The Core Ensemble is presenting a performance called “Ain’t I a Woman” in honor of Black History Month, as a part of the Performaing Art Series, which occurs once each semester. The performance will take place in the Goodwin Performing Arts Center Friday, Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

The Core Ensemble has visited Waynesburg University before, when they performed “Of Ebony Embers”. The event gives them the opportunity to see an exciting performance, with many art, music, and theater majors in the show as well. “The Core Ensemble do different performances each semester, and it is not a certain style of music not like a classical style.

They are really interested in educating different African American aspects,” said Andrew Heisey, chairman of the Fine Arts Department.For Heisey, this performance is not only a concert, but helping to accomplish an overarching goal for his department.

“We want to immerse students in cultural experiences,” said Heisey, chairman of the Department of Fine Arts, “but this is mostly for our art, music and theatre majors so that they can experience different artist, and they get to meet them.”“Ain’t I a Woman” is a chamber music theatre work, where actresses and pianists celebrate the lives and historical times of four significant African American women.

Performing are David Berry, who will be on the piano, and Shayla Simmons, who will be acting the part of Sojourner Truth. Truth was a historic women’s rights activist, and she was an African American woman who was born into slavery in 1826.Not only is Simmons playing the role of Sojourner Truth, but she is also acting the roles of novelist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, folk artist Clementine Hunter and civil rights worker Fannie Lou Hamer.Hurston was an American novelist, short story writer, folklorist and an anthropologist, but she is known for her African American literature.

Hunter was a self-taught African American folk artist from the Cane River region in the United States. “I would really encourage people to attend this event because it not like any other music concerts,” Heisey said. “It’s an experience because they are not just there performing music. They are telling stories that many do not know.”