2012 Gala Journal - Parents' Association of Stuyvesant High School

The 2012 Spring Feast Student Performers Biographies:
Stuyvesant High School Jazz Combo, a.k.a. “Banana Soul”
Spawned from the infamous Stuyvesant Jazz
Band, Banana Soul is a small collection of
frighteningly talented musicians whose singular
aim is to spread gut-wrenching, brainteasing
music wherever it goes. Originally
known simply as the Stuyvesant Jazz Combo,
this ensemble has been dubbed “Banana
Soul” in recent years as its audience has
grown in both size and appreciation of the
group’s musical talents. The band has performed
at such venues as the Liberty Science
Center and Gracie Mansion. While Banana
Soul started out as primarily a jazz ensemble,
it has since deviated from the conventions of
standard jazz and its repertoire has expanded to include music based in the traditions of Klezmer, Motown,
pop, and rock, among others. Consequently, the band’s sound is defi ned by an eclectic blend of many
musical genres. Banana Soul is comprised of Adam Lieber (piano), Jonathan Lessinger (guitar), Tyler Ross
(bass guitar), Marc Schramm (trombone), and Andreas Petrossiants (percussion).
Chinese Fan/Ribbon Dance:
The Chinese Fan and Ribbon Dance has a long and treasured history in China. Though it began as ceremonial
rituals; over time, it has evolved into a more cultural dance that tells a story. It is currently a representation
of beauty, grace, skill, tradition and history. What started out as a group of girls that wanted
to showcase fan dancing to Stuyvesant High School became something bigger. At fi rst, it was to show
the pride they had in their culture and heritage, but then it slowly started to evolve. The fan dance started
to incorporate different moves that were before not used often and became modernized. But, this dance
showed the personality of the people that choreographed this dance, as well as the characters of the
people that performed these moves. Because this year is our last year at Stuyvesant, our group hopes to
give you our own approach to fan and ribbon dancing. Dance directors: Doris Xia and Rebecca Lichi Chan.
Stuyvesant Squad Step Dancers:
Stuyvesant Squad Step members include Tajma Hall, Natalyah Morgan, Suzy Kim, Sidney Bynum, Lisa Ng,
and Kimberly Iboy.
Stuyvesant High School Parents’ Association P 2012 Spring Feast Journal P Page 16