For Nicholas A. Owens, inspiration for a dance can be found anywhere.

In his dreams.

What he sees around him every day.

Things he experiences in his life.

His heritage.

Owens is co-director and artistic director of the Kenyetta Dance Company. He choreographs most of the dances the company performs.

The Kenyetta Dance Company was the featured entertainment for the African-American Heritage banquet Friday in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Owens said for a dance he uses his roots or legends of his ancestors and relates that to him and the dancers.

He said the dancers connect with their inner emotions while performing and through this, they connect the audience with their own feelings.

Owens said from the stage he could hear some hand claps and few sighs, which helps fuel the performance.

“It’s some type of feeling dancers could feel from the audience,” he said.

Owens said he hoped the audience was left remembering the emotion the dancers felt and the heart they gave, adding that this is what makes dance what it is.

“You can have all the technique, but if you don’t have emotion,” it is not true dance, he said.

“We really feel what we dance about,” Owens said.

The Kenyetta Dance Company is a not-for-profit organization in its fourth season. It brought 10 dancers whose ages ranged from 15-25.

Mona Davenport, director of minority affairs, saw the Kenyetta Dance Company at a conference in 2006 and knew he team had to come to Eastern.

She said the company represents black youth that is “so talented.”

They show what it is to be a good dancer, Davenport said.

Davenport described the art of dance as a creation that allows the audience to imagine. She said she wished she had been dancing along with them.

The company opened with each dancer entering the stage and saying something inspirational.

One said by raising just an arm, it can cause someone to cry.

Another said dance was God’s way to touch, to move and to inspire, while another dancer said to take in the moment and express oneself.

The dancers then performed a piece called “Up in the Morning,” set to music by Ray Charles.

Owens said this dance is known as the company’s signature piece and is received well by audiences.

He said it shows people working hard in a factory, trying to make money while all the stress of life keeps piling on. This dance is a “feel-good piece” because despite all this, the dancers stay as spiritual and positive as possible, Owens said.

However, it was the Gospel-themed “Why We Say What We Say,” set to music by Aretha Franklin, that was Davenport’s favorite of the evening.

“It was, oh my goodness, very inspirational,” she said

All eyes in the audience focused on the stage as the dancers flowed, showing their passion for the dance with each leap, each turn.

But the culture could be experienced in other ways, as well.

Davenport said the banquet allowed for people to see how other cultures eat.

“It’s a taste of culture,” she said.

The taste the audience received Friday included fried chicken, green beans, sweet potato pie, heritage-inspired dance and love.

Charrell Barksdale, president of the Black Student Union, served as mistress of ceremony for the banquet and opened the banquet with what became the theme of the evening – love.

Barksdale took each letter in the word and broke it down, showing how it pertained to African-American Heritage Month.

“‘L’ is for this perfect learning experience,” she said, adding that there were more than 25 activities on the African-American Heritage Month calendar.

Barksdale said “O” stood for the “opportunity to expand our horizons.”

“‘V’ became the “vessels of our ancestors,” Barksdale said, and “E” stood for the “enrichment of our culture.”

The banquet began and started with love. Joycelynn Philips, adviser with the Gateway Program and the African-American Heritage Month committee chair, was the last to address the audience before all stood to sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Philips called the banquet an “evening of love.”

“You are in the midst of love tonight,” she said.

Philips said she was proud of the excellent student turnout. This year was the first time students had to reserve tickets before the banquet, and all 288 seats were filled.

She said she hoped students of different cultures can appreciate the contributions of blacks and will consider coming to more events.

“I hope they can take away (that) this is just the beginning of something very special at Eastern,” Philips said.

Students were not the only people in attendance. Community members, Registered Student Organizations, faculty and civic leaders all were present to support the African-American Heritage Month.

Philips said she was glad to see civic leaders at the banquet.

The banquet and this month allows these civic leader to see blacks in a positive light, she said.

Emily Zulz can be reached at 581-7945 or at eazulz@eiu.edu.

Gregory Manning a member of the Kenyetta Dance Company preforms during the 13th annual African-American Heritage Banquet in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Lunter King Jr. Student Union Friday night. (John Bailey / The Daily Eastern News)

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Claudia Rosa-Artis a member of the Kenyetta Dance Company preforms during the 13th annual African-American Heritage Banquet in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Lunter King Jr. Student Union Friday night. (John Bailey / The Daily Eastern News)

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Sataria Carter a member of the Kenyetta Dance Company preforms during the 13th annual African-American Heritage Banquet in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Lunter King Jr. Student Union Friday night. (John Bailey/The Daily Eastern News)

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