Pinkster


2021 Events Archive

Celebrate Virtually with Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum

Monday, May 24th at 6PM

Join Melissa Branfman, Director of Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum and Meredith Horsford, Director of Dyckman Farmhouse Museum, as they chat with Culinary Historian and Interpreter of African American History for the Bureau of Historic Sites, Lavada Nahon and musician Chief Baba Neil Clarke. The event will provide live demonstrations and music to teach you more about this regional tradition.

Pinkster at the Wyckoff House Museum is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; and supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.


Pinkster with OKRA Dance Company at Dyckman Farmhouse Museum

Thursday, May 27th at 6PM

OKRA Dance Company highlights the revived legacy of Pinkster (celebrated by freed and enslaved Africans), which flourished for over 200 years during the height of colonial America, most notably in Albany and New York City.  Learn more about this unique facet of the city’s past through this family-friendly, interactive performance of song, dance, and storytelling.

Masks are required. Bring water and a blanket if preferred. There will be no bathrooms available.



Directed by Shireen Dickson, OKRA DANCE COMPANY is a collective of accomplished professional dancers, musicians and teaching artists of African descent.  Our mission is to enlighten and inspire audiences through culturally and historically diverse programs that weave together a myriad of world and folk rhythmic dances, and American and African American social and theatrical styles.   We are committed to celebrating tradition, innovation and activism both in our individual art-making, and the work we envision together.  

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS


Brian Davis is an Apollo Talent Search Winner, Philadelphia Tap Idol, and Substitute Executioner for the Apollo Theater’s Historic Amateur Night Competition. Brian began as a street performer with a dream, but with the support of his mother, Angela Davis, Brian earned the money he needed with nothing but a board, a bucket, and second-hand tap shoes. Tap Dancing helped pay his way through college at the University of the Arts Philadelphia where he won the Award for Outstanding Performance in Tap Dancing. He went on to New York City to star in “Rhythm is Our Business” and the inaugural cast of Broadway’s “After Midnight” on board the Norwegian Escape. Brian is now the proud owner of the Taptastic Network LLC. For more information about upcoming projects visit www.taptastic.net  taptasticbriandavis on ig , YouTube, and Facebook.


Trashina Conner is a 33 year old native from Saginaw, MI. Trashina left home to pursue her dreams at the age of 18, which led her to Howard University where she received her BFA in dance in 2011. Immediately following she moved to New York City where she currently resides. The past nine years Trashina has been performing teaching writing and creating. She has performed with Def Dance Jam Workshop, Mickey Davidson and Friends, Balasole, and other amazing artists. In 2016 she wrote and published her first book ‘18 Ingredients to Make Daddy’, a young girl’s recipe to create her perfect dad. This year Trashina received her MA in Dance Education from New York University. Currently Trashina is a dance teacher at Achievement First Bushwick Middle School, where through dance she teaches her students confidence, creativity, and to communicate through their bodies when the words can’t be found.


Newman Taylor Baker aka WashboardXT – virtuoso washboardist – world renown drummer – teaching artist – composer – vocalist, began his journey with the washboard in 2010 as a member of The Ebony Hillbillies—-the only NYC-based black string band. Since that beginning WashboardXT is featured with Vienna Carroll and The Folk on “Harlem Field Recordings” their debut CD and has appeared in venues such as NewYork Public Library 42nd St.New York,NY; Roulette Intermedium Brooklyn, NY; Columbus Coffee Szczecin, Warsaw and Poznan, Poland; The Glasshopper Nagoya, Japan; The American Folk Art Museum and The Clemente, New York, NY. Baker’s debut CD Drum-Suite-Life features his compositions highlighting the various musics created by the drum set in African American culture. As a master drummer, he is featured in the world-renowned Matthew Shipp Trio. An international teaching artist, Baker has taught at Rutgers University- Newark, Widener University, Livingstone College, correctional institutions, public and private schools, music conservatories in USA, Poland, Japan, and Italy. Baker has received awards, grants, and fellowships from NYFA, NEA, Meet the Composer, and Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.