After screenings in Miami, New York, Baltimore and Boston, the outdoor house music dance documentary HANDS TO THE SKY is ready for its Harlem debut this Saturday, May 25th at MIST Harlem Cinema.  If you’re familiar with DJ Stormin’ Norman’s thumpin’ Sundae Sermon dance parties in Morningside Park during the summer, you’ll understand the idea behind this film – to capture the vibe, and the feeling experienced when you bring together party people with beautiful House music outdoors.  “Hands to the Sky” executive producer Domingo Canate describes the film as “the uplifting and spirited experience of the outdoor House Music movement.”   Check out the preview video below.

Production company My House Rocs dedicated the last two years following the outdoor House music dance scene at parks and beaches, from Coney Island to Fort Greene Park to Harlem, and various public spaces in New York and New Jersey. The uplifting House music soundtrack for “Hands to the Sky” was scored and compiled by writer/arranger Erik Talbert, and the film features interviews with dancers, event promoters, DJs and performers who share their personal experience in the scene. I had the pleasure of co-writing the theme song for Hands To The Sky with Erik, as well as producing the Freedomsound “Harlem Late Night Dub” remix of the song for the film.

Come out and see “Hands to the Sky” this Saturday, May 25 at MIST Harlem Cinema, 46 West 116th Street, New York, NY.  Showtimes for “Hands to the Sky” are at 7:00 PM and 8:30 PM, and the after-party will feature Basement Boys producer Teddy Douglas (Crystal Waters “Gypsy Woman), Andre Collins and film producer/DJ Kervyn Mark.  Admission is $25.00 for the screening plus after-party or $15.00 for just the after-party. Tickets are available at www.MISTHarlem.com.

Hands to the Sky Production Credits

Domingo Canate        Executive Producer

Angelo Boyke             Director, Editor

Kervyn Mark              Producer

Erik Talbert                 Composer

Jean-Paul Noel          Co-Director,  Producer

Wendy Arimah           Associate/Literary Producer

Chris Hunt-Walker     Associate Producer

Hands to the Sky also features such House Music progressives as trailblazing vocalist Carolyn Harding; the British-born founder of Harlem’s Sundae Sermon dance party, DJ Stormin’ Norman; DJ Wayne Williams, noted for bringing disco to Chicago’s South Side and founder of Chicago’s Chosen Few (an elite corps of deejays) and Rican Vargas, a.k.a, “The Commander in Chief” of The Coney Island Dancers, a volunteer organization whose mission includes promoting tourism to Coney Island.

The new cut of “Hands to the Sky” adds an on-camera Interview with DJ Jeannie Hopper, whose enterprising “Liquid Sound Lounge” includes a long-running show on WBAI-FM and parties that transcended “no dancing allowed” policies in New York clubs in the 90’s by taking her beats to the water; and a discussion of the contributions of Newark, New Jersey (Mayor Cory Booker makes a brief cameo) to the house music scene with Anthony Smith, Project Manager of the Newark Municipal Council, who is instrumental in the annual Lincoln Park Music Festival – A Celebration of Spirit and Dance – an outdoor event that draws close to 50,000 visitors every summer.

One thing we know for sure is that 240 Manhattan Avenue will definitely offer residents spectacular views of Central Park and Morningside Park. It also looks like it will liven up that corner with some new retail space as well.

Morningsidepark.org

Related articles

• Come to the Harlem Pop-Up Holiday Bazaar

Help Clean Morningside Park.

Sat, Nov 3, 2012.

10:00am – 12 Noon.

Morningside Dr. & W. 116th St.

Morningside Park was hit hard by Sandy. Join the Friends of Morningside Park and the NYC Dept. of Parks and Recreation to help clean debris from park paths. Equipment will be provided. Please dress appropriately for outdoor work.

And if you know of any other efforts in Harlem please let us know.

Follow us on Twitter:  @HarlemTrends.

It looks a little cloudy outside, but remember, “after the rain comes the sunshine,” so head over to Morningside Park at 114th street and Morningside Drive for this FREE family-friendly dance event from 2-7pm.

Related articles

• SUNDAE SERMON kicks-off Summer 2012 with Father’s Day Event(harlemtrends.com)

  ---

• HarlemTrends presents – JAZZ : Past Meets Present(harlemtrends.com)

  ---

• Hip Hop – True School NYC Summer Park Jams 2012(harlemtrends.com)

  ---

• Cassandra Wilson Takes us to Another Country(harlemtrends.com)

  ---

DJ STORMIN’ NORMAN (SUNDAE SERMON) 

QOOL MARV (BUTTAMILK)

ALI COLEMAN (VOICE OF VOICE NYC)

LIVE PERFORMANCE BY SINGER BUCIE, PERFORMING CLUB HITS “SUPERMAN” “TURN ME ON.”

3PM-7PM

Related articles

• AT&T brings free Wi-Fi service to Harlem Parks(harlemtrends.com)

  ---

• The Studio Museum in Harlem – Summer 2012 Exhibitions and Projects(harlemtrends.com)

  ---

• 39th Annual Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic – Sunday, June 17th(harlemtrends.com)

  ---

Gather in Morningside Park in Harlem on May 25th with  NY Thrill Seekers and bicycle from New York city all the way to Chicago for charity.

Related articles

• Perpetual diaspora: The Art Institute of Chicago acquires “Harlem U.S.A.” by Dawoud Bey(harlemtrends.com)

  ---

Harlem Park to Park is celebrating Global Earth Day this Sunday April 22nd with several Harlem Earth Day events set to take place in Central Park, Morningside Park , Marcus Garvey Park and other participating venues in Harlem.  Let’s hope the sun will be shining, as this is the perfect occasion to get together with the family and enjoy the outdoors with a line-up of fun, kid-friendly programs and eco-friendly events all day.

Everyone will find something interesting to do in this exciting line-up of programs including a Earth Day Celebration Concert and planting workshop, Kids Yoga classes, art installations and arts & crafts, catch & release fishing, an urban gardening workshop, storytelling and instrument making. Pick up a Treasure Map at any of the participating locations and collect a stamp at each station you are visiting.

Tekserve has teamed up again with the Lower East Side Ecology Center to offer free electronics recycling at convenient locations around New York City throughout March, April and May of 2012.

Recyclable items include: computers, monitors, fax machines, copiers, DVD or VCR players, radios, telephones, cell phones, televisions, cameras, stereo equipment, and more.

This recycling program is available to all residents, small businesses (with 50 or fewer employees), and not-for-profits.  No home appliances such as microwaves, stoves, refrigerators and air conditioners.

All eWaste Recyclers will receive two special offers:

1. A “Green Karma” Coupon worth between $5 and $500 off any products or services from Tekserve. Stop by to see what yours is worth!
2. Entry into our raffle for a brand new MacBook Air (Grand Prize) or Voltaic AMP Solar Charger for iPad/iPhone/iPod (1st Prize)

Sunday.  April 29.   Harlem: Morningside Park.  Morningside Avenue between W 113th & W 114th Streets.  Across from Lafayette Square, Manhattan.  9.am

Harlem will not soon forget Hurricane Irene’s all too lengthy and somewhat anticlimatic visit.

Below is an interesting and creative perspective on the damage found in Morningside Park on Sunday morning.

Enjoy!