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Winter 2012
As part of our Heritage Arts Studio initiative, Blackstone River Theatre pursues arts education outreach by offering classes and workshops at the theatre with respected performers and teachers. This initiative allows the community to discover or reconnect with traditional art forms (music, song, dance, visual and literary arts, as well as new art representing Blackstone Valley themes) and become PARTICIPANTS in our regional arts heritage.
Heritage Arts Studio offerings for Winter 2012 will include non-competitive Irish step dance classes for children, adult beginners and advanced beginners with instructor Erika Damiani in January-March. We will offer classes in Clogging for all levels and new classes in beginner tin whistle and beginner 5-string banjo with Aubrey Atwater in January-March. Five levels of fiddle classes start up again in January with Cathy Clasper-Torch. We have added a Sunday morning Zumba class with instructor April Hilliker to go along with continuing Zumba classes and Zumba tone classes on Monday evenings. Aoife Clancy will be teaching beginner and continuing beginner bodhran classes in January-February. Look for additional blues and swing guitar classes with Duke Robillard to be added in 2012 as well as other offerings including possible classes in digital photography and basic guitar!
HOW TO REGISTER FOR ANY BRT CLASSES
So we can be assured of meeting the minimum needed to hold any of our class offerings, BRT NEEDS PRE-PAYMENT AT LEAST 3 DAYS BEFORE THE START OF ANY CLASS (and hopefully sooner!) or we'll need to cancel at that time.
If you are interested in any class, please:
1. E-mail russell@riverfolk.org or call (401) 725-9272 to pre-register and then,
2. Put a check payable to Blackstone River Theatre in the mail ASAP to: Blackstone River Theatre, 549 Broad Street, Cumberland, Rhode Island 02864
Winter 2012
FIDDLE CLASSES
Tuesdays & Wednesdays starting January 10 and January 11, 2012 with instructor Cathy Clasper-Torch
(The next 6-week round of classes will begin in March, 2012)
6-Week Complete Beginner Fiddle Class
6-Week Continuing/Advanced Beginner Fiddle Class
6-Week Intermediate Level Fiddle Class
6-Week Advanced Intermediate Level Fiddle Class
6-Week Advanced Fiddle Class
A class for complete beginner fiddlers will be offered on Tuesdays, 5:30-6:20 PM, starting January 10. Class limited to 8; minimum 4 needed to hold class. Students must bring own instrument and bow and tape recorder. Fee: $80.00 for each student per 6-week session. Both playing by ear and some sight reading will be included. No experience required. Prepayment necessary!
A class for continuing/advanced beginner fiddlers will be offered on Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30 PM, starting January 10. Class limited to 9; minimum 6 needed to hold class. Students must bring own instrument and tape recorder. Fee: $80.00 for each student per 6-week session. Both playing by ear and some sight reading will be included. Students in this class will have taken three or more 6-week sessions at BRT or have similar experience. Prepayment necessary!
A class for intermediate fiddlers will be offered on Tuesdays, 7:30-8:30 PM, starting January 10. Class limited to 10; minimum 6 needed to hold the class. Students must bring own instrument and tape recorder. Fee: $80.00 for each student per 6-week session. Both playing by ear and sight reading will be included. Students in this class will have taken at least four 6-week sessions at BRT or have similar experience. Prepayment necessary!
Advanced Intermediate Fiddle and Advanced Fiddle classes will be offered on Wednesdays, starting January 11. Class for advanced intermediate runs from 6:30-7:30 PM. (Please arrive by 6:15 to tune!) Class for the advanced level runs from 7:45-9:00 PM. Classes limited to 10; minimum 6 needed to hold each class. Students must bring own instrument, stand and tape recorder. Fee: $80.00 for each student per 6-week session. Both playing by ear and sight reading will be included. Players will be placed in these classes by the instructor's evaluation of skill level. Prepayment necessary!
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Complete Beginner
This course is for those just starting to fiddle around or for those who always wanted to! It's also great for people who want to start over again after some time away from playing. We will focus on the music, the instrument, and the musician. While covering these fundamentals, students will have the opportunity to start to explore Celtic and American tunes. The tunes and bits to practice will be learned by ear as well as by some notation, so a tape recorder is required for each class. Students must also bring a fiddle and bow for the first class. Topics will include: Fundamental instrument care, tuning the strings with confidence, wise ways to hold the instrument, using the bow, learning how to learn and to practice well, familiar finger patterns found in fiddling, and how tunes are put together.
Continuing Beginner Fiddle Class
This class is for those who have successfully completed one 6-week session at BRT or have started playing in the near past but stopped practicing or... basically, you are not a COMPLETE beginner but you are in the very early stages of learning... or re-learning how to play the fiddle.
Adv. Beginner/Intermediate and Advanced Intermediate Fiddle Classes
These classes are for those who already have played six months to a year, know how to care for and tune their instrument, and can play a few fiddle tunes from memory (or have finished at least four 6-week sessions at BRT); placement in these class levels will be at the discretion of the instructor. New tunes will be learned by ear as well as by reading, so a tape recorder is required for each class. Topics will include: extra equipment for the fiddle player, more fiddle tune types in the Celtic and American traditions, more finger patterns/keys in traditional music, using music notation to remember tunes, training your ears, beginning ornamentation of tunes, session and jam etiquette.
Advanced Level Fiddle Class
For those who have completed at least eight 6-week sessions at BRT or have comparable experience. Placement in this class level will be at the discretion of the instructor. Players at this level will, on occasion, also learn tunes/repertoire for performance at BRT events.
Cathy Clasper Torch is a multi-instrumentalist whose primary focus is fiddle/violin and piano. She combines her early classical training with love of improvisation and music of all genres and cultures. Cathy records and performs in the area with numerous bands and musicians including the Atwater-Donnelly Trio and The Gnomes and released her first solo CD in 2011. |
ZUMBA AND ZUMBA TONE CLASSES - Ongoing
Offered Monday evenings starting Jan. 2, and Sunday mornings starting Jan. 15 with instructor April Hilliker
  Mondays, starting January 2, $5.00 per class; pay at the door
Only $8.00 if you take Zumba and Zumba tone on same night!
Note: Capacity for Zumba at BRT is 45 students!
6:30-7:30 PM - ZUMBA CLASSES WITH APRIL HILLIKER
7:45-8:30 PM - ZUMBA TONE CLASSES WITH APRIL HILLIKER
NEW! Zumba on Sundays, 9:30 A.M.
Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That's EXACTLY what the Zumba program is all about. It's an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness party that's moving millions of people toward joy and health. Zumba Fitness® is the only Latin-inspired dance-fitness program that blends red-hot international music, created by Grammy Award-winning producers, and contagious steps to form a "fitness-party" that is downright addictive. Zumba is for all fitness levels and ages. It is all about moving, laughing, and most of all having FUN! You don't have to have the perfect body or be a professional dancer to do Zumba, all you have to do is move and SHAKE IT! Step out of your comfort zone and join the hottest dance party around... April guarantees you will be hooked after just one class! What is Zumba Tone? When it comes to body sculpting, Zumba Toning raises the bar (or rather, the toning stick). It combines targeted body-sculpting exercises and high-energy cardio work with Latin-infused Zumba moves to create a calorie-torching, strength-training dance fitness-party. Students learn how to use lightweight, maraca-like Toning Sticks to enhance rhythm and tone all their target zones, including arms, abs, glutes and thighs. Zumba Toning is the perfect way for enthusiasts to sculpt their bodies naturally while having a total blast. Our instructor April Hilliker, a Woonsocket resident, has become known as one of the area's best and most popular Zumba instructors in just a year and a half of teaching. One of the extra attractions of BRT Zumba classes is that April will be teaching from a raised stage allowing everyone in class to more easily see and follow her moves... come down and give it a try! |
IRISH STEP DANCE CLASSES for children AND adults!
8-week session runs Saturdays, January 14 through March 10 (Feb. 18 no class)
Next 8-week session will begin March 24, 2012!
 8-week Irish step dance class for beginner children, ages 6 to 10 (non competitive)
With instructor Erika Damiani. 8-week class for beginner children ages 6-10 offered on Saturdays, January 14 through March 10 (no class Feb. 18), from 9 to 9:45 A.M. Class limited to 14; minimum 7 students needed to hold class. No experience is expected for beginner level and no special shoes are required. (We do ask children to wear soft-soled shoes (or just socks) and wear loose, comfortable clothing.) Fee: $80.00 for 8-week session per student. Note: Very often, students at this age level will take this beginner class two, three or more times before being placed in an advanced beginner class as it is VERY important to really learn and be able to execute the basic steps of Irish dance before moving on and adding to them.
8-week Irish step dance class for beginner adults & children age 11-and-up (non competitive)
With instructor Erika Damiani. 8-week class for beginner adults (and children age 11-and-up) offered on Saturdays, January 14 through March 10 (no class Feb. 18), from 10 to 10:50 A.M. Classes limited to 16; minimum 7 students needed to hold each class. No experience is expected for this beginner level and no special shoes are required. (We do ask you to wear soft-soled shoes or just socks, and wear loose, comfortable clothing.) Fee: $100.00 for 8-week session per student. Note: Very often, students in this adult beginner level will take this beginner class two or more times before being placed in an advanced beginner level class as it is VERY important to really learn and be able to execute the basic steps of Irish dance before moving on and adding to them.
8-week Irish step dance class for advanced beginner adults & children age 11-and-up (non competitive)
With instructor Erika Damiani. 8-week class for advanced beginner adults (and children age 11-and-up) offered on Saturdays, January 14 through March 10 (no class Feb. 18), from 11 to noon. Classes limited to 14; minimum 7 students needed to hold class. Class will include soft shoe technique and ceili dancing and beginner hard shoe. We ask at this level that you have Irish dance shoes (ghillies), and wear loose, comfortable clothing. Hard shoes NOT necessary.) Fee: $100.00 for 8-week session per student.
Erika Damiani is a graduate of LaSalle Academy and a senior at Rhode Island College. Erika began dancing while in high school and later joined a local Irish dance studio. Erika has won Nationals in 2010 and 2011 through the American Association of Irish Dance Teachers and North American Irish Dance Federation, and has danced her way to Prizewinner level. She has experience in teaching classes with children from age 3 up to and including adults. Erika has choreographed her own dances and is proficient in teaching both modern Irish dance and traditional ceili dances. She aspires to become an Irish Dance Teacher with her own studio, and keep the tradition of Irish dance alive. |
CLOGGING CLASSES
6-Week Session of Classes for all levels
(for adults/teens/children age 10-and-up)
 A six-week clogging class for all levels will be offered with instructor Aubrey Atwater on Thursdays, January 26 through March 8 (no class Feb. 16), from 6:00-6:50 P.M. This class is designed for all levels including complete beginner adults, teens and children age 10-and-up. Minimum of 8 students needed to hold class; maximum of 20 students. Fee for the six-week class is $80.00. Prepayment necessary!
Clogging, also known as flatfooting and jigdancing, is American step dance which developed, historically, after Irish step dance and before Tap, with Irish, English, European, African, and Native American roots. With percussive tapping of the feet, clogging is traditionally danced to old-time fiddle tunes. Aubrey will supply the music with her own banjo playing as well as some recorded music, teaching steps she has learned from cloggers all over the United States and in particular, Kentucky, Arkansas, and North Carolina. Please wear smooth, leather-soled shoes and comfortable, loose clothing (no taps please!) |
TIN WHISTLE CLASSES
6-Week Session of Classes for BEGINNERS
 A six-week class in Irish tin whistle for beginners will be offered with instructor Aubrey Atwater on Thursdays, January 26 through March 8 (no class Feb. 16), from 7:00-7:50 P.M. This class is designed for complete beginner adults, teens and children age 10-and-up. Minimum of 6 students needed to hold class; maximum of 10 students. Fee for the six-week class is $80.00. Prepayment necessary! Aubrey Atwater will teach technique and tunes for this 6-hole, traditional Irish instrument, blending lessons on traditional ornamentation and breathing with her unique style of hauntingly long notes and vibrato that she has developed over the years through trips to Ireland and influence from her Irish tin whistle mentor, Phil Edmonds. Please bring a key of D tin whistle. Aubrey WILL have a few whistles for sale if you do not have one already! Playing by ear will be stressed (as opposed to reading music) so please bring a basic hand-held recording device to class. |
5-STRING BANJO CLASSES
6-Week Session of Classes for BEGINNERS
 A six-week class in 5-string banjo for beginners will be offered with instructor Aubrey Atwater on Thursdays, January 26 through March 8 (no class Feb. 16), from 8:00-8:50 P.M. This class is designed for complete beginner adults, teens and children age 10-and-up. Minimum of 6 students needed to hold class; maximum of 10 students. Fee for the six-week class is $80.00. Prepayment necessary! Aubrey Atwater will teach the basics of playing the Appalachian old-time banjo style including ornamentation and Clawhammer technique using banjo-accompanied songs learned from her friends and mentors in Eastern Kentucky. Playing by ear will be stressed (as opposed to reading music) so please bring a basic hand-held recording device to class.
From Foster, R.I., award-winning musician, vocalist, writer and dancer Aubrey Atwater is a delightful and energetic performer and class leader. She presents a captivating concert of traditional and original folk music, percussive dance, and spoken word, including explanations of the music. In great demand for performance and classes, Aubrey has performed in more than 35 states as well as England and Ireland. She sings, dances, and plays the mountain dulcimer, old-time banjo, guitar, and Irish tin whistle as part of the acclaimed duo Atwater-Donnelly. |
BODHRAN (IRISH DRUM) CLASSES
4-Week Session of Classes for complete beginners
4-Week Session of Classes for continuing beginners
 A four-week class in bodhran (Irish drum) for complete beginners will be offered with instructor Aoife Clancy on Thursdays, January 26 through February 16, from 6:00-6:50 P.M. This class is designed for complete beginner adults and teens. Minimum of 6 students needed to hold class; maximum of 9 students. Fee for the four-week class is $60.00. Prepayment necessary!
A four-week class in bodhran (Irish drum) for continuing beginners will be offered with instructor Aoife Clancy on Thursdays, January 26 through February 16, from 7:00-7:50 P.M. AND from 8:00-9:00 P.M. This class is designed for continuing beginner adults and teens who participated in Aoife's last 4-week session or have similar experience. Minimum of 6 students needed to hold class; maximum of 10 students. Fee for the four-week class is $60.00. Prepayment necessary!
The bodhran or Irish frame drum is a small handheld drum consisting of a goatskin playing surface stretched over a wooden frame. The drum can be struck with the hand, "finger style," but most Celtic percussionists strike the drumhead with a double-headed knobbed stick, known as a tipper or beater. This bodhran class will cover the most common rhythms used in Irish traditional music - reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas - as well as a variety of ways to adapt them with ornamentation, tonal variation, and syncopation. The goal is to create versatile and sensitive players who are able to accompany, in whatever style they prefer, be it traditional or more modern. Bring a recording device, a notebook, and any questions you may have! Aoife Clancy comes from the small town of Carrick-on-Suir, in Co. Tipperary, where her musical career began at an early age. Her father Bobby Clancy placed a guitar in her hands at age ten, and by age fourteen was playing with her father in nearby pubs. She later moved to Dublin, where she studied drama at the Gaiety School of Acting. In 1995 Aoife was asked to join the acclaimed group Cherish the Ladies, one of the most sought-after Irish American groups in history. Since 1999, Aoife has pursued a solo career and clearly established herself as one of the divas of Irish and contemporary folk music. |
CELTIC STONE CARVING IN LIMESTONE FOR BEGINNERS
A two-day class in Celtic Relief Stone Carving (TO BE OFFERED IN JUNE)
 Blackstone River Theatre will offer a two-day class in Celtic Relief Stone carving in Limestone for beginners with instructor Laura Travis, outside, behind the Blackstone River Theatre. The class will be held on a Saturday AND Sunday in June, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day (with a half-hour lunch break.) Teenagers (age 16 and up), college students and adults are all welcome and no experience is required. (Note: Laura WILL also be able to accommodate students who have taken this class in the past and want to build on their skills!) A maximum of 10 students will be allowed; a minimum of six is needed to run the class. The course fee is $125 plus a separate $12 materials fee which is payable directly to instructor Laura Travis (includes several pieces of stone, sandpapers, and access to finishing tools.) Prepayment is necessary. For more information, visit the instructor's site, campus.digication.com/lauratravis.
Relief carving is a satisfying and useful skill which has numerous applications for gardens, landscaping, and creative expression. The saga of The Celt and The Stone is as old as time. If you have seen a photo of the High Crosses in Ireland and Scotland, or British well-shrine covers, you've seen Celtic relief carving in stone. In this 12-hour introductory-level course, students will use manageable scraps of limestone and carve them with an initial, a knot, or an animal motif - bring your own idea or utilize teacher references - and in the process learn something of one of the signature arts of the Celts. Included will be plenty of stone lore, tips for scrounging up materials and tools for practically nothing, and information about techniques including polishing and finishing.
Laura Travis has been carving for 17 years, bringing her knowledge and love of Irish and Celtic traditions firmly into her work in stone. As an artist, Laura walks between the worlds of fine and folk art, utilizing traditional iconography in some very contemporary contexts. Travis has shown her work in Providence, Maryland, Toronto, Worcester and New Bedford. She holds an MFA in sculpture from the Maryland Institute College of Art, and maintains her studio just a stone's throw from the ocean in Rhode Island. She's also known for originating and hosting the Irish traditional music radio program, In The Celtic Realm, for the past 30 years on WRIU-FM. |
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