A Soul Night to remember

BSA’s annual cultural show throws it back to the 1970s this weekend

Last year was a “Different World” as the Rice Black Student Association (BSA) took guests at its annual cultural show, Soul Night, back to the 1990s. This year, BSA is reaching back two more decades to the 1970s and asking: “Do You Remember?”

The theme, BSA Events Coordinator Tia Gray said, “is based off of the popular Earth, Wind and Fire song ‘September,’ as our performances will be sharing aspects of the black experience centered around the 1970s. The theme also serves a prompt to take time to reflect upon and remember some of the great cultural works of the ’70s.”

Soul Night, which will be held Saturday, March 23 in the Rice Memorial Center (RMC) Grand Hall, serves as both the annual cultural showcase for the BSA and a fundraiser for the organization. “Each year, the show is used as an opportunity to share certain aspects of the cultural black experience with the Rice community and to raise money for the club’s next-year events,” Gray said.

This year, 14 different acts will be performed by members of the BSA, Rice African Student Association and Caribbean Student Society and will include everything from singing and dancing to spoken word performances.

Although the show will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m., guests are invited to come out earlier for food and fun. A photo booth with props will be ready at 5:30; dinner will be served by Mikki’s Soul Food Café starting at 6.

Tickets are $7 until Friday, March 22, and $10 at the door. They are being sold electronically and can be purchased via Venmo (@rice-bsa-1); be sure to include your Rice Net ID or email address when paying. Tickets can also be purchased with cash in the lobby of the RMC Friday from noon to 3 p.m.

Soul Night also marks the time of year when the BSA transitions to a new board and a new president, who will be announced at the event. Among the items of business once Soul Night is over, Grey said, is planning another popular BSA event: its annual African, Black, Caribbean pool party.