Nia hosts cultural workshop

The UW System’s Institute on Race and Ethnicity has awarded a $2,000 grant to the Nia dance and drumming group. The application was made by Juliet Cole, who works on campus as associate director of the Institute for Learning Partnership, and Sherry Lacenski, assistant director of the Phoenix Bookstore. Cole is director and founder of Nia — an African-American cultural troupe based in Green Bay — Lacenski served as manager. The grant supports the cultural workshop (next item) in September.

Playwright, author and dancer April Turner will be the workshop leader when UW-Green Bay’s Nia African-American Dance and Drumming group hosts a weeklong workshop Sept. 14 through 18 on campus. The event will run five consecutive nights, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., in the dance studio, Theatre Hall Room 132. The workshop is open to all, but pre-registration is requested. Turner is the author of 12 stage plays and has screen credits including roles on TV’s “One Tree Hill” and “ER.” She tours nationally conducting socially conscious workshops on theatre movement and acting in addition to African culture and dance. Campus and community members interested in participating can contact Juliet Cole (920) 465-5094, Louise King at (920) 406-1387, or Dawn Shimura at 468-4114.