Week of Representing: Alem Harris

Howdy!  Welcome to the second of Beans' Artist Representations, during our Week of Representing.   (Click here to learn more about that, and about the documentary "Miss Representation.") 

Alem Harris

Here's Alem Harris . . . back in the day, as the young folks say, when we were high school seniors together.  I could show her photo from our junior high year book, too (when we were in carpool together).  But those junior high photos are way too little to do her big spirit justice. 

Among other things in high school, Alem served on the Senior Advisory Board, and was a Pom Pom girl.  Which meant that our jaws were always dropping when we saw her awesome dance moves in support of the football and basketball teams.  (Much cooler than a cheerleader.)  She was like Beyonce, way before there was Beyonce.

Alem went to college and majored in dance.  And became an amazing grown up.

 
She went to graduate school.  She raised a son.  She became an educator, and has been teaching for 20 years.  This year:  sixth graders, at an inner-city school in Richmond, California.  Where for years and years, she has been putting together shows for others, and performing when it worked.  

Alem says that, "Singing was always my first love," and she focused on dance in college as a way to get into it.  

And we are happy to report that this summer . . . when we both turned 50 . . . Alem finally got to stage a show in which she was producer, director AND performer.   At the terrific Empress Theatre in Vallejo, California, Alem produced and starred in "Fulfilled," a benefit show in honor of her father and his alma mater, Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas.  Alem performed the songs from her first CD (also called "Fulfilled") that she finished mastering this summer. 

Here she is, on the marque!  Do you know what a thrill it is to see someone you knew as an 11-year-old on a theatre marque?!?!?!  Go, Alem!!!

And she rocked the house. With all original songs, written by her son Iamsu -- a terrific artist himself -- who performed with her.

As Alem says, "My music is all about encouragement and going for it." And she's right.  Every song was uplifting and head-bopping . . . and Alem still has the moves.  Decked out in a silver dress, looking like something wonderfully between Cher and Tina Turner, Alem rocked it.

It is a total gift to be able to post about someone "you knew when," who has lived a life of such good and kind service to others, and who has the energy and creativity to keep on blossoming each and every year into a better and better version of herself . . . continuing to help others, to make them happy and proud, to grow her art, to be a beacon.  You truly rock, Alem.  In so many ways.