Bringing the distinctive D.C. sound of go-go into the classroom.

Teaching for Change is honored to work with D.C. area schools and the authors of The Beat! Go-Go Music from Washington, D.C. to develop lessons and share teaching ideas for infusing the history and music of go-go in middle and high school social studies, language arts, math, music, and/or D.C. history classes, and to bring renowned go-go performers into D.C. classrooms.

"Go-go has stayed true to time-honored cultural scripts such as live call-and-response, live instrumentation, as well as its locally rooted fashions, slang, dance, distribution and economic systems. Simply put: Go-Go never sold out. There is a grit and texture to the music that gives voice to the communities where it was created." –Natalie Hopkinson

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December 2 and 9: Sweet Cherie at Ida B. Wells MS

December 21, 2022 / Allison Acosta

Nobody sits down at the go-go! — Sweet Cherie

Alison Rice and her advisory welcomed us back to Ida B. Wells MS for a series of visits. Sweet Cherie guided everyone through the basics, as she usually does. Timid at first, the group couldn’t help but respond to Sweet Cherie’s call to dance to the infectious music she was so effortlessly playing on her keyboard. Students also showcased their musical talents — Cherie let them play her keyboard.

Rice shared:

Ms. Sweet Cherie was excellent! Her experience in the go-go scene was amazing. She even had all of us up and learning how to Beat our Feet!

categories / 2022