Here’s a flavour of the fun that’s happening now, on Newcastle beach and in the Crescent Arts Centre. An inclusive group of children from all sorts of backgrounds, aged 5 to 11 are creating art music and drama and will share their creations with any one in Newcastle at 12.15 p.m. on Thursday. The happening takes place just outside the Newcastle Tourist Information Centre and on the nearby beach!
Luminous Soul is a dance project for disabled people who would like the opportunity to train to be professional dancers/ dance teachers.
Candoco Dance Company ‘push boundaries of contemporary dance beyond usual expectations and broaden people’s perception of what dance is and who can dance’.
In November 2009, as the launch of the Luminous Soul dance project, 2 dance facilitators from Candoco Dance Company in London worked with disabled people at the All Souls Church Hall, Elmwood Ave, Belfast. Since then we have worked with nearly 60 disabled people in Omagh, Derry and Ballymena and with the help of our international tutors, have selected 12 disabled people who we believe have the potential to work towards becoming professional dancers. Participants who are selected are then invited to attend five day long residentials (free of charge). The first of these residentials is happening in the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast on the 17th to the 22nd of October. The week will be facilitated by the Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company.
For information about how to take part in Luminous Soul, click here.
Coming soon: Newry Dance Development Day Newry Sports Centre, Wed 8th September 2010 (10.30 – 15.30) Facilitated by Marc Brew
Registration forms available now!
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The international choreographer and award winning dancer Marc Brew is coming to Newry Sports Centre on 8th September 2010 to work with disabled people in the area who have an interest in dance. As a wheelchair user, Marc will guide the participants through a day of contemporary dance (10.30 – 15.30). Please ring Una if you would like more information on 02890240765. There is no cost but please complete a registration form.
The Open Arts Community Choir took part in the Bangor International Choral Festival last Saturday, 24 April 2010, with choirs competing from Wales, Scotland, Bath, Northern Ireland and the Philippines.
The stars of the evening were the amazing Philippino choir from the University of Santo Tomas; all talented university music students who are doing a 4-month tour of Europe. They came first in almost every category in the Bangor festival with their incredible sound and technically demanding songs. Nevertheless, they were relegated to 2nd place on Saturday night when the Open Arts Community Choir won the Light Entertainment category with “And So It Goes” by Billy Joel, “Stairway to Paradise” by George Gershwin, and a beautiful arrangement of “Danny Boy”! The adjudicators awarded the Open Arts Community Choir the top mark of 90+ (Outstanding), with the comment, “I admire your ability to sing with the lightest of vocal tone and yet maintain dynamic and musical control. This was a stunning performance.”
Well done again Open Arts!!
But it was the Open Arts Community Choir that walked away with first prize
The Crescent Arts Centre refurbishment is finally finished and so Open Arts has moved back to its old home.
Open Arts Crescent Arts Centre 2-4 University Rd Belfast BT7 1 NH New permanent phone number: 02890 240765
For more information on the Crescent Arts centre click here.
The Crescent Arts Centre, home of the Open Arts office
David Hill, chair of the Crescent : “Everything is accessible now which is something that was a problem with the old building. Only the ground floor – indeed parts of it – were accessible from a disabled point of view. So really I’m glad that we’ve got to the stage where we’ve got full access throughout the building. That’s important.”
Liz Doonan: “The fact that we have a lift now and access to all of the floors for disabled people and people who can’t make stairs, that’s very good and we were lost without that. Before, I mean, Beverly who runs the Open Arts choir – I hadn’t realised, but she had never actually seen the top floor in this building.”
For a video and interview about the refurbishment click here.
On Tuesday 16th February we had a feedback session in which we invited our summer scheme attenders to come to the Ulster Hall and enjoy working with music and visual arts. This was an end in itself, but we also wanted ideas on what to do in 2010’s Summer Scheme. We learned some songs, we made masks and plaques to hang on the wall and we were given all sorts of exciting ideas. Some of the suggestions for what to do were a little impractical (a trip to New York City or the Jungle) and some were much more do-able, like a musical or a visit to the park. The Zoo seemed to be a favourite place to visit. Some of the ideas appear here as pictures drawn by our eager beavers. Now all we have to do is go away and create a timetable which accommodates all those ideas and hope that Children in Need, who very kindly funded last year’s Summer Scheme, will support this one.
Fun musical activities take place once more, this Saturday at 11 a.m. in Dee Street Community Centre. These sessions are a great success and enhance the pleasure of a Saturday morning. They happen once a month, so it’s not too big a commitment. New participants are welcome, but are asked to give Kate or Bev a ring to let them know you plan to be there. 02890312515. Enjoy!
Classes start week beginning 18th January unless otherwise stated and finish week beginning 15th March Crescent Classes Monday 11 a.m. Drama Facilitated by Orla McKeagney Monday 1.30 p.m. Dance Facilitated by Nicola Currie Monday 2 p.m. Drama Facilitated by Orla McKeagney N.B. Creative Writing starts on Tuesday 26th Tuesday 11.a.m Creative Writing Facilitated by Ruth Carr New Class – B.C.C. Creative Legacy Programme Thursday Dance 11-3 Facilitated by Nicola Currie Friday 11a.m. Drama Facilitated by Katie Richardson Friday 11.30 a.m. Drama Facilitated by Kara Smyth New Class – Luminous Soul Programme Friday 2.30 p.m. Continuation Dance Classes facilitated by Sheena Kelly Non Crescent Classes Classes resume week beginning 18th January Morton Community Centre Monday 11.am.-12.30 p.m. Visual Arts Facilitated by Ash and Rachael Divis Community Centre Monday 7.15p.m. – 9.15p.m. Open Arts Choir Facilitated by Bev Dee Street Community Centre Friday 10.30-12.30 Visual Arts Facilitated by Tomas and Claire New Class – B.C.C. Creative Legacy Programme North Belfast Day Centre Gamelan Friday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Facilitated by Bev Dee Street Community Centre Saturdays 11 a.m-1 p.m Jamdin Music sessions Facilitated by Bev and Una
Open Arts held a concert on 9 December in Carnegie Library, Bangor to celebrate the release of the choir’s first CD.
Open Arts Community Choir – Many Hands… Tracklisting 1 Kwaze (African Gospel) – soloist Margaret Mann 2 I’ll Say a Little Prayer For You – soloists Anne McCambridge, Margaret Mann, Gareth Smyth, Alan Beattie 3 Stay 4 Can You Feel The Love Tonight? – soloist Andrea Hope 5 Babethandaza/Fan Ban (African) 6 Java Jive 7 Moon River 8 Psallite 9 Blue Bird – soloist Andrea Hope 10 Something Inside So Strong – soloists Maria Svabova, Gareth Smyth, Lesle Dickie, Andrea Hope 11 ABBA Medley 12 Freedom – soloist Andrea Hope 13 Be My Baby
Copies of the CD are available for £10 each.
Contact either in person or by post (by post, add £3 P&P): Beverley Whyte Music Director for Open Arts The Crescent Arts Centre 165 Ormeau Road Belfast
The Open Arts choir performing ‘Mama Mia’ on Last Choir Standing. Copyright remains with BBC.
More videos of the choir are available here.
The Open Arts Choir will be performing at the Out To Lunch Arts Festival this coming January.
Venue: The Black Box, Cathedral Quarter, Belfast Time: Wednesday 27 January 1.00 pm Tickets: £5.00 + hot lunch (supplied by La Boca Restaurant and The John Hewitt)
Lunch will be served on entry. Please ensure to arrive no later than 1.00 pm. The Black Box is fully wheelchair accessible. Guide dogs are welcome.
Tickets can be purchased online at The Out To Lunch website (no booking fee) or at the Belfast Welcome Centre, Donegall Place, Belfast, 028 902466609 (booking fee applies). Other enquiries: CQAF, 028 90232403.
The Open Arts Community Choir (OACC) is a choir for anyone aged 16 or over, regardless of disability, race, gender or past musical experience. It has been running for 9 years now, with 33 members, and an eclectic repertoire; from Gospel to Pop, and World to Cabaret.
They have performed at numerous venues in the UK & Ireland, including the Belfast Waterfront Hall, Odyssey Arena, Liverpool’s DaDa Festival, and the International Eisteddfod in Wales. They made a huge impression on BBC1 last summer when they fought their way into the final 14 UK choirs in the hit TV show Last Choir Standing!