NWC Welcomes Alumni for Riveting Dance to Celebrate Black History

Brandon Couloute, a 2010 graduate of Northwest Catholic, returned to his alma mater on Valentine's Day to not only share the love but to wow the school community with a dance performance that married hip hop and history and left the audience tingling with excitement.

Couloute, fellow NWC alumna Alex Murillo, and their colleagues from Studio 860 out of Bloomfield, electrified the Rice Auditorium on Thursday as the whole school community gathered for a special assembly celebrating Black History Month. The multimedia performance showcased the evolution of hip hop while incorporating the struggles of black history. The ensemble, under the direction of Couloute and JoLet Creary, created a collection of pieces that evoked emotion and sparked communion in the NWC community.

NWC Director of Alumni LEADS Beth Boyle, a 1996 graduate of the school, introduced the guests with a personal response to the kind of diversity work the school is embracing, especially this month. Boyle told the audience, “I am proud to present to you this performance today. Brandon Couloute is a talented hip hop dancer, teacher, and choreographer. Any teacher or staff member who was here during Brandon’s time would remember him because when he was on our stage, everyone paid attention.” Boyle continued, “One of the things I most appreciated about my Northwest Catholic education was the diversity I experienced and how much my own life was enriched by learning from my peers, teachers, and coaches who came from all walks of life. Having conversations about topics like race, politics, and religion can be challenging, but those conversations are important. Communication is essential to understanding and understanding is essential for progress.”

Studio 860’s performance centered on African American history seen through a hip hop lens. Sometimes solo, sometimes in trios, and other times as a full ensemble, the dancers moved seamlessly from one piece to the next. To the backdrop of powerful music and poetry as well as images projected on a screen, the artists took their audience on a journey throughout black history with all its joys and pains.

To learn more about Studio 860, visit studio8sixty.com. To learn more about hip hop dancer and choreographer Brandon Couloute, visit brandonthebboy.com, follow him on youtube at youtube.com/user/bboylectronic and on Instagram @bboylectonic.