Wanda's Picks: MarcusShelby;The Piper; 35thSFEthnicDanceFest

We open today with a conversation with Marcus Shelby, an award-winning musician and composer, is highly renowned and sought after for his discography, his theatrical and film scoring, and his music for ballet and dance.  His empathy as a human being who understands the impact of social justice for all Americans will propel the writing of original music for Gwah Guy: Crossing the Street. Gwah Guy will musically explore poignant memories from Edward K. Wong aka Baby Jack, Flo Oy Wong’s husband.  Ed Wong lived in Augusta, Georgia at the time of segregation when Chinese Americans were identified as "honorary whites."  The June 7 and 8 performances at ODC Dance Center in San Francisco, will also include memories of Flo Oy Wong's childhood in Oakland California's Chinatown near West Oakland, the historical district where many African Americans resided.  Marcus will compose original music inspired by Flo Oy Wong's literary re-imagining of her husband's Southern childhood experiences and actor Peter Macon will narrate. We are then joined by Jinho Ferreira or The Piper is a rapper, actor, and screenwriter from Oakland, California. In 2009, Piper won the best screenwriter award at the Tribeca Film Festival for his CIA thriller: Walter’s Boys. Piper’s latest effort, and first venture into theater, is entitled Cops & Robbers. It is a revolutionary look into the relationship between Law Enforcement, the media, and the Black community. We close with a conversation with Antoine Hunter, Urban Jazz Dance Company; Colette Ewoi, El Wah Movement Theatre and Julie Mushet, Executive Director of the 35th Anniversary of the Ethnic Dance Festival, June 7-30, 2013, about this year's program.