/educator Eli Yamin and writer/educator Clifford Carlson. Since then, thousands of young people in New York City, across the US and around the world have made friends with jazz and in jazz through Jazz Power Initiative programs.