Center Stage is a public diplomacy initiative of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It is administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts in cooperation with the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations, and with additional support from the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, the Asian Cultural Council, and the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. General management for Center Stage is provided by Lisa Booth Management, Inc. __________________________________ B�lO, Haiti's outspoken groove innovator, interweaves the Afro-Caribbean depths of Haitian tradition with a progressive voice for social and political transformation at home and abroad. A singer, songwriter and guitarist, B�lO keeps the socially conscious spirit of reggae alive, while drawing on the vibrant sounds of his artsy native town of Croix des Bouquet, and a globally informed, upbeat pan-African vibe. Based in P�tion Ville, Haiti's music central, and equally at home among the Afro-French communities around the world, B�lO finds powerful sonic ties that span the Atlantic and powerful ways to move audiences, to action and to sing along. His Kreyol lyrics reflect the complexities, joys and struggles of Haiti today. Hailed as Haiti's musical ambassador he is a spokesperson for the Haitian Red Cross, UNICEF, is an official advocate for Haiti's disabled, and a patron of "Hope for Haiti." These commitments are evident in B�lO's polished, often urgent, always catchy songs, and fuel his onstage presence. Whether playing on a porch or for presidents, B�lO longs to engage his audience in ways that go beyond culture and language. "I was chosen to be an activist artist," exclaims B�lO. "It would be easier to earn more money or be more popular doing love songs. But I was born an activist musician. I live it, I feel it, and I have a vision." Haiti Debout (Haiti Stand Up!), B�lO's third album, was released in 2011 and is dedicated to Haiti and the strength of the Haitian people. A lyric from Wozo (Reed), one of record's many fine tracks, captures its spirit: "Ou se wozo ... ou m�t tande'w pliye, ou pap kase." "You are a reed. You will bend, but you will not break." On their Center Stage tour (October 21 to November 17), B�lO and his band visits Washington, DC, with multiple stops in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Florida. For information about the band, visit www.sonicbids.com/beloayiti About Center StageSM Diplomacy doesn't just happen in conference rooms or at embassies. It can burst out in classrooms and studios, on town greens and beside historic landmarks, in coffee shops and arts centers, moving from person to person, between artist and arts lover. From June - December 2012, 10 different contemporary performing arts ensembles from Haiti, Indonesia and Pakistan are making independent month-long tours in the USA as part of Center Stage. Residencies include performances, workshops, discussions, people-to-people exchanges, and community gatherings. This public-private partnership is the largest public diplomacy effort to bring foreign artists to American stages in recent history. Keep up with Center Stage at www.CenterStageUS.org, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/CenterStagePage), and Twitter (@centerstage). U.S tour date Sun, October 21 @ 6-7pm -Washington, DC The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts VENUE: Millennium Stage FREE http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/artists/?entity_id=88046&source_type=B Thu, October 25 @ 7:30pm -Northampton, MA Academy of Music VENUE: Academy of Music Theatre http://www.academyofmusictheatre.com/events/belo/ Fri, October 26 @ 8pm- Roxbury, MA Roxbury Center for Arts VENUE: Hibernian Hall Ballroom http://www.madison-park.org/about-us/events/b�lo-live-hibernian-hall-friday-october-26th Tue, October 30 @ 7:30pm -North Adams, MA VENUE: Church Street Center http://www.mcla.edu/About_MCLA/Community/bcrc/mclapresents/ Fri, November 2 @ 7:30pm -Boothbay Harbor, ME Boothbay Opera House VENUE: Main Stage http://chamber.boothbayharbor.com/Events/details/opera-house-at-boothbay-harbor-presents-b�lo-5010 Sat, November 3 @ 7:30pm-Rockport, ME Bay Chamber Concerts VENUE: Strand Theatre http://www.baychamberconcerts.org/allevents.php Sun, November 4 @ 7pm -Portland, ME Portland Ovations VENUE: Hannaford Hall, Abromson Center, University of Southern Maine http://portlandovations.org/shows/belo.shtml Fri, November 9 @ 8pm-New London, CT Connecticut College VENUE: Evans Hall http://www.conncoll.edu/events/concerts/ Tue and Wed, November 13 and 14 @ 7:30pm- Gainesville, FL University of Florida Performing Arts VENUE: Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Studio Theatre http://performingarts.ufl.edu/events/2012/belo/ Sat, November 17 @ 7:30pm --West Palm Beach, FL The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts VENUE: Gosman Outdoor Amphitheatre http://www.kravis.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=performances.detail&performance_id=1635 For more information on performances, please contact each venue individually. BelO contact information: General manager Cynthia Karaha World Music Promotions karahac@worldmusicpromotions.com Haiti Manager Harry Luc Harryluc@hotmail.com Tour Manager Karl Leger legerkarl@yahoo.com | 
