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
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’.
On Monday 30th November, as part 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.
For information about how to take part in Luminous Soul, click here.
Coming soon: Derry Dance Development Day Echo Echo Dance Studio, Wed 3rd Feb 2010 (10.00 – 15.30) Facilitated by the Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company
Omagh Dance Development Day Strule Arts Centre, 24th March 2010
Registration forms available now!
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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!
It’s big choir night at Divis Community Centre on Monday 14th December from 7.15 to 9.15. be there or be square!
It’s all happening musically at Dee Street Community Centre tomorrow – 12th December from 11-1.00p.m.
Image by Teatr Biuro Prodozy
The Monday Players visited Macbeth, appropriately enough, on Monday – the 26th October, and were stunned. Maybe there wasn’t much of Shakespeare’s text in evidence, but what a spectacle!
Stormtroopers on motor bikes and in side-cars stormed up ramps, wielding flaming torches. The witches pursued Macbeth on stilts, pushing a huge roller in front of them and driving him to the brink of madness. Lady Macbeth was sensual and determined and shockingly, is found hanged by a distraught Macbeth. The young and cheeky Fleance overcame all and took the crown from Macbeth. We all thought it was wonderful and couldn’t take our eyes off the car park arena where fortunately the weather was kind to us. It was a dry and very mild night. The Players have been working on the text of Macbeth in their Monday workshops and as they left there were murmurs about the possibility of a wheelchair version! Sincere thanks go to the Ulster Bank who provided us with free tickets for this event.
Jamdin music-making session runs this Saturday, 17th October from 11 a.m. in Dee Street Community Centre. All welcome!