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Night of Dance, Culture and Grooviness at Café Groove

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At the Deerfield Community Center Friday, September 7, Prince George’s County Teens and Pre-teens were encouraged to let their inner poet, singer and dancer out at the monthly Café Groove night. Teens and Pre-teens from a number of different community centers came to watch the Taratibu Youth Association perform as well as participate in an open mic night. The Taratibu Youth Association, made up of girls dressed in traditional African clothes, combined singing, military-style dancing and discipline in a fun performance. The Teens and Pre-teens could even join in on the fun, learning the South African gumboot dance with the dancers. Catherine Graham, 11, decided to come to the Café Groove night with her mom to check it out. “I’m looking forward to seeing the different types of people that come out,” she said. Though she wasn’t going to participate in the open mic later, she does like to write poetry, competing in her school’s young author contest last year. She liked to write in elementary school and knows that poetry is something you feel, not write. “It’s something you just know,” she said. The dancers talked about toughness and perseverance, enforcing ideas of respect and unity. They sang in Swahili and Zulu and the Teens and Pre-teens were enjoying the songs, even clapping along. Overall, the Café Groove night was a huge success encouraging creativity and empowerment, all with a positive message.