Nov 17 2018
Storytelling with Charlotte Blake Alston

Storytelling with Charlotte Blake Alston

Presented by City of Asylum @ Alphabet City at City of Asylum @ Alphabet City

Charlotte Blake Alston performs in venues throughout North America and abroad. Venues are wide and include the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian Institution, the Kimmel Center, the Women of the World Festival in Cape Town, South Africa, prisons, detention centers and a refugee camp in northern Senegal.

She breathes life into traditional and contemporary stories from African and African American oral and cultural traditions. Her solo performances are often enhanced with traditional instruments such as djembe, mbira, shekere or the 21-stringed kora. In 1999, Charlotte began studying the kora and the West African history-telling traditions of Senegal, Mali, Guinea and Guinea Bissau. Her teacher was the highly respected Senegalese griot (jali), the late Djimo Kouyate. She has recently resumed her studies with Malian Virtuoso Yacouba Sissoko.

She brings her stories and songs to national and regional festivals, schools, universities, museums, libraries and performing arts centers throughout the United States and Canada, as well as local and national radio and television. Her repertoire is wide and programs are adapted to any grade level or age group.

Admission Info

Free Admission (RSVP Required)

Phone: 412-435-1110

Dates & Times

2018/11/17 - 2018/11/17

Location Info

City of Asylum @ Alphabet City

40 W. North Ave, Pittsburgh, PA

Parking Info

Safe and convenient parking for City of Asylum @ Alphabet City (40 W. North Avenue) is available at the Federal North Garage (1231 Federal Street) located on Federal Street behind the Masonic Building.