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Summer Scheme is rocking!
Aug 11th, 2010 by admin

The Drama BeginsBeach ArtHere's the musicHere’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 – Belfast can do!
Jul 27th, 2010 by admin

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!

four dancers striking a pose together

two dancers, one reaching high, one reaching low

many dancers, all bending to one side

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Disabled people in Newry are invited to dance with Luminous Soul
Jul 27th, 2010 by admin

Marc BrewThe 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.

Open Arts Community Choir Beat the Best in Bangor!
Apr 30th, 2010 by admin

bangor international choral festival logo

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 choir from the University of Santo Tomas in the Phillipines were a hit at the Bangor Choral Festival

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!!

The Open Arts Community Choir that walked away with first prize

But it was the Open Arts Community Choir that walked away with first prize

Change of Address for Open Arts
Apr 5th, 2010 by admin

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

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.

A Little Taste of Summer in February
Feb 19th, 2010 by admin

febnot summerscheme 142visit New York........see Lady Gaga.....perform a play........

painting would be good......go to the park.......

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.

Jamdin this Saturday, 11 a.m. Dee Street Community Centre.
Feb 19th, 2010 by kate

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 Restart Monday 18th January
Jan 12th, 2010 by admin

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

Choir release first CD
Dec 19th, 2009 by admin

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.

Open Arts Choir are ‘Out To Lunch’
Dec 17th, 2009 by admin

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)

open_arts_choir

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!

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