Showcase
A Chinese Opera Lion DanceFolk Arts Performances
A Chinese Opera Lion Dance
Artists from BAC’s Folk Arts program perform songs, stories, and dances, and discuss the history and traditions of their native countries and cultures.
All American Square Dancers
The All American Square Dancers bring this art to young audiences. They believe in keeping alive the heritage of America’s folk dance, which was enjoyed by early American settlers. During the demonstration, the dancers show off their skills and then invite the audience to participate. The program is lively and the audience enthusiastically responds to this historical display of American folk art.
Brighton Ballet and Folk Dance Company
Founder and executive director Irina Roizin and Brighton Ballet’s dancers are former soloists from the best dance theaters of the former Soviet Union: St. Petersbug Kirov Ballet, Moscow’s Classical Ballet, Bolshoi Theater, and the Ukranian State Theater of Ballet Theater. The company has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Lincoln Center Avery Fisher Hall, and many more throughout the tri-state area. Brighton Ballet dancers share their special training and love for dance through school performances which can include traditional Russian ballet, folk dances, or fairy tales.
Chinese-American Arts Council
This organization presents a dazzling variety of traditional Chinese operas, including Journey to the West with the famous Monkey King, Sun Wu-k’ung, as well as classical Chinese dance, Martial Arts, and the Lion Dance. Students learn historical information about masks, face-painting, and costuming traditions. A musical ensemble of traditional instruments accompanies most performances.
Conjunto Nuevo Milenio
This exciting group presents performances that demonstrate the diverse dance traditions of Panama by showing its cultural and regional diversity, including influences from the West Indies and Colombia. Performances include dances such as punto, a couple dance with roots in Panama’s Spanish colonial heritage, and tamborito, a social group dance. The company performs in traditional costumes, such as pollera de lujo, hand-embroidered dresses, and elaborate hair adornments called tembleques.
Darrah Carr Dance
Join the champion Irish step dancers of Darrah Carr Dance for a whirlwind introduction to Irish dance including its history, costumes, and traditions. Enjoy their lightning-fast demonstrations of both hard shoe and soft shoe styles, as well as live music on the accordion and the spoons. The company offers a range of performance styles with a varying number of dancers. The “Irish Step Duets” program features two dancers performing traditional Irish step dances, while the “ModERIN” program showcases the full company and highlights their unique blend of traditional Irish step and contemporary modern dance. During both programs, enthusiastic volunteers are invited onstage to learn the first step of the jig, while the entire audience enjoys clapping along to the bouncy rhythms of jigs and reels.
Donny Golden
Donny Golden, one of the most creative and successful Irish dancers, is a North American step dancing champion and a National Heritage Award-winner. He has choreographed shows for his troupe at Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall, and has trained over 1,000 students, including Jean Butler of Riverdance. Performances of traditional Irish music and dance can include musicians, dancers, and singers.
Frisner Augustin and La Troupe Makankal
For over 20 years, La Troupe Makandal and its Artistic Director, Master Drummer and National Heritage Award-winner Frisner Augustin, have thrilled audiences with the exciting traditional dances, music, and drumming of Haiti, derived from West African and Caribbean inspired rituals and spring time festivals including Carnival and Rara. For assembly programs, Mr. Augustin discusses Haitian culture, history, dance, and music, highlighted by captivating movements and drumming.
Guillermo Guerrero
Guillermo Guerrero is a gifted Andean musician dedicated to the traditional music of the lands that formed the Incan Empire. Performances include a lecture/demonstration on Peruvian instruments, including the Antara (pan-pipe), which dates back 7,000 years.
Los Afortunados
This dynamic, multigenerational ensemble of musicians and dancers presents Afro-Cuban folklore and Hispanic traditions through the tantalizing rhythms, choruses, and movements of the rumba, the mambo and the African ceremonial dances of the Bantu and Congo. The many varieties of rumba, including yambu, guaguanco, columbia, bata rumba, and conga y comparsa, will also be discussed and performed.
El Bombazo de Brooklyn
This drum and dance ensemble specializes in bomba, Puerto Rico’s oldest art form dating back to its colonial history. Bomba’s musicality and aesthetics are a combination of African, indigenous, and European elements, such as call and response singing and percussion, along with dances such as paseo and piquete. Students and staff are invited to participate as singers, dancers, and percussionists as a way of making the cultural tradition of bomba accessible to all.
Hip Hop and More
Students learn about the dynamic urban dance forms of hip hop with groups such as Dynasty Rockers, Cirkulock, or individual performer Tiny Love. Performers demonstrate how hip hop is a composite dance form that includes techniques in locking, popping, rocking, and breaking. Through superb execution of dance moves they show how hip hop draws upon diverse genres such as salsa, funk, the hustle, martial arts, and the smooth moves of ballroom dance. These enthusiastic performers are appropriate for all student audiences.
Kaina Quenga and Hawaiian/Tahitian Dance
Kaina Quenga is a master Hawaiian dancer who has performed at social and ceremonial occasions in her native state. Her Hawaiian repertoire incorporates hula, which simply means “dance” with its chanted narratives passed on by the kupuna, or elders. Learn about how the dancers’ movements bring the narrative song to life. Kaina also shares the shapes and dances of Tahiti and welcomes opportunities to share the traditions of Hawaiian and Tahitian dance cultures. Ms. Quenga is often accompanied by musicians playing traditional instruments.
Klezmer
The word Klezmer comes from the Hebrew words “Klei Zemer” which mean “vessels of song.” Instrumentalists and vocalists bring to life the history of this well-known Jewish folk music that was brought to America by families who had emigrated from Eastern Europe beginning in the 1880’s. Klezmer is the musical soul of the Ashkenazic (central and Eastern European) Jewish tradition.
Mano a Mano: Cultura Mexicana Sin Fronteras This organization brings the rich expressive traditions of Mexico to your school community. Musical genres include mariachi music, a passionate, hundred-year old tradition considered to be the quintessential Mexican popular form and son jarocho, a festive folk tradition from the state of Veracruz, best known through the song “La Bamba.” Dancers present regional folklórico forms as well as the conchero and Azteca styles of Mexico’s native peoples. See how the diverse culture of Mexico can enhance your curriculum. All presentations include educational handouts that provide the historical and cultural context of these traditions and guides for where to learn more. Storytelling in Spanish is also available.
Redhawk Native American Arts Council
Led by noted Native American traditional dancer, musician, and educator Cliff Matias, the Redhawk Native American Arts Council promotes Native American culture, as they educate audiences about the diversity of native cultures through performances that include traditional styles of music, story, and dance.
Red Sea Yemeni Music Ensemble
The music of Yemen, an area centered at the heart of the ancient caravan routes and the earliest maritime trade channels, is presented by this culturally diverse ensemble. Performers Ahamed Alrodini, singer and master of Yemeni folk song traditions, Isaac Gutwilk, percussionist and specialist in the traditional Jewish folk music of Yemen, and Yitzhak Levy-Awami, Yemeni dancer and choreographer, perform an interactive program of regional styles of Yemeni music, dance, and instruments.
Rita Silva & Bahia Kao
The rhythms, sounds, and movements of Brazil come alive as Rita Silva, a native of Bahia, Brazil, and her company present a captivating interactive performance that both enchants and educates as it connects students to the elements of nature through the use of dance (including capoeira), instruments, and music of this vibrant and mystical culture.
Sudha Seetharaman and Trilok Fusion
Ms. Seetharaman is a trained dancer in bharatanatyam, an ancient form of highly stylized classical South Indian dance that dates back to the 2nd century B.C. She performs with members of Trilok Fusion to demonstrate classical East Indian dance, music, instruments, and songs.
Vongku Pak and Korean Drumming
Vongku Pak is a soloist who fuses contemporary Korean drumming styles with elements of traditional dance into dynamic musical performances. Unique rhythm patterns define the salmulnori performance, which includes two sets of drums and brass gongs, and the sulchanggu, which showcases the most distinctive drum of Korea. Pak welcomes opportunities to share the cultural traditions of his native Korea.
Yahaya Kamate and Ivory Coast West African Dance Yahaya Kamate, a highly engaging and enthusiastic dancer, shares the rhythms, sounds, and movements of West African dance from his native Abigon region in southern Ivory Coast. Trained with the National Ballet of the Ivory Coast, Yahaya came to Brooklyn in 1994, and continues to perform West African Dance. Following his performances, Yahaya welcomes opportunities to share stories about
the traditions of his native culture.
Yasser Darwish and Egyptian Dance
Born in Egypt, Master Eyptian tanoura (a type of spinning dance) and saidi (stick dance), dancer Yasser Darwish, brings to his performances dynamism and color. The tanoura dance features a large multicolored hoop skirt that spins a circle of color around Mr. Darwish. The choreography for these dances is influenced by regional Egyptian folk dances, as well as Russian ballet techniques that have special appeal to diverse New York City audiences. Mr. Darwish, a former member of the National Folk Dance Group of Cairo, is often accompanied by spirited Egyptian musicians playing traditional instruments, such as the ney (wooden flute).
The All American Square Dancers bring this art to young audiences. They believe in keeping alive the heritage of America’s folk dance, which was enjoyed by early American settlers. During the demonstration, the dancers show off their skills and then invite the audience to participate. The program is lively and the audience enthusiastically responds to this historical display of American folk art.
Brighton Ballet and Folk Dance Company
Founder and executive director Irina Roizin and Brighton Ballet’s dancers are former soloists from the best dance theaters of the former Soviet Union: St. Petersbug Kirov Ballet, Moscow’s Classical Ballet, Bolshoi Theater, and the Ukranian State Theater of Ballet Theater. The company has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Lincoln Center Avery Fisher Hall, and many more throughout the tri-state area. Brighton Ballet dancers share their special training and love for dance through school performances which can include traditional Russian ballet, folk dances, or fairy tales.
Chinese-American Arts Council
This organization presents a dazzling variety of traditional Chinese operas, including Journey to the West with the famous Monkey King, Sun Wu-k’ung, as well as classical Chinese dance, Martial Arts, and the Lion Dance. Students learn historical information about masks, face-painting, and costuming traditions. A musical ensemble of traditional instruments accompanies most performances.
Conjunto Nuevo Milenio
This exciting group presents performances that demonstrate the diverse dance traditions of Panama by showing its cultural and regional diversity, including influences from the West Indies and Colombia. Performances include dances such as punto, a couple dance with roots in Panama’s Spanish colonial heritage, and tamborito, a social group dance. The company performs in traditional costumes, such as pollera de lujo, hand-embroidered dresses, and elaborate hair adornments called tembleques.
Darrah Carr Dance
Join the champion Irish step dancers of Darrah Carr Dance for a whirlwind introduction to Irish dance including its history, costumes, and traditions. Enjoy their lightning-fast demonstrations of both hard shoe and soft shoe styles, as well as live music on the accordion and the spoons. The company offers a range of performance styles with a varying number of dancers. The “Irish Step Duets” program features two dancers performing traditional Irish step dances, while the “ModERIN” program showcases the full company and highlights their unique blend of traditional Irish step and contemporary modern dance. During both programs, enthusiastic volunteers are invited onstage to learn the first step of the jig, while the entire audience enjoys clapping along to the bouncy rhythms of jigs and reels.
Donny Golden
Donny Golden, one of the most creative and successful Irish dancers, is a North American step dancing champion and a National Heritage Award-winner. He has choreographed shows for his troupe at Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall, and has trained over 1,000 students, including Jean Butler of Riverdance. Performances of traditional Irish music and dance can include musicians, dancers, and singers.
Frisner Augustin and La Troupe Makankal
For over 20 years, La Troupe Makandal and its Artistic Director, Master Drummer and National Heritage Award-winner Frisner Augustin, have thrilled audiences with the exciting traditional dances, music, and drumming of Haiti, derived from West African and Caribbean inspired rituals and spring time festivals including Carnival and Rara. For assembly programs, Mr. Augustin discusses Haitian culture, history, dance, and music, highlighted by captivating movements and drumming.
Guillermo Guerrero
Guillermo Guerrero is a gifted Andean musician dedicated to the traditional music of the lands that formed the Incan Empire. Performances include a lecture/demonstration on Peruvian instruments, including the Antara (pan-pipe), which dates back 7,000 years.
Los Afortunados
This dynamic, multigenerational ensemble of musicians and dancers presents Afro-Cuban folklore and Hispanic traditions through the tantalizing rhythms, choruses, and movements of the rumba, the mambo and the African ceremonial dances of the Bantu and Congo. The many varieties of rumba, including yambu, guaguanco, columbia, bata rumba, and conga y comparsa, will also be discussed and performed.
El Bombazo de Brooklyn
This drum and dance ensemble specializes in bomba, Puerto Rico’s oldest art form dating back to its colonial history. Bomba’s musicality and aesthetics are a combination of African, indigenous, and European elements, such as call and response singing and percussion, along with dances such as paseo and piquete. Students and staff are invited to participate as singers, dancers, and percussionists as a way of making the cultural tradition of bomba accessible to all.
Hip Hop and More
Students learn about the dynamic urban dance forms of hip hop with groups such as Dynasty Rockers, Cirkulock, or individual performer Tiny Love. Performers demonstrate how hip hop is a composite dance form that includes techniques in locking, popping, rocking, and breaking. Through superb execution of dance moves they show how hip hop draws upon diverse genres such as salsa, funk, the hustle, martial arts, and the smooth moves of ballroom dance. These enthusiastic performers are appropriate for all student audiences.
Kaina Quenga and Hawaiian/Tahitian Dance
Kaina Quenga is a master Hawaiian dancer who has performed at social and ceremonial occasions in her native state. Her Hawaiian repertoire incorporates hula, which simply means “dance” with its chanted narratives passed on by the kupuna, or elders. Learn about how the dancers’ movements bring the narrative song to life. Kaina also shares the shapes and dances of Tahiti and welcomes opportunities to share the traditions of Hawaiian and Tahitian dance cultures. Ms. Quenga is often accompanied by musicians playing traditional instruments.
Klezmer
The word Klezmer comes from the Hebrew words “Klei Zemer” which mean “vessels of song.” Instrumentalists and vocalists bring to life the history of this well-known Jewish folk music that was brought to America by families who had emigrated from Eastern Europe beginning in the 1880’s. Klezmer is the musical soul of the Ashkenazic (central and Eastern European) Jewish tradition.
Mano a Mano: Cultura Mexicana Sin Fronteras This organization brings the rich expressive traditions of Mexico to your school community. Musical genres include mariachi music, a passionate, hundred-year old tradition considered to be the quintessential Mexican popular form and son jarocho, a festive folk tradition from the state of Veracruz, best known through the song “La Bamba.” Dancers present regional folklórico forms as well as the conchero and Azteca styles of Mexico’s native peoples. See how the diverse culture of Mexico can enhance your curriculum. All presentations include educational handouts that provide the historical and cultural context of these traditions and guides for where to learn more. Storytelling in Spanish is also available.
Redhawk Native American Arts Council
Led by noted Native American traditional dancer, musician, and educator Cliff Matias, the Redhawk Native American Arts Council promotes Native American culture, as they educate audiences about the diversity of native cultures through performances that include traditional styles of music, story, and dance.
Red Sea Yemeni Music Ensemble
The music of Yemen, an area centered at the heart of the ancient caravan routes and the earliest maritime trade channels, is presented by this culturally diverse ensemble. Performers Ahamed Alrodini, singer and master of Yemeni folk song traditions, Isaac Gutwilk, percussionist and specialist in the traditional Jewish folk music of Yemen, and Yitzhak Levy-Awami, Yemeni dancer and choreographer, perform an interactive program of regional styles of Yemeni music, dance, and instruments.
Rita Silva & Bahia Kao
The rhythms, sounds, and movements of Brazil come alive as Rita Silva, a native of Bahia, Brazil, and her company present a captivating interactive performance that both enchants and educates as it connects students to the elements of nature through the use of dance (including capoeira), instruments, and music of this vibrant and mystical culture.
Sudha Seetharaman and Trilok Fusion
Ms. Seetharaman is a trained dancer in bharatanatyam, an ancient form of highly stylized classical South Indian dance that dates back to the 2nd century B.C. She performs with members of Trilok Fusion to demonstrate classical East Indian dance, music, instruments, and songs.
Vongku Pak and Korean Drumming
Vongku Pak is a soloist who fuses contemporary Korean drumming styles with elements of traditional dance into dynamic musical performances. Unique rhythm patterns define the salmulnori performance, which includes two sets of drums and brass gongs, and the sulchanggu, which showcases the most distinctive drum of Korea. Pak welcomes opportunities to share the cultural traditions of his native Korea.
Yahaya Kamate and Ivory Coast West African Dance Yahaya Kamate, a highly engaging and enthusiastic dancer, shares the rhythms, sounds, and movements of West African dance from his native Abigon region in southern Ivory Coast. Trained with the National Ballet of the Ivory Coast, Yahaya came to Brooklyn in 1994, and continues to perform West African Dance. Following his performances, Yahaya welcomes opportunities to share stories about
the traditions of his native culture.
Yasser Darwish and Egyptian Dance
Born in Egypt, Master Eyptian tanoura (a type of spinning dance) and saidi (stick dance), dancer Yasser Darwish, brings to his performances dynamism and color. The tanoura dance features a large multicolored hoop skirt that spins a circle of color around Mr. Darwish. The choreography for these dances is influenced by regional Egyptian folk dances, as well as Russian ballet techniques that have special appeal to diverse New York City audiences. Mr. Darwish, a former member of the National Folk Dance Group of Cairo, is often accompanied by spirited Egyptian musicians playing traditional instruments, such as the ney (wooden flute).
Related Categories
Folk / Traditional Arts, Children / TeensSee Also...
