Who: Janie Brendel & Friends: DANCES to the Music of Brahms
Time: Friday, August 2nd at 7:30pm and Saturday, August 3rd at 7:30pm
Place: Windhover Center for the Performing Arts on the outdoor stage covered by a tent
257R Granite St, Rockport, MA. 01966
Renowned modern dancer Janie Brendel and her New York City dance company Janie Brendel & Friends will be performing a portion of their complete show, “Inspired” at the Windhover Center for the Performing Arts. It is a tribute to Howard Gilman, White Oak, and the dances it inspired.
Janie Brendel & Friends spent three life changing summers in residency rehearsing and creating dances at Howard Gilman’s White Oak, a 13,000 acre conservation center, wildlife preserve, and utopia for dance. The dances are all set to the music of Johannes Brahms, rooted in both its passion and compassion. The works are infused with the luxuriant beauty of this paradise, the powerful spirit of its roaming animals, and the kind generous people who worked there, the White Oak family. This dance project is being done in the spirit of gratitude, which was the feeling generated by White Oak. They will share two and a half of the four dances, a glimpse of the entire show. The choreographers brought to White Oak were Adam Hougland and Kenny Larson. They also rehearsed and performed a piece by Peggy Baker.
At a time when both the arts and the earth are under serious threat, Mr. Gilman’s vision of dance and nature has never been more relevant. The beauty of Windhover is an ideal setting to feature these works.
Conceived by Janie Brendel
Artistic Directors for Inspired:
Janie Brendel, Roger C. Jeffrey, and Jason Jordan
Dancers:
Janie Brendel, Jennifer Golonka, Roger C. Jeffrey, Jason Jordan, Aaron Loux, Xavier Porro,
Uta Takemura
Program includes: 41 minutes
• Peggy Baker’s “Her Heart” danced to Brahms Opus 117 #1 for one dancer
• Brahms Opus 118 #5 a recording made by our pianist and Musical Director John Gavalchin
piano only, no dancers
• Adam Hougland’s Brahms Opus 91 for piano, soprano, and viola, and four dancers
• Adam Hougland, a 17-minute excerpt of his Brahms Opus 36, string sextet for 6 dancers
Tickets range from $10-$20 and can be purchased in advance at
This vehicle is currently drawing significant attention on Main St this morning. Parked in front of Caffe Sicilia probably waiting for the noon procession. Apparently built 1974 and I overheard it’s from Sicily. Much of it is wooden handiwork. Quite fascinating! Never know what you might see this weekend!
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GMG Jim submits the following photos of his coverage of the watermelon eating contest and nearby kids just prior to the Pavilion Beach events last night. Looks like everyone was having a great time.
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Congratulations once again to Tyler Parisi for winning the Saturday Greasy Pole competitions. A great deal of grit and determination was demonstrated out there by the walkers last night. Here’s a variety of photos showing some the of the action, near misses and victory celebrations. See you on the beach tonight!
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A variety of photos from last night’s seine boat races. Congratulations to the winning crews for Seniors The Merger and ZFG; for the Junior Mens Warri-OARS and Apostles. Good luck later today! We’ll be watching…..
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Event details: Montreal based MARGIE GILLIS and Company
Dates: August 9th and 10th at 7:00pm
Location: Windhover Center for the Performing Arts on the outdoor stage covered by a tent :257R Granite St. Rockport, MA 01966
Price: $20.00 -$30.00
The Margie Gillis Dance Foundation presents an emotional night of solo and duet dance performances at Windhover Center for the Performing Arts, in Rockport MA, for two nights: August 9th and 10th at 7:00pm. Join the iconic Margie Gillis, along with dancers from her Legacy Project, in a suspended moment in time that showcases their somatic and inspiring artistry. Don’t miss this highlight of the summer dance performance calendar!
Internationally acclaimed modern dancer/choreographer Margie Gillis has been creating original works for over 50 years. She is a dual citizen: Canadian and American. Margie has guested and choreographed with the Paul Taylor company. Her repertoire now includes more than 150 pieces, which she performs as solos, duets and group pieces. Her creations are wholly devoted to the study of the human soul, whether through the solo dances that make up most of her repertoire or the group pieces she has designed. All works in these performances are remounts of Margie Gillis’ original repertoire or have been created in collaboration with the artists of the Foundation’s Legacy Project. “Slipstream” will be performed at Windhover by Adam Barruch.. It is an electrifying dance piece that was recently featured in Dance Magazine in an article titled: Masters of Brevity and can be found here: https://www.dancemagazine.com/short-form-choreography/#gsc.tab=0
The Margie Gillis Dance Foundation (MGDF) was established in 1981 and its mission is to implement Margie Gillis’ artistic vision, in addition to deploying her commitment to the arts community. The MGDF supports the creation, production, and dissemination of dance.
In 2018, the MGDF launched The Legacy Project, an initiative dedicated to ensuring the continuity of Margie Gillis’ creative history. Its mandate is to protect and promote Margie’s legacy through sharing and working along the next generation of dance artists. Six dancers will perform at Windhover including Margie Gillis, alongside Annmaria Mazzini who has performed previously at Windhover.
Under pretty difficult conditions, all three teams put on a great race tonight for the Junior Mens Elimination race on Pavilion Beach. The teams included Tonno, Warri-OARS and Apostles. It was a photo finish for the Warri-OARS and the Apostles team earning them spots in tomorrow’s championship. More photos tomorrow! The future of the Mens teams is looking very bright.
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Tyler Parisi grabbed the flag about midway through the third competitive round in tonight’s Greasy Pole competition. The weather was dreary and a bit chilly but all that was forgotten as soon as he seized that flag. More coverage tomorrow. For tonight, congratulations Tyler.
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Congratulations to the crews of The Merger and ZFG for earning a spot in tomorrow’s 2024 Mens Seine Boat Championships. The hard fought race saw these two teams as well as Danger Zone compete for two spots in the finals. More photos tomorrow! Great job guys!
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Gloucester’s Culture Splash is back and bigger than ever for its fourth annual celebration, with an expanded lineup that honors the cultural vibrancy of this culturally-dense city, famed as America’s Oldest Seaport. The event series, running Thursdays July 11 through August 29, 2024, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., will feature a variety of free and discounted activities that highlight the rich artistic tapestry and maritime heritage of Gloucester, including outdoor and indoor live music, dance performances, light shows, film screenings, free museum admission, artist demos, exhibit openings, performing arts, and more!
Home to two of Essex County’s eight state-designated cultural districts, Rocky Neck and Harbortown, Gloucester offers free water shuttle service from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Culture Splash Thursdays, provided by Cape Ann Harbor Tours, connecting the two districts and making it easier for attendees to explore the full array of cultural offerings. Throughout the summer series, more than 50 cultural organizations and artists will welcome visitors and locals to “Splash” into Gloucester’s abundant cultural offerings. For the first time in 2024, we are excited to announce that new year-round entertainment venue and restaurant, The Cut, on Main Street in Gloucester’s Harbortown district, will host Culture Splash “After-Hours” with music playing in “The Corner” of their dining room every Culture Splash Thursday starting at 8:00pm at no cover charge. While you’re there, check out their stellar line-up of musical acts and performances happening this summer and book tickets to a show!
Culture Splash is made possible thanks to grant funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, as well as support from the City of Gloucester, as part of a collaborative vision to support the city and the state’s cultural institutions, individual artists, performers, and other types of arts & culture entities.
Arts & culture enthusiasts lining up for show tickets at Gloucester Stage following Culture Splash happenings, 2023
Gloucester’s Mayor Greg Verga commented on the series’ impact, “Gloucester’s annual Culture Splash series offers an exciting chance for residents and visitors alike to explore the incredible cultural offerings within our community. From talented local musical performances to vibrant art exhibitions, there is a lot to explore and experience. I’m delighted that we continue to support this impactful series, now in its fourth year. It attracts both locals and tourists to our lively cultural districts, bolstering our local artists, performers, small businesses, and restaurants.”
Carolyn Cole from the Massachusetts Cultural Council added, “Culture Splash is one of my favorite annual events across the state. It is a quintessential creative community experience, offering free and accessible programming, widespread community participation, and incredible artistry on full display in Gloucester’s two state-designated cultural districts. Culture Splash centers on connectivity that includes a unique transportation component. This event boosts the local economy and attracts visitors from all over the region, promoting tourism, supporting the creative economy, and making the City of Gloucester a real cultural destination.”
The planning of Gloucester’s Culture Splash series is made possible by the power of volunteer leadership from cultural entities in Harbortown and on Rocky Neck who work collaboratively for months in advance of the summer season to plan the event lineup and generate exciting things to do throughout the series. Plus, help from boots-on-the-ground volunteers who assist “Splashers” with event info, wayfinding, shuttle directions, etc. each Thursday.
Captain Steve Douglass of Cape Ann Harbor Tours shuttling “Splashers” to cultural events on Rocky Neck and in Harbortown, 2023
Representing the Rocky Neck cultural district, Elizabeth Carey, CEO of Rocky Neck Art Colony, highlighted the collaborative spirit of the series: “Now in its fourth year, we are pleased to continue this collaborative campaign, connecting Gloucester’s two cultural districts. We invite both visitors and residents to join us in celebrating the vibrant arts and culture of Gloucester’s harbor. Culture Splash attendees can enjoy complimentary events in both communities, conveniently connected by the free water shuttle across the harbor.”
Madfish Wharf on Rocky Neck during a Culture Splash Thursday, 2023
Miranda Aisling, Head of Education at Cape Ann Museum, located in the Harbortown cultural district, emphasized the continued growth and expansion of the Culture Splash series, stating, “The Cape Ann Museum has been a proud participant of Gloucester’s Culture Splash for the past four years through free CAM Courtyard Concerts. As a member of the Harbortown Cultural District, I’ve been especially excited to see the cultural organizations in town coming together to collaborate and organize a great series of events this summer both in our district and with our partners in the Rocky Neck Cultural District. It’s a great example of how, by coordinating the amazing offerings in Gloucester, we can showcase the depth and breadth of the art and culture of the city.”
This year’s Culture Splash also introduces a new addition: Maritime Gloucester’s weekly series of marine pop-ups from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in their classroom, featuring engaging activities such as plankton safaris, creature of the week, and fish printing, all free of charge.
Immerse yourself in the unparalleled cultural richness of Gloucester. From the flourishing arts scene to the storied maritime heritage, Culture Splash 2024 promises an unforgettable experience for all.
Good Morning Gloucester 