Juneteenth and Beyond returns with immersive experience at Centennial Hall
By Jade Norden, University Communications
The Afro-Caribbean inspired menu – from reception bites to dessert – is presented as part of the immersive Juneteenth and Beyond experience, where food, art and performance come together.
The University of Arizona is celebrating Juneteenth with its third annual Juneteenth and Beyond program, highlighting the cultural legacy and lasting influence of Black expression.
The event, open to campus and community members, takes place on Thursday, June 25, from 4-6 p.m. at Centennial Hall. Tickets are $20 and are available online. Registrants will also receive a complimentary T-shirt while supplies last.
Johnique Woods
Guests attending “Juneteenth and Beyond: The Art of Black Culture Through Movement” won’t just watch a performance – they’ll be immersed in one. From the opening reception to the final course of an Afro-Caribbean-inspired dinner, music, dance and storytelling will unfold around attendees seated on the Centennial Hall stage.
“We’ll have dinner on the stage with beautiful floral tablescapes, a fun layout and lighting that adds texture to make you feel like you’re a part of the performance,” said Johnique Woods, associate director for event planning with Student Unions, who is coordinating and designing the event.
The program will feature a dynamic performance by community dancers from the School of Dance’s Theatre of Movement, choreographed by Duane Cyrus, the school’s director. It will be accompanied by live music from Freddy Jay Walker, a Tucson composer. Together, the dance and music are designed to honor and celebrate generations of Black culture.
Duane Cyrus
"American culture has been influenced greatly by many dances and movements from the African diaspora, from tap to hip-hop, ballet to Broadway and beyond," said Cyrus. "Culture is carried in the body, and movement of the body impacts culture. My goal with this Juneteenth performance is to share only a few of the styles of dance which Black people have built and are part of the fabric of American culture."
The performance will be complemented by an Afro-Caribbean-inspired three-course meal curated by the Student Unions culinary team, including Michael Omo, executive director, and Lawrence Sanchez, senior executive chef.
The menu features traditional dishes, including flavorful jerk chicken with rice and peas, as well as twists on the classics, such as cornbread muffins and savory empanadas filled with black-eyed peas, greens and smoked turkey. Woods said black-eyed peas, greens and cornbread symbolize wealth and prosperity.
What’s on the menu?
Preview the dishes that will be served in the photo gallery below.
Reception
- Empanadas with black-eyed peas, greens and smoked turkey
- Watermelon rolls with feta cheese and balsamic pearls
- Pineapple basil spritzer
Dinner
- Avocado salad with pomegranate dressing
- Jerk chicken with pineapple salsa, rice and kidney beans
- Cornbread muffins
- Cheesecake with guava sauce and caramelized plantain chips
- Hibiscus tea
Partnerships behind the program
The event’s immersive format is a collaboration among Campus Community Connections, Student Unions, Arizona Arts Live and the College of Fine Arts.
Arizona Arts Live is providing the Centennial Hall venue and supporting production aspects such as lighting, marketing and ticket sales through Ticketmaster.
“We’re truly grateful for their partnership,” said Woods. “It has really elevated the experience.”
Thomas Harris
CCC is also supporting the event by funding a portion of expenses, helping to keep ticket prices affordable and opening the experience to more community members.
“We hope Juneteenth and Beyond will become a yearly staple for Campus Community Connections, honoring this pivotal moment in history and the lasting contributions of Black communities,” said Thomas Harris, senior director of CCC.
The University of Arizona School of Dance ensemble performs in "The Calling," a dance work choreographed by Duane Cyrus and inspired by traditions of the African diaspora. Cyrus will bring his experience as a choreographer, educator and storyteller to "Juneteenth and Beyond," an immersive performance and dining experience at Centennial Hall on June 25.
Carl Philabaum
Why Juneteenth matters
Juneteenth, celebrated each year on June 19, commemorates the arrival of Union soldiers in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 – more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed – to announce that enslaved people in Texas were free.
“We need to honor that moment,” said Woods. “There is life and joy afterward, which is why we speak of Juneteenth and beyond. We want to highlight Black contributions to our community and society.”
The university began observing Juneteenth as a paid holiday in 2023.
Honoring Juneteenth beyond campus
For those looking to celebrate Juneteenth this week, Tucson’s Juneteenth Festival will take place on June 20 from 6-10 p.m. at Kino Sports Complex. The free community event will feature historical presentations and exhibits, music and dance, arts, crafts, family activities and food vendors.