East Liberty Opening, Friday, August 22 & Closing Saturday, August 23, 7-9:30pm 2008: Def Squad the New Beginning

NAKA Entertainment presents Def Squad the New Beginning: a hip hop, contemporary, gospel, and theatrical stage performance by the children, teens, and young adults that make up the NAKA Entertainment Dance Company, featuring live music by local performing artists Doswell, Lhagic and other special guests.

NAKA Entertainment

NAKA stands for Nothing Against Kan Achieve, and the students in the program are living proof. NAKA Entertainment is a youth dance company located in the heart of East Liberty, owned and operated by James “Big Weave” Weaver. Founded six years ago with personal funds, and currently operated through a small parental support volunteer group that organizes fundraising events that makes the shows possible, NAKA continues to be that outlet for children to have a safe place to express their creativity and learn values along the way. NAKA has seen their students go on to achieve great things, and one in particular has come back to pay it forward. Gabe Ash, a former NAKA dancer, has made it to the Apollo Theater and back, was a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance, and is now a choreographer and dancer at NAKA.

Each year, NAKA performs two shows at the historic Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, in East Liberty, offering the audience a variety of performances often blending hip-hop and contemporary, and always delivering a message. This show will focus in part on Internet prevention dealing with child safety and Internet predators.

NAKA Entertainment has been growing in popularity as they perform in events around the city. They have been a part of Squonk Opera’s “Pittsburgh, The Opera”, Troy Polamalu’s Charity Event to benefit the Hill House Association, and most recently on stage at the Shyne Awards hosted by the Darkins Foundation. They have also leant their talents to local artists as dancers for music videos, and been called on to perform at community day events around the city.

For further information visit www.nakafitness.com or www.nakaentertainment.blogspot.com or contact James Weaver, Owner, Phone: 412-969-3885, or Email: bigweave@nakafitness.com or Keni Jefferson, Secretary, Phone: 412-979-7848 Email: kenijefferson@gmail.com

Opening August 22 & Closing August 23, 7-9:30pm: NAKA Entertainment Presents: Def Squad The New Beginning, Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, 5941 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206