A COMPLEXION CHANGE

Twice a year, the Senate of Berlin/Germany presents awards to persons who are engaged in voluntary community service and working with social and cultural organizations based in Berlin. On November 23, 2009 more than 100 volunteers received the Volunteer Certificate Award (FreiwilligenPass) presented at Berlin City Hall by the Senator for Integration, Labor and Social Affairs Carola Bluhm, assisted by the Undersecretary of State, Monika Helbig, Commissioner of the Berlin Senate for Volunteering in Civil Society. This document of appreciation and recognition is presented to the persons of Berlin, who have engaged in honorary undertakings and positions.
One of the organizations eligible for nominating persons for the Volunteer Certificate Award is Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre, an international and intercultural organization, which was founded 1980, in Berlin/Germany.
In November 2009 Fountainhead® was invited for the fifth time to participate in the award ceremony.

Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre is a production, performance and distribution unit, which was initiated and developed by Prof. Gayle McKinney Griffith and Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith, both experienced artists from the U.S.A. Fountainhead® engages people from various national, cultural, ethnic, socio-economic, religious backgrounds, and sexual identities, and works in a variety of artistic and cultural areas, with the goal of creating, experiencing and communicating intercultural exchange within its projects and to the world community.
Since its founding in 1980, Berlin/Germany, Fountainhead® has presented a variety of international, intercultural and interdisciplinary productions in the areas of dance, theatre, film festivals, television programming, film distribution, publications, seminars, exhibitions, workshops and musical presentations.
One of the productions is the annually presented Black International Cinema Berlin, which was founded by Fountainhead® in 1986 in Berlin/Germany and since then, has been produced on a regular basis in Berlin/Germany, other European and US-American cities.
Black International Cinema Berlin originated from the Black Cultural Festival, which was produced and directed by Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre in 1986 for the first time in Europe, a 3-week event in Berlin, which presented the contributions of Black people to world culture through film, theater, dance, music, workshops and seminars, and was an homage to the legendary tap dancer, Carnell Lyons.
The venues were the Theatermanufaktur am Halleschen Ufer from March 3-16, music - dance - theatre; Hochschule der Künste Berlin on March 11, symposium; Kino Arsenal from March 17-23, film.
Organization and Artistic Direction: Prof. Gayle McKinney Griffith (USA/Berlin), Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith (USA/Berlin), Donald Muldrow McKinney Griffith II (USA/Berlin), Dr. Ntongela Masilela (South Africa);
in cooperation with: Prof. Dr. Abdul Alkalimat (USA), Uazuvara Ewald Katjivena (Namibia), Getinet Belay (Ethiopia), Joliba Africa Center; Organization: Erika Gregor (Arsenal Cinema, Germany); Organization Assistance: Annette Koschmieder (Germany)

Additionally, Fountainhead® produces and directs since the founding in 1995, the weekly intercultural television magazine program THE COLLEGIUM - Forum & Television Program Berlin, broadcast Sundays from 7-8 p.m. and Wednesdays from 11-12 p.m. at Alex - Open Channel Berlin, and furthermore televised in Magdeburg, Wolfsburg, Dessau and additional cities.
In 1990 Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre established Cultural Zephyr e.V. as a not for profit organization, which administers the cultural and artistic undertakings of Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre.

Mottoes:
"I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won't if I don't..." - Oscar Brown Jr.
"Mankind will either find a way or make one." - C.P. Snow
"Whatever you do..., be cool!" - Joseph Louis Turner
"Yes, I can...!" - Sammy Davis Jr.
"Yes, We can...!" - Barack Obama

on the photo, from left:

Angela Kramer, production co-ordinator: Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre/Black International Cinema Berlin/The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin/Cultural Zephyr e.V.

Pierre Walter, public relations

MFA Kera, musician/poet

Christel Seidel, Senate for Integration, Labor and Social Affairs/Department for Berlin Volunteer Certificate Awards

Barbara Saltmann, public relations

Fuasi Abdul-Khaliq, saxophonist/composer

Yamil Borges, singer/actress/poet

Mike Russell, musician/poet

Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith, co-founder/producer/director/publisher: Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre/Black International Cinema Berlin/The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin/Cultural Zephyr e.V.

front: Sonja Prinz, artist

photograph: Marion Kramer