Ensembles
Energy
Award Winning Energy Dance Company of Kingston, NY has swept the valley with its fresh and entertaining Hip-Hop, Reggae and Latin dance styles. They have won awards at B.E.T’s segment of “Wild Out Wednesday” and “Showtime at the Apollo” at the world famous Apollo Theater. They have competed in The Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic in Columbus, Ohio, winning first place in all four dance categories from youth to adults. In addition, they won first place in Hollywood Dance Competition held in Connecticut. They have performed in the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Culver City, California where they were privileged to dance alongside well known choreographers for various artists. Energy was the opening act for “America’s Best Dance Crew” and was named Albany’s “Number One Dance Crew” in Albany, New York.
Check out some videos of us on YouTube
POOK
POOK, the Percussion Orchestra of Kingston, was founded in 1997 by three professional percussionists with a strong interest in education and youth development. Joakim Lartey, Ruben Quintero and Ev Mann come from three distinct cultural traditions but shared a love of drumming and of working with young people. They each brought a unique style to the group that shaped it profoundly and we are still performing material from that first summer.
Start-up funding for the project was provided by Kingston Mayor T.R. Gallo and the group began by rehearsing everyday at the Midtown Rec Center. What was intended to be just a summer project turned into a thriving ensemble that is now in its 12th year. Members of POOK learn rhythms from all over the world that they then turn into unique arrangements of traditional material. The group has also composed original material for use with the Energy Dance Troupe with whom they perform on a regular basis.
More than one hundred area youngsters have taken part in the ensemble and the group has given concerts all over the region, including performances at West Point and Jacob’s Pillow. We have received crucial support from the Woodstock Chimes Fund, the Dyson and Edwards Foundations and the Boys and Girls Club of Kingston, which provided a home for the group for several years.
The POOKitos is comprised of K-5 students and serves as the farm system for POOK. Here young drummers learn the fundamentals of technique and the basic repertoire of the company. The POOKitos is directed by senior members of POOK. The group is currently led by Darrell Herry and Malik Andrews.
Membership in both ensembles is through audition.
Check out some recordings:
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