May 21, 1997

Melvin Deal
Founder and Director
African Heritage Dancers and Drummers
4018 Minnesota Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20019

Dear Melvin:
African Heritage Dancers and Drummers' participation in the Kennedy Center's African Odyssey festival was very important to me and to the Kennedy Center. The company's high-energy performance generated as much excitement and energy to the sold-out audience as there was on stage.

One of the African Odyssey festival's goals is to demonstrate the connection of Africa to America through the arts and culture. Not only did the company accomplish that goal, but it brought Africa even closer to home by highlighting the influence of African arts and culture right here in the Kennedy Center's home city of Washington.

All in all, the performance made for two wonderful evenings, and I am glad that you and African Heritage Dancers and Drummers were a part of them. Again, thank you for your participation.

Sincerely,

Alicia B. Adams
Director of Special Programming
Producer, African Odyssey Festival
Tel: 202~16-8007 / Fax: 202~16-8018

July 1, 1997

Mr. Melvin Deal
Director
African Heritage Dance Center
4018 Minnesota Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20019

Dear Mr. Deal:
I am writing to thank you and the African Heritage Dancers and Drummers for your outstanding performance here on June 28.

The performance was extremely well received by our customers and staff. I am certain that the energy, joy, and creativity of the African Heritage Dancers and Drummers will leave a lasting impression on those who attended.

Your dedication to preserving respect and appreciation for African culture in America is commendable. Please continue to energize and educate young people, especially those in at-risk communities.

Sincerely,
Rebecca Mills
Community Relations Coordinator

November 7, 1989

Mr. Melvin Deal
4018 Minnesota Avenue NE
Washington, D.C.  20019

I am writing to thank you for the awesome performance by,the African Heritage Dancers and Drummers at the coronation of Miss Bowie State University and at the lecture demonstration for Afrikan Awareness Day.  Additionally, I would like to thank you for the very informative and timely lecture you gave on herbs and drugs. Your presentation enlightened our students and some of them could not wait to receive their work study checks so they could purchase some of the herbs you discussed in your presentation.

Keep on lifting the veil of ignorance so people can see the light and the truth and feel good about themselves. Please keep us informed of future performances.

Sincerely,
Vincent Stovall
Director of Student Activities

To whom it may concern:

This letter is to highly recommend the African Heritage Dancers and Drummers as excellent performers, which initiates dances and drumming that depict similar societal mores and et-hics, such as birth, marriage and harvest celebration. Their sole purpose is to teach an understanding of the living culture of traditional Old World Africa and New World African American Experiences. Mr. Melvin Deal and associates represents an unique tradition of communicating with children through dancing, drumming and cultural music. Their presentation integrated various academic areas such as Geography and Social Studies. They offered a truly unique, dynamic and multicultural educational assembly.

In closing they are energetic, knowledgeable and exceptional entertainers. Their enthusiasm and talent are a wonderful resource for young people around the Metropolitan area.

Sincerely,
Trevine D. Alferd
Counselor

September 13, 1989

Mr. Melvin Deal
African Heritage Dancers & Drummers
4018 Minnesota Avenue
Washington, D.C.  200l9

Dear Mr. Deal,
On behalf of the Catoctin Mountain Zoological Society, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to you and your company of dancers and drummers for your exciting and invigorating performance at our fundraiser HARAMBEE ‘89 on September 9, 1989!

Your electrifying performance was all it promised it was educational, entertaining, spiritual, colorful, and instrumentally the perfect compliment to our African Safari Extravaganza.

By your participation we feel we were able to persuade our audience that if we all "put together" for a universal purpose of protecting and fostering the species, our world will definitely become a more civil and harmonious place for us all to live.

Thank you again for a fine performance and your very special company. Please feel free to visit our Zoo at any time and we look forward to a continued relationship.
 

Fondly,
Gerri O. Rice
Project Director
HARAMBEE ‘89 - ‘90 - ‘9l

Mr. Bob Wilson
Program Coordinator
African Heritage Center
420 7th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20004

Dear Mr. Wilson:

On behalf of the Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, I take great pleasure in congratulating you on the distinguished cultural achievement of the African Heritage Center and its founding artistic director, Melvin Deal. As you celebrate twenty-five years of exemplary achievement, in the area of education and entertainment in the nation's capitol, we make a special salute to the African Heritage Drummers and Dancers.

Critics and members of performing arts communities both in this country and abroad have.made legend the accomplishments of this wonderful institution and its dedication to the fostering of a cultural legacy for Africans and African Americans.
 

On this very special occasion, we extend to Melvin Deal and the African Heritage Center our best wishes for continued success.

Sincerely,
XXXXXXXX, Chairman

Melvin Deal
African Heritage Center
2146 Georgia Avenue., N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20001

Dear Mr. Deal,
On behalf of the Charles County Parks and Recreation Department, I would like to thank you for your dance work shops held in Charles County in conjunction with the Afro American Heritage Society. The workshops were not only enjoyed by the participants, they were very informative also.

We appreciated the dedication and cooperation that was involved in preparing the dancers for a performance on Heritage Day. Although this was a pilot program, the caliber of instruc tion and the response by others involved lead me to feel the program was not only worthwhile, but
one I would like to keep on as a regular program.

Thank you again for your help and we will be in touch with you soon for further workshops and performances.

Sincerely,
Holly Johnson
Cultural Arts Coordinator

DEPARTMENT OF CHILD HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY CHILD HEALTH CENTER RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

February 1, 1989

Mr. Melvin Deal & Company
The African Heritage Dancers and Drummers
African Heritage Center
4018 Minnesota Avenue, NE
Washington, D.C. 20019

Dear Mr. Deal:
On behalf of Children's Hospital National Medical Center, I want to thank you and your company for your performance today at the Hospital.

The production was outstanding! The staff, children and visitors who attended absolutely loved the performance. I have been hearing wonderful comments and compliments on the production and performers, the encouragement of audience participation, and your patience, understanding and kindness with the children who attended.

Thank you once again for the African Heritage Dancers and Drummers' great contribution in helping Children's Hospital as we recognize and celebrate Black History Month.
 

Sincerely,
Trina Stevens
Public Affairs

June 3. 1997

Melvin Deal
African Heritage Center
4018 Minnesota Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20019

Dear Mr. Deal:
On behalf of Covenant House Washington, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your time and efforts on behalf of the youth of Anacostia and Congress Heights.

As you are aware. a Volunteer Awards Ceremony was held on May 8. 1997 to express our appreciation to all volunteers of Covenant House Washington.

We regret that you could not join us, but want you to know that we appreciate your contributions to CHW and the youth.. Truly our work would be more difficult were it not for people like you. Please accept the enclosed Certificate of Appreciation as an expression of our gratitude.

Again. thank you for all your efforts and hope to see you soon.

Sincerely.
Carol Price Adgerson