18th Annual Visions and Voices Kickoff and Arts Fest
Thursday, August 17, 2023
7:30 to 11 p.m.
McCarthy Quad
USC ID Required at Check-In
Click HERE to RSVP
MAIN STAGE SCHEDULE – Begins at 8:05 p.m.
Welcome by Emcee JOE HERNANDEZ-KOLSKI
Spoken Word by JAVON JOHNSON
Welcome by TARA McPHERSON
Music by HAILEY WILD
Bollywood Dance Challenge with ACHINTA S. McDANIEL, ATTICUS DOBBIE, and HAYDEN RIVAS
Drag Performances by RAE OBLIVION, ELLA MAYO, and WILLCONIQUE
Dance Party with DJs URBAN ASSAULT
ACTIVATIONS AND EXPERIENCES – All Evening
– Collective Painting with CLAUDIA CONCHA
– Button Making with V&V
– 360 Photo Booth by Pixster
– Meet USC’S ARTS SCHOOLS AND MUSEUMS
– FREE Kettle Corn, Paletas, Ice Cream, and Donuts (while supplies last)
– FREE V&V Merch (while supplies last)
– And MORE!
JAVON JOHNSON
Three-Time National Poetry Slam Champion
Javon is a writer, scholar, and creator of the viral poem “cuz he’s black” who has appeared on BET’s Lyric Café, TV One’s Verses & Flow, The Steve Harvey Show, The Arsenio Hall Show, and United Shades of America with Kamau Bell on CNN.
> Check out Javon on Def Poetry Jam HERE.
> See Javon read “Building” on Button Poetry HERE.
HAILEY WILD (USC Class of ’24)
Singer-Songwriter and USC Thornton Student
Influenced by the likes of Lady Gaga, Joan Jett, Lana Del Rey, Adele, Amy Winehouse, and The Weeknd, Hailey seamlessly blends rock, pop, R&B, and jazz to create a sound that’s uniquely her own.
> See Hailey’s video for “My Favorite Part” HERE.
> Watch Hailey on the 4th Floor Artist Showcase HERE.
ACHINTA S. McDANIEL
USC Kaufman Lecturer
The pioneer of contemporary Indian dance in the U.S. and USC students ATTICUS DOBBIE and HAYDEN RIVAS will lead the audience in a Bollywood-inspired dance challenge.
> Stream Achinta’s dance film Firebird Sway HERE.
> View excerpts from 1947: Kamariya HERE.
DRAG PERFORMERS
USC Students
Enjoy fabulous performances by (left to right):
> RAE OBLIVION
> ELLA MAYO
> WILLCONIQUE
URBAN ASSAULT
Powerhouse DJ Duo
FAUST and SHORTEE are a trailblazing electronic and hip hop DJ duo that brings fire beats with their live, four-turntable DJ trick sets scratched to perfection.
> See Shortee host a Technics 1200’s 50th anniversary scratch session HERE.
> Check out Faust’s “Return of the DJ” HERE.
JOE HERNANDEZ-KOLSKI
Actor, Poet, and Comedian
The two-time HBO Def Poet and Emmy Award–winner will be our emcee.
> See Joe on Def Poetry Jam HERE.
> Joe recalls the moment he stopped apologizing HERE.
