Local residents Kocassale Dioubate and Sasha Belle, founders of Kunda African Culture Music and Dance, will be returning to the Heritage Playhouse by popular demand this Saturday, July 7, to present The Joy of Africa - Celebrating Culture Through Music and Dance, with a full day of great music, song and dance workshops.
The workshops include West African djembe drumming with Kocassale Dioubate, Zimbabwean Song and Corporal Rhythm with Kurai Mubaiwa and Guinean Dance with Mohamed Duranteau at various times. Workshops are open to people of all ages and all levels. To register, phone 604-886-8998 or email:[email protected].
The evening performance showcases artistic culture, music and dance from various regions of Africa using authentic handmade traditional instruments, exotic costumes, explosive percussion, high-energy dances and joyful marimba.
Fronted by Dioubate, a griot (traditional story-teller, musician, entertainer and keeper of tribal history and tradition) from the Mandingo tribe of Guinea, West Africa, together with Belle, Kunda is a collaboration of musicians and dancers who have over a decade of experience performing and touring.
Also joining them are: Kurai Mubaiwa, a multi-instrumentalist, singer, dancer and composer from Zimbabwe; percussionist and phenomenal dancer Mohamed Duranteau from Guinea, West Africa; and local dancers Keetah Bryant and Gail Bergen. Tickets are $15, available at Gaia's Fair Trade, Laedeli and Sechelt Visitor Centre. Doors open at 7:45 p.m. with the show at 8:15.
DSdanse
Tonight, Friday, at 8:15 p.m. enjoy an Evening of Dance in Gibsons with the very best of DSdanse Youth Dance Company and Dance Works Performance Company sharing the stage at the Heritage Playhouse. Tickets are $15, available at SOPA outlets, as above.
Magic and dreams
On Sunday at 8:15 p.m. SOPA presents a Sensation of Magic: An Evening of Wonders. Through the art and craft of illusion, Vitaly Beckman creates a performance brimming with bewilderment and wonder; he performs jaw-dropping, mind-bending magic.
His show includes Super Vision, where Beckman demonstrates his ability to read books and newspapers from a 15-metre distance. He can make people disappear from ordinary photographs and appear on another. He also demonstrates object levitation, a paintbrush that paints by itself and escape from chains using only mind power. The show is at the Heritage Playhouse. Tickets are $20, available at Gaia's Fair Trade, Laedeli, Sechelt Visitor Centre or at the door.
Gracie for kids
Bring the kids to an event in Roberts Creek on Saturday.
The Roberts Creek Library is hosting a free author event featuring Heather Conn reading from her children's book Gracie's Got a Secret. It will start at 10:30 a.m. Aimed at children ages three-plus, it will include fun audience participation. Books will be available for sale and will be signed by the author.
Music in the Landing
Music in the Landing is now in full swing and looking forward to sunshine on the weekend.
Tonight (Friday) from 7 to 8 p.m. enjoy the jazz duo, Anagram, with Graham Ord, sax/flute, and Anna Lumiere, keyboard, performing in the gazebo at the end of the wharf in Gibsons Landing.
On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bonar Harris will be singing and playing guitar in Pioneer Square at the info centre followed by the very entertaining Story Theatre troupe with two shows at 1:30 and 2:30 under the Winegarden bus shelter.
Since last Saturday's show was rained out, Sangita, a seven-piece funk-groove band, have rescheduled from 7 to 8:45 in Winegarden Park.
On Sunday at the Sundial Stage next to the Gibsons Sunday Market will be a double bill with guitar and vocals by Pat and Bill Forst followed by Shelily, a mother daughter duo of Denise Olson and Mira Sheppard.
Harbinger work
A solo exhibition of ceramic work by local potter Laurie Rolland entitled Harbinger will be on view at the Gallery of BC Ceramics on Granville Island in Vancouver. The show runs from Saturday, July 7, until Tuesday, Aug. 7, and is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Phone 1-604-669-3606 or see www.laurierolland.com for more.
Imagination workshop
Fibreworks Studio and Gallery, 12887 SC Highway, presents Imagination Workshop July 11 to 14, a four-day crash course in creativity with Catherine Nicholls. The course shows you how to develop your own designs from images and other sources. Space is limited. To register call 604-883-2380 or see www.fibreworksgallery.com for details.
Chamber music
As the Pender Harbour Chamber Music Festival's eighth season approaches, Aug. 16 to 19, music lovers are anticipating four wonderful days of music.
Tickets have sold out for concerts on the evening of Friday the 17, the afternoon and evening of Saturday the 18. Limited numbers are still available for the Festival's opening concert on Thursday, Aug. 16, a piano extravaganza where 20th century classics meet jazz, as well as the Grande Finale on Sunday, Aug. 19, when the audience will be treated to pieces by von Weber, Bartók, Prokofiev and Saint-Saëns. The festival welcomes all ages to join in the free Friday afternoon concert, Chamber Music Doesn't Bite. For further information and tickets, visit www.penderharbourmusic.ca or call 604-989-3995.
Banner map
You can read more about the colourful hand-painted banners hanging on many streets in Gibsons. Volunteer co-ordinator Connie Johnston is happy that the Town has published a brochure and walking map to allow you a tour of the 69 banners that will be up all summer and into the next season as well.
Coffeehouse
On Friday, July 13, at 7:30 p.m. you are invited to the Coffeehouse at Pender Harbour Music School in Madeira Park, to hear the SASSPenders women's ensemble; Baroque and Blue Quartet; and Skinny Jimmy, guitar and vocals. Donations are welcome at the door. See: www.penderharbourmusic.ca for more details.
Tuesday deadline
Send notice of your arts events to [email protected] or phone 604-886-4692 by Tuesday at 5 p.m. for Friday's newspaper. Let me know who, what, where, when, why and ticket info briefly. Because of the volume of submissions, Art Beat covers events one day to one week ahead only.
