Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

Enjoy an evening of classical dance from India. This double-bill Indian classical recital is from 7:30pm- 9:00pm on Friday, August 16th at Windhover Center for the Performing Arts and will feature Bharatanatyam and Kathak and consist of four ensemble pieces and two solo pieces.

About Bharatanatyam:

Bharatanatyam is the most popular classical dance form of India, with sculptural

evidence dating back nearly 2000 years. The dance in its present form originates from the Hindu temples in Southern India and is about 200 years old. It is a dedicatory style with strong undertones of spirituality. At the same time, the Bharatanatyam vocabulary framework lends itself well to modern day subjects and continues to evolve as a living performance art.

About Kathak:

Kathak is a classical dance from Northern India uniquely characterized by its use of 

intricate and powerful footwork, rhythm, music, mathematics, and subtleties of expression to weave together compositions and stories. Each of India’s classical dance forms embodies both the intricacies of beauty and grace as well as tremendous powerful movement, rhythm, and expression.

Artist Bios:

Soumya Rajaram is a well-known Bharatanatyam dancer in the Boston area with

over two decades of performance experience across the USA and India. A grant

recipient from the Cultural Council of Massachusetts and New England Foundation

for the Arts, Soumya is featured regularly at the New England Folk Festival, Jose

Mateo Ballet theater, The Dance Complex and at the prestigious annual dance

festivals in Chennai, India. Soumya has over 15 years of teaching experience,

training her students for a full-length evening recital. Her experience also includes

guest lectures and teaching at The Jose Mateo Ballet theater, UMass Boston, Salem

State University and Harvard University.

Anjali Nath is an accomplished Kathak performer and teacher, dedicated to bringing meaningful experiences to diverse audiences, students, and educators through high caliber, interactive performances, classes, and workshops. She toured for 8 years with the Chitresh Das Dance Company and dedicated 22 years to growing Das’ Chhandam school and affiliated Chhandika, training the next generation of kathak artists. Anjali continues to expand her contributions to the art through her creative and ever-evolving teaching, solo, and collaborative work rooted in tradition.  Anjali is on faculty at Harvard University’s Dance Center and the Dance Complex in Cambridge, MA. 

www.anjali-nath.com

Purchase your tickets here: https://windhover.org/event/janie-brendel-friends/ Or go onto the Windhover.org website under the tab: “Performances” and follow the link.

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This season, Discover Gloucester is tuning into the rich musical vibes of Cape Ann with an exciting new community initiative. Help compile a community playlist that will serve as a sound-based souvenir, and an ode to the abundant live music scene of gorgeous Gloucester, MA. 

As a hub of live music and cultural dynamism, Gloucester has inspired countless melodies and rhythms. From the echoes of the harbor to its bustling downtown streets, the Gloucester community has been a muse for many artists and musicians. Discover Gloucester invites locals and visitors alike to contribute playlist suggestions of their favorite Gloucester-inspired tracks that encapsulate the spirit and charm of the city and its surrounding areas. Close your eyes, smell the sea air, feel the ocean breeze and drop into the island mentality: What songs remind you of Gloucester? 

Submissions can be made easily via a QR code on our social media platforms, printed signs throughout the community, and announcements shared with local media outlets. Each song should capture a facet of Gloucester’s enchanting locales, vibrant culture, culinary scene, or stirring maritime history.

Concert photo courtesy of Cape Ann Museum Courtyard Concert Series

Tess McColgan, Discover Gloucester Executive Director, states, “Music is a huge part of Gloucester’s cultural identity, and during the summer months, we enjoy more than 35 nights of FREE live music across the city! This playlist will provide a sonic journey through Cape Ann’s heritage and its thriving arts scene, accessible via Spotify from anywhere. We want to hear from you: what songs bring you back to Gloucester?”

Dive into your musical memories of Gloucester and share those songs that resonate with Cape Ann’s coastal vibes.

To submit your song suggestions, please visit:

https://bit.ly/GloucesterPlaylist

Don’t miss this chance to have your favorite tunes featured on Discover Gloucester’ Playlist, and help us orchestrate a melody that represents Gloucester’s soul. Find inspiration during Culture Splash Thursdays with FREE events running 4:00-7:00pm, and the Cape Ann Harbor Tours Water Shuttle FREE to ride between Gloucester’s Rocky Neck and Harbortown Cultural Districts between 4:00-8:00pm each Thursday in July and August. Find event details at discovergloucester.com/culture-splash

About Discover Gloucester

Discover Gloucester is the official destination marketing organization for the City of Gloucester, Massachusetts. It promotes Gloucester’s scenic beauty, cultural riches, and historical significance, aiming to enhance and sustain our tourism industry.
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JULY 16, 2024 ~ SAWYER FREE LIBRARY

Backyard Growers brings a fun outdoor children’s gardening program to the Sawyer Free Library in a series of Thursday morning events at 10:00 am throughout the summer! Children will plan, plant, water, weed, maintain and harvest a garden at the library in July and August. 

Children and their caregivers are invited to come learn about gardening as the community partners share books and stories while exploring the process of growing. 

As a part of the Library’s summer reading program, “2024: Read, Renew, Repeat,” which focuses on conservation, the Sawyer Free Library encourages participants of all ages to discover the joy and power of reading while developing a sense of environmental consciousness.

The weekly event takes place at the Sawyer Free Library’s raised garden bed on the Middle Street side of the Saunders House (88 Middle Street.)

For questions, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.

Hi Joey,

My name is Amy Shunney.  I’m a Rockport resident and volunteer for an organization called FlowerBuds that services Gloucester and Rockport.  We are trying to get the word out so that people utilize our fabulous service during the season (June to October)!  We have heard great things about your newsletter/blog and many have suggested I reach out to you!

We are part of Supportive Living Inc over at Old Farm Rockport (Red Farm House next to Halibut Point).  It is a residential facility for brain injured adults.  Leslie Doig runs the horticulture program there and grows beautiful cutting gardens from seed.  We meet each week to cut and put together mason jar bouquets of flowers to be delivered free of charge to those who need a smile in our community.  We have a website where a recipient request form may be filled out for delivery or requests can go to flowerbudsrockport@gmail.com.

I’ve attached some information about us and lots more info can be found on our website:  www.suppportivelivinginc.org/flowerbuds.

We ventured to Springfield on Saturday for a very cool Comic Con. The costumes were amazing and the people were the nicest around. Our next adventure will be to Manchester NH. September 21st. Anyone interested, we would love company. Mordecai was Postal Dude. He is posing as Professor X with his X Men.