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AIS Assembly
Program 2008-2009
Youth in Arts School Assemblies
cost $900 for one 45 minute Assembly or two back-to-back Assembly Performances.
Adequate performance space must be provided (multi-purpose room or stage)
and access to electrical outlets.
Zenon Barrón & Los Ensambles Ballet Folklórico de San Francisco
DESCRIPTION OF ARTFORM:
Ballet Folklórico is the folk music and dance of the people of México,
serving as a rich form of popular art, which brings together dance,
music, theater and poetry. These regional dances of México represent
a fusion of the variety of cultural influences, which have been present
in each region including European, African and Indigenous art forms.
DESCRIPTION OF ASSEMBLY:
Zenon Barrón and dancers from Los Ensambles will demonstrate regional
folk dances from one or more regions including Michoacan, Jalisco, Guerrero,
Veracruz and Puebla.
Students will learn about the
geography and history of Mexico's people while joining in percussion
rhythms and singing lyrics to traditional songs.
NUMBER OF PERFORMERS: 3-5
AGE GROUPS: K - 12
ARTIST/COMPANY BIO:
Zenón Barrón is a professional dancer trained in modern dance, classical
ballet and Mexican folk dance. He is a researcher of Latin American
folklore, costume and scenography who uses his broad training and experience
to bridge gaps between various art forms, styles and cultures.
Maestro Zenon founded San Francisco's premiere Mexican Dance group
Ensambles Ballet Folklorico de San Francisco in and their mission is to promote Mexican dance with quality and authenticity.
Eliot Fintushel
DESCRIPTION OF ARTFORM:
Mask Theater, Pantomime, and Theatrical Clowning used to explore the
mysteries of Body Language through mime illusions (walls, ropes, etc.).
DESCRIPTION OF ASSEMBLY:
Eliot creates characters via masks, and stage clowning, with audience
participation. He combines hilarious fun with rapt and silent
concentration to discover: How do we read others' feelings
in an instant?
Students will learn how we express
our feelings through posture and movement; how small movements and changes
in posture seem to change people's expressions in ways that everyone
understands at once; what absorbing wonders can appear in silence; and
how characters are created onstage through physical adjustments of posture
and movement.
NUMBER OF PERFORMERS: 1
AGE GROUPS: PreK-12
ARTIST/COMPANY BIO:
Eliot Fintushel is a creator and performer of mask, mime, and clown
theater, with incursions into puppetry, improvisation, and performance
art. He has twice received the NEA Solo Performer Award and was
a CA Arts Council Artist-In-Residence grantee for three successive years.
In over twenty years onstage, Eliot has performed four thousand shows
at schools, theaters, and community centers nationwide, including solo
shows at the National Theater in Washington DC. He was NY's representative
performer at the Wolftrap International Children's Festival. Eliot
is a consultant and teacher of performance for professional companies,
universities, and in special projects among diverse and difficult populations.
Offstage, Fintushel is also a novelist and science fiction writer whose
work has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies.
Asheba
DESCRIPTION OF ARTFORM:
Asheba brings calypso, the musical/folkloric oral tradition of
his country to audiences accompanying himself on guitar and (occasionally)
the steel drums, Trinidad's national instrument.
DESCRIPTION OF ASSEMBLY:
Asheba's joy and enthusiasm are contagious, drawing audiences to join
in with his call and response arrangements and spontaneously create
their own songs. He includes flavors of the West Indies such as
Reggae, the popular music of Jamaica, while sharing stories encouraging
hope and happiness for children of all ages, abilities and backgrounds
throughout the world. Asheba's performance will leave you feeling
nourished, tapping your toes, and smiling for days.
Students will learn to build awareness
and appreciation for Caribbean music and culture through stories delivered
in a musical format. Students will be encouraged to express themselves
creatively and emotionally as they sing along to the catchy melodies
that both children and teachers will love.
NUMBER OF PERFORMERS: 1
AGE GROUPS: K-5
ARTIST/COMPANY BIO:
Asheba, a musical storyteller and singer/songwriter was born on the
Caribbean island of Trinidad and he has worked as a freelance musician
in New York, Las Vegas, and now California. Asheba performs regularly
at Oakland Children's Fairyland, Museum of Children's Art, La Pena
and Ashkenaz. His first two CD's, Go Itsy and
No More Monkeys, have been wildly popular with families nationally
and internationally. He wrote music for the Fairyland Children's
Theatre Program's productions of: The Monkey Without A Tail,
The Caribbean Adventures of Anancy & Friends, and Brazilian
Adventures. Asheba's songs, have been featured in Putomayo's
Caribbean Playground compilation and Asheba headlined the national
Putumayo Kids' Reggae Playground tour. In 2006, Asheba released his third CD, Children Are
The Sunshine, which quickly became a Parents' Choice Award
winner. The song, Who Stole The Cookie, was selected by Continental Airlines for their in-flight kids channel, and is being aired on XM Radio.
Rachael Bouch-Dimonstein & Magic Carpet
DESCRIPTION OF ARTFORM:
Improvisational music duo, Magic Carpet is a unique musical fusion of
rhythms and melodies from around the globe; Middle Eastern, Indian,
Latin, and beyond. Traditional melodies played on non-traditional instruments,
modern music played on traditional instruments, original compositions
discovered in the moment. Acoustic, living music for reflection and
discovery.
DESCRIPTION OF ASSEMBLY:
Rachael presents improvised music drawing influences from various world
music traditions, played on recorders, sarode, frame drum, cajon, and
other percussion instruments.. Assembly includes performance, interactive
participation by the audience, information about history and background
of the instruments and music styles, and Q&A.
Students will be introduced to the sounds and personalities of a wide variety of instruments from around the globe. We will talk about instrument families- identifying their different voices, qualities and timbres. We will discuss the concept of improvisation, and demonstrate how we can communicate through music, followed by a live improvised performance piece.
NUMBER OF PERFORMERS: 2
AGE GROUPS: K-5
ARTIST/COMPANY BIO:
Rachael Bouch-Dimondstein has been teaching and performing for the past
ten years. Multi-percussionist, she plays drum set, congas, timbales
and cajón and is well versed in various musical styles. Having studied
extensively in Cuba and Spain, she specializes in Cuban Son/Salsa and
Flamenco. Rachael has performed and led workshops throughout the United
States, as well as in Mexico, Cuba, Spain and Austria. She performs
regularly with flamenco fusion trio 'LoCura!' Certified in Orff Schulwerk
(an integrated method for teaching the creative arts to children), Rachael
currently teaches music in schools, as well as private lessons, to students
of all levels and ages. She resides in Berkeley, California.
Maestre Samuka & Capoeira Barauna
DESCRIPTION OF ARTFORM:
Capoeira is a traditional Afro-Brazilian art-form which blends
music, dance, acrobatics and martial arts.
DESCRIPTION OF ASSEMBLY:
Maestre Samuka brings traditional Brazilian instruments such as the
Berimbau (made of a gourd and one string) and Pandeiros (tambourines).
Performers will demonstrate a traditional capoeira circle called a roda and dance and sing along to the beats of the
Berimbau.
Students will learn about the
Afro-Brazilian culture and the history of how Afro-Brazilian slaves
achieved freedom through the art of Capoeira. Students
will learn about the basic music rhythms of Capoeira and some
will join the performers and learn some basic steps
NUMBER OF PERFORMERS: 2-5
AGE GROUPS: K-12
ARTIST/COMPANY BIO: Maestre Samuka was born and trained in Bahia, Brazil and is the director of Capoeira Barauna, a high energy group of Capoeiristas who
study, celebrate and disseminate the traditional art-form of Capoeira.
Samuka has dedicated his life to teaching the therapeutic combination
of Capoeira and massage therapy to the poor people of his home-town and is the author of a book on the same topic. Samuka and Capoeira Barauna perform in Marin County and all over the Bay Area, bringing the fascinating history, melodic sounds and skilled movements of
Capoeira to audiences around the Bay.
Zack Pitt-Smith & Falso Baiano Choro Ensemble
DESCRIPTION OF ARTFORM:
Choro is a traditional chamber music form from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
starting in the early part of the 20th Century. Choro
is said to be the father of samba. The style of music shows
the marriage of classical European influences of folk dances (the
polka and mazurka from Eastern Europe and the lundu
from Portuga)l and a West African rhythmic sensibility of syncopation
and swing.
DESCRIPTION OF ASSEMBLY:
: Grupo Falso Baiano will demonstrate elements of traditional
choro as well as bringing to light some American influences of
jazz that draw historical and cultural comparisons between the United
States and Brazil. The presentation is interactive and students
are able to participate in the rhythms and call-and-response elements
in the music.
Students will learn about the
culture of Brazil and history of its popular music. They will
learn about the structural form of choro compositions. They will
participate in rhythms and lyrics of songs.
NUMBER OF PERFORMERS: 3-4
AGE GROUPS: 6-12
ARTIST/COMPANY BIO: Grupo Falso Baiano started out as a trio in 2003 with members Brian Moran (seven-string guitar), Zack Pitt-Smith (flute, clarinet and saxophone) and Ami Molinelli (percussion), and evolved into a quartet when Jesse Appelman (mandolin) joined the lineup in 2006. GFB is at work recording its first full-length studio CD, to be released in early 2008. In addition to performing and touring, the members of Grupo Falso Baiano are committed to extending the reach of choro music, and have collaborated with the Pasadena Pops Orchestra and the Around the World Music Program, bringing choro music to students throughout California.
Alma Raddha & Paso de Tortuga
DESCRIPTION OF ARTFORM:
Storytelling in the tradition of Latino American countries. Delivering
teachings, experiences, words and images shaped by the hands of imagination.
Shadow puppets, screens and musical instruments; support the stories
and get the audience involved in active participation.
DESCRIPTION OF ASSEMBLY:
Alma Raddha will share with the audience an array of legends and stories
from Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Mexico. Alma can perform the
stories in either Spanish or English.
Students will learn through folktales
about different lifestyles in Latino America. Students will learn some
Spanish vocabulary from the legends. These fascinating legends have
a strong social and cultural content and provide the opportunity for
students to learn and/or reinforce to distinguish between different
kinds of stories: creation stories, fairytales and trickster tales.
NUMBER OF PERFORMERS: 1
AGE GROUPS: K-12
ARTIST/COMPANY BIO:
Paso de Tortuga is a one woman company written, directed, produced,
performed and legally represented by Alma Raddha. She has been an actress
and playwright for 19 years and created Paso de Tortuga as a response
for the growing bilingual population in the Bay Area. The mission of
this company is to bring Latino American Folktales to Californian children
as close as the oral narrator's tradition is in the small towns of
Mexico.
Tara Pandeya
DESCRIPTION OF ARTFORM: Tara Pandeya presents dance from the region of Central Asia, which lies on what was once the famed "Silk Road." Central Asian dance presentations may include the regions of: Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Iran and Chinese-Turkmenistan. These regional dance styles often take inspiration from poetry and environmental imagery. Dances presented can range from classical, to folkloric, contemporary and even popular art.
DESCRIPTION OF ASSEMBLY:
Tara Catherine Pandeya will present dance, music and songs from one
or more of the art traditions of Central Asia (Afghan, Tajiki, Uzbek,
Azeri, Persian or Chinese-Turkman dance). Fabric and costuming from
Central Asia will be brought in, along with a map to give context to
the students about this region of the world.
Students will learn about geography and cultural traditions from Central Asia. Students will also learn traditional dance vocabulary and lyrics from a song sung in Farsi, a language used in traditional music throughout Central Asia.
NUMBER OF PERFORMERS: 1-3
AGE GROUPS: K-12
ARTIST/COMPANY BIO:
Tara Catherine Pandeya is a second-generation performing artist who
has trained in multiple dance styles ranging from Central Asian, to
Middle Eastern, Western classical and classical Indian dance. In 2002,
Tara was chosen as a featured artist through the California Arts Council's
'Next Generation, Young and Upcoming Multicultural Artists Grant'
program. In 2006, Tara completed a dance residency and dance field research
in Tajikistan (formerly a republic of the Soviet Union). Tara has traveled
and studied dance and language in India, the Middle East, Central Asia
and Europe. Tara holds Bachelors degrees in International Relations
and Performing Arts through St. Mary's College. She also holds Arabic
language certificates and a teaching credential in ESL. Tara currently
performs throughout the United States as well as internationally as
a soloist artist and also as a principle dancer with Ballet Afsaneh,
Dances of the Silk Road, which she has been a member of for over 10
years.
Miguel Martinez & CORAZÓN SUR
DESCRIPTION OF ARTFORM:
CORAZÓN SUR presents a lively mixture of music from México and the
Caribbean. CORAZÓN SUR broadens the audience of the music of
Mexican and Latin American composers such as Agustín Lara, Guti Cárdenas,
Mario Ruíz Armengol, among others. These composers represent a style
of music very distinct from the genres of Mexican music that have been
typically distributed throughout the United States and the world, therefore
promoting awareness about the musical richness and diversity of Mexico.
DESCRIPTION OF ASSEMBLY:
By sharing instruments and performing unique Latin American music, Miguel
Martinez and CORAZÓN SUR will demostrate how Afro-Caribbean music grew
from historical processes of cultural syncretism between descendents
of African slaves, Hispano-Europeans and the intermixing of indigenous
cultures.
Students will learn about the
geography and history of Mexico and Latin America. They will learn
names of instruments and different styles of music of Latin America
while playing and singing along with CORAZÓN SUR.
NUMBER OF PERFORMERS: 3-4
AGE GROUPS: K-12
ARTIST/COMPANY BIO: Miguel
Ángel Martínez Vázquez is a multi-instrumentalist who has worked
as a music educator for the last ten years, both in Mexico and the Bay
Area. After a trip to Cuba in 2001, Miguel formed the group SON
SUR in the city of Xalapa, Veracruz. From this point on, the group was
recognized throughout the state of Veracruz and Mexico. After two years
of playing in diverse venues nationally and internationally, Miguel
Martínez traveled to the United States, where he recreated SON SUR
under the new name of CORAZÓN SUR, with some of the most highly recognized
musicians of the San Francisco Bay Area. Martinez studied Music
Education at the University of Art and Sciences in Chiapas, Mexico,
where he is originally from, and later studied classical flute at la
Universidad Veracruzana. Miguel recently received a certificate
of recognition for his invaluable contribution to the flourishing of
son montuno in Mexico.
Reed Fromer
DESCRIPTION OF ARTFORM:
Sing-alongs and storytelling - specifically the medium of "storysongs,"
stories that feature a musical refrain, which is taught to the kids
at the beginning, and in which they participate each time it surfaces
in the story.
DESCRIPTION OF ASSEMBLY:
live music and adding animated sound effects, Reed tells stories through
song, iviting students to sing along and learn movements. Students
will thouroughly enjoy participating in the storysongs and discover
that music is something fun, inclusive, exciting, and rewarding.
Students will learn about the
musical technology of the keyboard. One of the stories, "The Square
Planet" does offer a parable about the value of diversity and tolerance;
themes that are discussed before telling that story.
NUMBER OF PERFORMERS: 1
AGE GROUPS: K-3
ARTIST/COMPANY BIO:
Reed Fromer is an award-winning songwriter, the leader of one of the
Bay Area's most powerful R&B bands, a music producer, a film-scorer
for PBS documentaries, and a gospel choir accompanist. In recent years,
he has been a highly popular chorus instructor for grades 3-8, sparking
a new-found enthusiasm for music and singing in hundreds of children.
He relies on an informal, non-technical teaching style and a pop music
repertoire (with songs such as Fly Like an Eagle, Midnight Special,
Footloose, Proud Mary, Workin' in a Coal Mine, Cat's in the Cradle,
Rockin' Robin, and You Can Get it if You Really Want) to attune children
to the mindset that singing is something exciting, fun, collaborative,
and meaningful. His work as a storyteller and sing-along leader has
sparked a similar enthusiasm for music in younger children.
Austin Willacy & 'Til Dawn
DESCRIPTION OF ARTFORM: A Cappella Music is singing without instrumental accompaniment. It means "in the style of the Sistine Chapel," where services used choirs with no instruments. As time has passed, a cappella music has broadened its subject matter and style to include all genres of music. In this day and age a cappella is more a choice of instrumentation, or lack thereof, rather than a style of music.
DESCRIPTION OF ASSEMBLY: 'Til Dawn will perform a 30 - 40 minute set including a mix of contemporary and classic songs from the Pop, R&B, Rock, Folk, Gospel and Jazz traditions. Some examples of the repertoire are: Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield, Baby, I Love You by Aretha Franklin, Candleburn by Dishwalla, You Gotta Be by Des'ree Beyond the Sea by Bobby Darin and Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid soundtrack. During and/or after the performance 'Til Dawn will answer questions from the audience about what type of preparation goes into the performance.
Depending upon the questions asked the students may learn about music (chords and keys) or about arranging, but the real impact of the performance is inspiring students to pursue their own goals. Students get a chance to see what can happen if they wholeheartedly invest themselves in something creative by observing and interacting with 'Til Dawn during and after the show.
NUMBER OF PERFORMERS: 10-14
AGE GROUPS: K-12
ARTIST/COMPANY BIO: Founded in 1994, 'Til Dawn is a teen a cappella singing group that comprises the performing arts portion of Youth in Arts, a San Rafael-based non-profit organization. There are 14 students in 'Til Dawn. New members are admitted through auditions once a year. Youth in Arts' mission is to open the minds and hearts of young people in and around the Bay Area through arts experiences.
Francy Vidal & Chaskinakuy
DESCRIPTION OF ARTFORM:
Francy Vidal and Edmond Badoux present traditional folk music from the
Andean mountains, traversing musical territory from Ecuador to Argentina
on an extraordinary collection of regional wind, string and percussion
instruments.
DESCRIPTION OF ASSEMBLY:
Andean music specialists Edmond Badoux
and Francy Vidal perform the compelling melodies and infectious
rhythms of high mountain festivities in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, northern
Chile and Argentina. The duo sings in Spanish and in Quechua and brings
to the stage an extraordinary, museum-quality collection of up to 30
regional instruments.
Students will learn about a variety
of traditional folk instruments including flutes, panpipes, drums, a
10 foot long trumpet and a traditional Peruvian harp. Students
will clap, dance and play along as they learn about Latin American history,
culture and geography.
NUMBER OF PERFORMERS: 2
AGE GROUPS: K-12
ARTIST/COMPANY BIO:
Francy Vidal is an 8th
generation Californiana with roots in Mexico and in Europe. A
passionate student of Latin American culture and history, she has been
immersed in traditional Andean music since the early 1970's. Through
her research of texts and recordings and extended travel in Ecuador,
Peru and Bolivia, she brings an informed and discerning ear to her interpretation
of regional Andean musical styles. A gifted multi-instrumentalist, Ms.
Vidal sings, plays, and instructs on a wide variety of native flutes,
panpipes, drums, and the 10-string Peruvian mandolin. She co-founded
the touring ensemble Chaskinakuy with Edmond Badoux in 1985 with the purpose of introducing lesser known but equally important Andean musics and instruments to North American audiences. Dozens of regional tours and hundreds of performances later, the group has been recognized by arts councils, cultural centers, educators, and book publishers for its contribution to the broader understanding of Latin America's diverse musical legacy.
Let's Go Green!
DESCRIPTION OF ASSEMBLY: Murray Orrick, Randy Phillippe and Scott Urquhart perform songs from their environmental-themed children's album Let's Go Green, accompanied by engaging puppetry and ASL interpretation. A fun and educational presentation for younger students that blends arts learning and important lessons about renewable energy, recycling and reuse and conservation.
NUMBER OF PERFORMERS: 4
AGE GROUPS: K-3
ARTIST/COMPANY BIO: Marin singer-songwriters and music producers Randy Phillippe and Murray Orrick (also a multi-instrumentalist) have teamed up since 2002 on a wide range of records. Now Phillippe and Orrick have joined forces with Grammy-nominated songwriter and professional puppeteer and storyteller Scott Urquhart to form Let's Go Green, dedicated to educating young children about the value of environmental awareness and the impact we can all have on the future of our planet. Their new children's album inspires young minds to "go green" through music, fun and laughter.
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