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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

Luminous Soul – Belfast can do!
Dec 22nd, 2009 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’.

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!

four dancers striking a pose together

two dancers, one reaching high, one reaching low

many dancers, all bending to one side

Read the rest of this entry »

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!

Big Choir Night
Dec 11th, 2009 by admin

It’s big choir night at Divis Community Centre on Monday 14th December from 7.15 to 9.15. be there or be square!

Jamdin
Dec 11th, 2009 by admin

It’s all happening musically at Dee Street Community Centre tomorrow – 12th December from 11-1.00p.m.

Motorbike Macbeth for Monday Players
Nov 3rd, 2009 by admin
actors playing Macbeth at night on motorbikes

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, this Satuday, 17th October
Oct 14th, 2009 by admin

Jamdin music-making session runs this Saturday, 17th October from 11 a.m. in Dee Street Community Centre. All welcome!

Autumn and Winter classes up and running!
Oct 9th, 2009 by admin

Open Arts Classes and Contacts

The Autumn and Winter classes are now up and running!

Crescent Arts Centre
Monday 11 a.m. Suffolk SEC ( 90 301811- Maureen)
Drama Edgcumbe TRC ( 90 672290 – Aideen)Monday 1.30 p.m. Edgcumbe TRC (90 672290 – Aideen)
Dance
Monday 2 p.m. Individuals (Taxi Contacts Davey- 90666514,
Drama                                            Liam – 07752092410)

Tuesday Island Resource Centre (Ruth Smith 90-454400)
11am – 12.30 pm
Creative Writing
Friday 11a.m. Orchardville SEC (90628117 – Trevor)
Drama
Friday 11.30 a.m. Mount Oriel ( 90 702700 – Suzanne)
Drama

Non Crescent Classes
Morton Community Centre 90-681874
Monday 11.am.-12.30 p.m. Island Resource Centre
Visual Arts
Divis Community Centre 90-242551
Monday 7.15p.m. – 9.15p.m. Open Arts Choir (individuals)
Choir
Dee St. Community Centre 90-458113
Visual Arts Individuals
Friday 10.30-12.30
Jamdin Music sessions Individuals
Saturdays 11 a.m-1 p.m.

Culture Night in Belfast
Sep 28th, 2009 by admin
Choir at Cotton Court

Choir at Cotton Court

Bev and the Audience

Bev and the Audience

Choir in UU
Choir in UU

Open Arts Community Choir sang to appreciative audiences in Belfast City Centre as part of Belfast’s Culture Night on Friday 25th September. The choir performances began at 6.30 in the atrium of the University of Ulster where an audience of about 40 gathered to listen. Then, helped by a taxi, the choir set off for Cotton Court and sang to a large crowd of 60 or more. There were a few challenges at the start as there was competition from musicians in the tapas bar but once that was sorted out everyone had a ball especially the young ones who sat cross-legged on the hard ground. The audience greatly enjoyed the participatory elements, clapping and singing along. Our African medley attracted an African visitor who joined in with the singing. Then it was time to make for the outside of the Deer’s Head where free roasted peanuts, gluewein and ice cream were a great attraction. We seemed to be the only people there until we started to sing, when again a crowd arrived from nowhere and became the best audience of the evening. We all had a great time, loved the buzz in Belfast and went home at about 9.45, tired but fulfilled. Let’s have another culture night soon!

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