The DREAM Team Joins The Madison Studio For Performance
Photos by Amyre Makeupson
The Otis Redding Foundation’s DREAM Team joined Macon’s Madison Studio (Dance Education) for two performances celebrating “Homegrown Hits: A Celebration of Georgia Music.” The performances took place March 7 and 8, 2020 at Wesleyan College’s Porter Auditorium, with the DREAM Team performers (comprised of a choir of 11 and a band of drums, bass and keys) performing three Otis Redding songs (“Stand By Me,” “I’ve Got Dreams To Remember,” and “(Sittin’ On The) Dock of the Bay”) to original choreography from the famed Macon dance studio.
“We are so honored to be a part of this wonderful collaboration between two Macon arts education organizations,” says Karla Redding-Andrews, VP/executive director for the Otis Redding Foundation. “Working with the studio’s co-director Faith Madison for two years on our own programs has created this partnership that has grown and blossomed into this remarkable performance. I am so proud to have seen it come to fruition!”
Ms. Madison has worked with the Otis Redding Foundation to create the dance programming for the 2018 and 2019 Camp DREAM sessions, as well as creating original choreography for the 2018 O’Tis The Season holiday performance, using Otis Redding’s “A Change Is Gonna Come.”
“Every year we do an annual production and this year, I wanted to do something in which we could explore, create and do something a little different,” says Ms. Madison. “With my connection to the Foundation and teaching for Camp DREAM, I genuinely feel that there is so much history, legacy, and current talent in our community, and giving the next generation a chance is very important, across all art forms. Plus, I think it's important to give our kids the chance to be professional, to have quality opportunities. Why not take the chance? Why not think bigger? Why not bring multiple art forms together? It only makes us all better.”
The Otis Redding Foundation and Madison Studio thanks everyone who made this possible, including the performers, parents, audience, and supporters.