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SPRING 2013
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 Spring 2013 will include an eight-week session of four levels of fiddle classes starting on April 2 and 3 with Cathy Clasper-Torch. We will again offer 8-week non-competitive Irish step dance classes for children and adult beginners and advanced/ intermediate beginners with instructor Erika Damiani in March-May 2013 as well as two classes geared to performance. We continue our Zumba class on Monday evenings with April Hilliker and we will offer a May 18 workshop for continuing mountain dulcimer, and group singing classes with Aubrey Atwater.
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 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
IRISH STEP DANCE CLASSES for children AND adults!
NEW 8-week session runs Saturdays, March 16 through May 4, and Sundays, March 17 through May 19.
 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, March 16 through May 4, (5th week of class to meet on Sunday 4/14!) from 9:00 to 9:45 A.M. Class limited to 15; minimum 8 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 a continuing 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 continuing beginner children, ages 6 to 12 (non competitive)
With instructor Erika Damiani. 8-week class for continuing beginner children ages 6-12 offered on Saturdays, March 16 through May 4, (5th week of class to meet Sunday, 4/14!), from 10:00 to 10:45 A.M. Class limited to 15; minimum 8 students needed to hold class. Children in this class will have taken 2-3 previous sessions with BRT; 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 continuing beginner class two or three 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, March 16 through May 4, (5th week of class to meet Sunday 4/14!), from 11:00 to 11:50 A.M. Classes limited to 16; minimum 8 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.
SUNDAY CLASSES
8-week Irish step dance class for intermediate adults & children age 11-and-up (non competitive)
With instructor Erika Damiani. 8-week class for intermediate adults (and children age 11-and-up) offered on Sundays, March 17 through May 19, from 11:00 to 11:50 A.M. (no classes 3/31 Easter, and 4/28!) Classes limited to 15; minimum 8 students needed to hold class. Students in this class will have taken 2-3 previous sessions at BRT or have comparable experience. Fee: $100.00 for 8-week session per student. Emphasis on soft shoe technique and full dances.
8-week Irish step dance class for advanced soft shoe and beginner to intermediate hard shoe (non competitive)
With instructor Erika Damiani. 8-week class for advanced soft shoe and beginner to intermediate hard shoe offered on Sundays, March 17 through May 19, from noon to 12:50 P.M. (no classes 3/31 Easter, and 4/28!) Classes limited to 15; minimum 8 students needed to hold class. Class will include soft shoe advanced technique, traditional ceili dancing and beginner to intermediate hard shoe skills and steps. We ask at this level that you have Irish dance shoes (ghillies), and wear loose, comfortable clothing. Hard shoes are also necessary. Fee: $100.00 for 8-week session per student.
 8-week TIR NA NOG IRISH DANCE (TROUPE GEARED FOR PERFORMING AT EVENTS)
BRT's performance troupe is now split... There are two levels of TIR NA NOG IRISH DANCE. Neither group is based solely on age but on dance skill and technique levels, performance levels, maturity, and commitment to dance.
10:00 to 11:00 A.M. is a mix of beginner/advanced beginner/and intermediate dancers.
1:00 to 2:30 P.M. is for more advanced dancers, with a focus on large group choreography, including hard shoe.
With instructor Erika Damiani. 8-week classes for TIR NA NOG IRISH DANCE offered on Sundays, March 17 through May 19 (no classes 3/31 Easter, and 4/28!). Class limited to 15; minimum 8 students needed to hold class. We ask at this PERFORMANCE TROUPE level that you have Irish dance shoes (ghillies), hard shoes, and wear loose, comfortable clothing. Participation in either level is at the discretion of the instructor. All dancers in the TROUPE must also be taking at least one other class at BRT.Fee is $100.00 per 8-week session for the 10-11 A.M. class and $120.00 per 8-week session for the 1:00-2:30 P.M. class.
Erika Damiani runs Tir Na Nog Irish Dance at Blackstone River Theatre and also teaches at two other regional dance studios. Erika placed nationally in 2010 with the American Association of Irish Dance Teachers and in 2011 and 2012 with the North American Irish Dance Federation, and has danced her way to Prizewinner level. She has experience in teaching classes with children from age 6 and up to adults. Erika choreographs her own dances and is proficient in teaching both modern Irish dance and traditional ceili dances. |
FIDDLE CLASSES
Tuesdays & Wednesdays starting April 2 and April 3 with instructor Cathy Clasper-Torch
8-Week Continuing Beginner Fiddle Class (one or two sessions experience)
8-Week Continuing Beginner Fiddle Class (two-plus sessions experience)
8-Week Advanced Intermediate Level Fiddle Class
8-Week Advanced Fiddle Class
A class for continuing beginner fiddlers (one-two session experience) will be offered on Tuesdays, 6:30-7:20 PM, starting April 2 through May 28 (no class April 30). Class limited to 12; minimum 6 needed to hold class. Students must bring own instrument and tape recorder. Fee: $100.00 for each student per 8-week session. Both playing by ear and some sight reading will be included. Prepayment necessary!
A class for continuing beginner fiddlers (two-plus sessions experience) will be offered on Tuesdays, 7:30-8:30 PM, starting April 2 through May 28 (no class April 30). Class limited to 12; minimum 6 needed to hold class. Students must bring own instrument and tape recorder. Fee: $100.00 for each student per 8-week session. Both playing by ear and some sight reading will be included. Students in this class will have taken two or more 6-week sessions at BRT or have similar experience. Prepayment necessary!
Advanced Intermediate Fiddle and Advanced Fiddle classes will be offered on Wednesdays, starting April 3 through May 29 (no class May 1). Class for advanced intermediate runs from 6:30-7:30 PM. (Please arrive by 6:20 to tune!) Class for the advanced level runs from 7:45-9:00 PM. Classes limited to 14; minimum 7 needed to hold each class. Students must bring own instrument, stand and tape recorder. Fee: $100.00 for each student per 8-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 (NOT OFFERED UNTIL FALL 2013)
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, two, three or four 6-week sessions 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.
Advanced Intermediate Fiddle Classes
These classes are for those who already have played six months to a year or more, know how to care for and tune their instrument, and can play a few fiddle tunes from memory (or have finished at least five 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 one year of 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. Visit www.cathyclasper-torch.com |
ZUMBA CLASSES - Ongoing/drop in
Zumba Toning classes offered Monday evenings 5:30-6:15 p.m. with instructor April Hilliker
Zumba classes Offered Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. with instructor April Hilliker
  Mondays, 5:30-6:15 PM - ZUMBA TONING WITH APRIL HILLIKER
Mondays, 6:30-7:30 PM - ZUMBA WITH APRIL HILLIKER
$5.00 per class; pay at the door - no signup needed! Free class after ten classes taken!
$8.00 if both classes taken same day.
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... Our instructor April Hilliker has become known as one of the area's best and most popular Zumba instructors in just two years 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! Capacity at BRT for Zumba is 50 people! |
MOUNTAIN DULCIMER WORKSHOP WITH AUBREY ATWATER
TWO-HOUR Class for Continuing Beginners
 This two-hour workshop for continuing beginner mountain dulcimer will be offered with instructor Aubrey Atwater on Saturday, May 18, from 1:00-3:00 P.M. This class is designed for continuing beginner adults. Minimum of 5 students needed to hold class; maximum of 10 students. Fee for the two-hour workshop is $26.00. Prepayment necessary!
The many possibilities of the mountain dulcimer are part of the unique beauty of this extraordinary American folk instrument. Moving at a comfortable pace, the dulcimer will be approached from a number of angles during this class for continuing beginners: singing and playing simple chords, basic tunings, using the traditional noter, strumming and fingerpicking, and any other topics that may "happen" as a result of group chemistry. Participants need no prior knowledge of reading or playing music and will leave the class amazed with themselves and what they are able to play! If you can, please bring a dulcimer in good playing condition; otherwise, contact Aubrey about renting at: aubreyfolk@aol.com or by calling (401) 392-1909. |
GROUP SINGING WITH AUBREY ATWATER
TWO-HOUR WORKSHOP for all experience levels!
 This two-hour workshop in GROUP SINGING for all experience levels will be offered with instructor Aubrey Atwater on Saturday, May 18, from 3:30-5:30 P.M. Minimum of 5 students needed to hold class; maximum of 12 students. Fee for the two-hour workshop is $26.00. Prepayment necessary!
Aubrey will present a variety of folk songs that lend well to unison, call and response and harmony singing in this wonderful way to find YOUR voice in a safe and easy-going environment! The approach taken will be by ear with lyric sheets and some discussion of different vocal techniques. Lots of laughs, new friends and old-fashioned community!
From Warren, 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. |
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