The Bronx Arts Ensemble will present its 2nd Annual Festival Of The Arts, a competition and performance showcasing talented students in its arts-in-education programs in Bronx schools, on Wed., June 10 at 3:30 pm in the Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, featuring a ballroom dance competition and performances by violin, African drumming, African dance, Tap, Hip-Hop, Rock Band, and chorus students. The June 10 program is free and open to the public.
Bronx schools represented at the Festival include: Bronx International High School, Celia Cruz High School, Metropolitan High School, P.S. 31, P.S. 64, P.S. 109, P.S. 194, P.S./M.S. 218, I.S. 229 and M.S. 254.
The Festival is supported by funds from NYC Councilman G. Oliver Koppell, Councilman James Vacca, Councilwoman Helen Foster, Councilman Joel Rivera and State Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.
For more information call (718) 601-7399.
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Velvet Ross, winner of the 2008 BRIO (Bronx Recognizes Its Own) Individual Artist award for vocal performance will headline a free concert hosted by Bronx Council on the Arts at Christ Church Riverdale on June 7, at 3 pm in celebration of the council’s twentieth anniversary of its prestigious independent artist recognition program.
Ross is an accomplished singer, actress, award-winning playwright and activist. She has toured overseas to Japan, Spain, Argentina and Chile. She has graced the stage at various well-known venues around New York City, including Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, BB Kings, Birdland, CBGB Gallery, and Sony Sound Stage. She is an Amateur Night at the Apollo winner and winner of the Miss Black World Pageant New York 2004. Velvet Ross is the Host, Executive Producer and Creator of the VRoss Report, a show that brings arts and politics together in a political format.
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Shane Strassberg ’03, is an aspiring photographer and Mount alum whose work is currently on exhibit at the College of Mount Saint Vincent at the Elizabeth Seton Library. Shane became interested in photography while taking classes his senior year with Richard Barnett, Associate Professor of Humanities/Fine Arts. As the class progressed, Shane’s enthusiasm for the art form grew. After joining the service in 2003, Shane began capturing moments during his time in the Middle East as well as photographing his life as a civilian at home.
He is working on his photography website called www.shootshane.com. He also works at Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, NY as a photographer in their Broadcast Department. He photographs the races and the winning horses and owners in the winner’s circle.
The exhibit will take place at the College of Mount Saint Vincent at the Elizabeth Seton Library, 2nd floor, on Fri., June 5, 8:30 am to 6 pm and Sat., June 6, 10:30 am to 5 pm.
For more information call (718) 405-3481.
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The Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT, presents its newest exhibition Focus on Color: The Photography of Jeannette Klute, from Sat., June 20 through Sun., Sept. 27. The exhibition features a series of twenty-four color photographs by Jeannette Klute, a pioneering figure in the development of color photography. Ranging from landscapes to intimate “woodland portraits” of orchids, ferns, and trees, Jeannette Klute’s photographs of New England are vibrant compositions produced through the labor-intensive dye transfer process. The exhibition is drawn from Bruce Museum’s permanent collection with includes a vivid array of over fifty Klute prints, each revealing the photographer’s mastery at capturing nature through the camera lens.
The Bruce Museum is located at 1 Museum Drive in Greenwich, CT. For more information call (203) 869-0376.
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Pepatian’s Out of La Negrura (Out of Blackness), a work-in-progress showing, will be presented by Pregones Theater on June 21. Out of La Negrura is a collaborative dance theater work that explores Caribbean/Latina-American experience through dance and features the work of three emerging choreographers: Sita Frederick, Anita “Rokafella” Garcia and Marion Ramirez. The post-performance discussion will be moderated by writer, community activist and Professor of Literature at Boricua College, Myrna Nieves.
Performances will be held Sun., June 21. Pregones Theater is located at 575 Walton Avenue. The performance begins at 3 pm and finishes at 4 pm with a 20-minute post-performance discussion immediately following. Tickets are $22 regular, $15 for seniors, students and groups of 10 or more; 50%-off ZIPTickets are also available for residents of the Bronx Empowerment Zone. For more information and to purchase tickets call (718) 585-1202.
