Supaman performs mashup of hip-hop, Native American culture in free events Oct. 13–14

Community events include fancy dance and songwriting workshops, The Joyfull Feast Edition, Indigenous Peoples Resistance Day Rally

A Native American man dressed in full tribe regalia looks off into the distance.

Christian Takes Gun Parrish is Supaman, a Native American dancer and innovative hip-hop artist.

Credit: Supaman

UNIVERSITY PARK (Monday, Sept. 30, 2024)—Supaman melds indigenous flute, tribal dance, and hip-hop rhymes and rhythms to spread his messages of hope and resilience.

The Center for the Performing Arts, in partnership with the Penn State Indigenous Faculty and Staff Alliance and Indigenous Peoples’ Student Association, will host the empowering artist-musician with a performance at 8:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, in Eisenhower Auditorium.

The event is free and open to the public. Visit Superman online for more information about the main performance and various community engagement opportunities.

Payment is optional. No tickets will be issued for this general-admission performance. Pay what you wish to help the Center for the Performing Arts present more artists such as Supaman.

Named Christian Takes Gun Parrish at birth, Supaman has won awards rooted in pop culture, including the 2017 MTV VMA award for Best Fight Against the System, while maintaining the messages and respect of his elders and indigenous community with his artform.

Watch a Supaman music video of “Alright.”

A man wearing Native American regalia dances using all of his limbs.

Supaman is an award-winning artist, with including the 2017 MTV VMA award for Best Fight Against the System.

Credit: Brenda Boetticher

FANCY DANCE WORKSHOP

Supaman, a member of the Apsáalooke Nation, will host a free Fancy Dance Workshop at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, in Eisenhower Auditorium.

Fancy dance is created by the Ponca Tribe and is one of the most popular forms of Native American dance, commonly performed at powwows. Supaman will discuss the history of powwow styles, and he will teach the basic steps for the dances and the different styles of music.

Visit Fancy Dance Workshop for more information. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required for entry.

The workshop is presented in partnership with the Penn State Indigenous Faculty and Staff Alliance and Indigenous Peoples’ Student Association.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RESISTANCE DAY RALLY

Everyone is welcome to a free Indigenous Peoples Resistance Day Rally at noon Monday, Oct. 14, on Old Main Patio.

Indigenous student, faculty and staff leaders will speak, and artists will perform in honor of Indigenous Peoples' Resistance. The Jake George Family will perform a smoke dance to welcome guests. Supaman will perform at approximately 1 p.m.

The rally is presented by the Center for the Performing Arts in collaboration with Penn State Indigenous Faculty and Staff Alliance, Indigenous Peoples’ Student Association, and Student Affairs.

SONGWRITING WITH SUPAMAN

Hip-hop and Native American artist and musician Supaman will lead a songwriting workshop. The event, part of the University Libraries’ Political Song Series, will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, in Dewey Room, Pattee Library Collaboration Commons, Penn State University Libraries.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. The event is limited to 30 attendees, and lunch will be provided. It is presented in partnership with Penn State University Libraries, Indigenous Faculty and Staff Alliance and Indigenous Peoples’ Student Association.

THE JOYFULL

When our bodies are hungry, we need to eat. But when our souls are hungry, we crave a different kind of nourishment.

Join the Center for the Performing Arts and Student Affairs in making connections and sharing in joyful expression. The Joyfull Feast Supaman Edition will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, in HUB-Robeson Center’s Alumni Hall.

The Joyfull will feature a meal, live performance and conversation. Native American dance and hip-hop music artist Supaman will join the group discussion.

The event is free, but registration is required.

A free, sustainable utensil set will be given to each first-time attendee, while supplies last. Help us reduce waste by bringing them with you to use at each Joyfull event.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Support for The Joyfull events provided by

Dick Brown and Sandy Zaremba

Penn State Equal Opportunity Planning Committee in The Office for the Vice Provost for Educational Equity

Accessibility services supported by

William E. McTurk Endowment for Program Support

FIND US

For more information about the season, visit the Center for the Performing Arts online, Facebook and Instagram.

Unit Outreach: Center for the Performing Arts
Offices: Office of Access and Equity