Marist BSU Hosts Night at the Apollo
The final Thursday night in February found the Cabaret packed with cheering students as Marist College hosted Poughkeepsie’s “Night at the Apollo.” Marist students were joined by peers from Vassar, SUNY New Paltz, and The Culinary Institute of America.
Members of all four schools contributed performances to the event, with food served on the side and artwork to observe.
Even before the doors opened, the hallway outside the Cabaret was bustling with students; once inside, attendees chatted amongst themselves while music played in the background. The crowd was an impressive size, and more chairs had to be brought out to accommodate the masses of people.
When the audience was officially welcomed to the event by Black Student Union (BSU) President Aliyah Wilson and Vice President Brianna Morgan ‘20, there was thunderous applause.
The name, Night at the Apollo, refers to the Apollo Theater, a famous theater in Harlem. The Apollo Theater has been touched by many diverse cultures; however, it has a special place in Black history.
In the very beginning, the building was a burlesque theatre exclusive to White patrons. About two decades later, during the Harlem Renaissance, it was revitalized and renamed as the Apollo Theater.
The Apollo got its namesake from the Greek god of music among other attributions, and would become one of the first theaters allowing Black performers. The theater also has a legacy of launching up-and-coming performers to stardom. Winners of the theater’s historic “amateur nights” include Ella Fitzgerald, Jimi Hendrix, and The Jackson Five. Due to its illustrious legacy, the iconic theater remains associated with Black history, culture, and of course the excellence of legendary performers.
The Night at the Apollo treated guests to numerous acts, including a plethora of poems; there were also songs ranging from covers to originals, along with a few dance numbers. Up-and-coming rappers performed tracks off their mixtapes, as well as new singles. Each performance was met with enthusiastic adoration.
The fashion show followed a period of individual performances. Models strutted down the runway, showing off vibrant colors and intricate patterns. When each model appeared before the catwalk, there was a storm of cheers, applause and general noise of encouragement that swept the room.
Nevertheless, aside from general entertainment, there was genuine enlightenment and inspiration to be found in every performance. Although some performers elaborated on their background more than others, every moment on stage was incredibly relevant. Some people talked about various aspects of what it meant to be Black, and self-love, and mental health.
While some parts had the audience laughing, shouting, and moving around, others were met with quiet respect.
Every time somebody got up in front of the crowd and did their piece, they were sharing a part of themselves with all the other people present. There was a genuine, heartwarming sense of community, as all the acts contributed to what made the event special.
This event was a celebration of culture and of people. The presentation of this event was spearheaded by the board of BSU, and it was extremely inclusive of students and individuals from any and all backgrounds. Night at the Apollo was a great example of how culture clubs are great places to learn about another culture, another community that isn’t one’s own. There is no better way to familiarize oneself with another culture, with another community than to hear from members of that group.
It is incredibly authentic and awe-inspiring and anyone who is interested should check out BSU, ARCO or any of the other culture clubs for immersive experiences.
Therefore, for a college level Night at the Apollo, the quality of the showings by up-and-coming artists — each of which were centered around their unique culture and experiences — was phenomenal and incredibly fitting for an event named like it was.