Equarox Presents: OUR CHILDREN’S WORLD International Holiday Gala ~ Benefit Concert
Date: 12/15/2012 Time: 7:00 pm
Location
Academy of Music
African Women’s Drum Group Comes to Western Mass for First Time!
Celebrate your holiday season with a world-music Holiday Gala starring world-music’s top entertainers!
Kari Njiri from New England Public Radio and Monte Belmonte from WRSI the River, will host nationally and regionally renowned performers including:
Flamenco Artist, Ines Arrubla
Tony Vacca and Impulse Ensemble,
PAUL LIEBERMAN, KAISSA
AND headlining the show – NIMBAYA!, the ground-breaking, and world renowned Drum and Dance Company from Guinea.
The event will raise spirits, and raise funds for FRIENDS OF CHILDREN and SENEGAL AMERICA PROJECT
Experience a global celebration this holiday season!
EQUAROX thanks all our media sponsors for their assistance in promoting the show.
EQUAROX wants to give special thanks to LIA Auto Group
About the artists- Nimbaya! An all female group of 14 drummers and dancers from West Africa, will be making their first appearance in Northampton, MA. Nimbaya!, will be bringing their unique and exhilarating style to an inspiring holiday gala that benefits children from around the world.
The group hails from Guinea, Africa and has toured the world, including much of the United States. Nimbaya!, a group composed of six talented female djembe players and dancers, brings an energy and performance that is rarely experienced outside of the continent of Africa. The group is a daring response to taboos that existed for thousands of years in their homeland of Guinea. Never before had women played the djembe in West Africa, and certainly not as efficiently as Nimbaya! Come and experience a performance that will surely bring you out of your seat at “Our Children’s World: International Holiday Gala and Benefit Concert.”
Kaissa, a singer from the Republic of Cameroon, is set to hit the stage and wow the crowd with exuberant messages of joy, love, hope, optimism, and celebration. Kaissa comes from an artistic family, and was particularly inspired by her father’s experience as a political prisoner after writing a “subversive” book against the new Cameroonian government in the 1970s. “I realized a long time ago that my purpose in life is to use my talent for the struggle against racism, sexism, homophobia, poverty, and all other forms of social and internalized oppressions”, says Kaissa.
Also performing a mix of Brazilian jazz will be Paul Lieberman, a talented saxophone and flute player. Paul has spent four years living in Rio di Janeiro, Brazil and has toured the US with Brazilian jazz legends Airto and Flora Purim. Paul has also recorded with The Allman Brothers, among many others. His sounds are soulful and melodic with his cutting edge style of Brazilian jazz.
Rounding out the event music portion of the show, local favorite, IMPULSE ENSEMBLE with Tony Vacca, whose mesmerizing performances are a Pioneer Valley favorite. Tony Vacca is an innovative American percussionist with Jazz and World Music roots going back to 1972. He is part of a wave of 20th century musicians whose work has fueled the rediscovery of the power of the drum, and the power of music to build global common ground. His fourteen trips to West Africa have contributed to his unique approach to playing the balafon, and to his depth of knowledge regarding African and American musical traditions.
Ines Arrubla was trained in Flamenco in Spain, and began her career in the Netherlands and Western Europe. Since moving to the United States in 1998 Ms. Arrubla created the Flamenco Dance Theatre and The Flamenco Studio. Her work has led her to choreograph and stage major theater and dance performances and collaborate with Ballet and Opera companies through-out the country. Ms. Arrubla performs to sold-out crowds though out New England and New York.
Show Date/ Time:
Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 7:00PM
Ticket Prices:
VIP/$78 includes VIP reception at 6:00 PM; General Admission/$38
Where/ How Tickets Can be Purchased:
Academy of Music Box Office Open Tuesday- Friday 3:00PM-6:00PM
Call: 413-584-9032 ext.105 (Service fees will apply with purchase)
Online Tickets Click on Show Desired: http://academyofmusictheatre.tix.com