HuaYun Dance Group - Culturally rich revues featuring a mix of performing arts date back over 2000 years in China. This program will give audiences a taste of some of these arts, including dances, instrumental music, martial-arts, and more. The performances will highlight the unique expressive styles and rhythms of Chinese classical dance and diverse dances of China’s ethnic minority peoples.
Motown played an integral role in American music during the late 1950s into the 1960s. Join Michael Yonchak as he discusses the unique “one stop shop” business model of this independently owned family business. Learn about one of the powerhouse studio bands of the time. Experience legendary Motown artists in action through historical footage and listen to an overview of this golden era of American music with a specially curated playlist. Come enjoy the unforgettable sounds of Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Smokey Robinson, the Temptations, the Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, and more!
Dr. Michael Yonchak is an Associate Professor of Music at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, where he directs the wind ensemble and oversees the newly revamped commercial music area. Dr. Yonchak earned the Bachelor of Music in Education (percussion emphasis) and Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting degrees from the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio, and later completed the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Wind Conducting from the University of Kentucky. His dissertation monograph focused on the wind ensemble compositions of American composer Frank Zappa, which has subsequently led to the publication of journal articles and presentations on this composer, ongoing research into American popular music and culture, and development of academic courses related to the history of rock and roll and current protest music. Prior to his time in Kentucky, Dr. Yonchak taught for five and a half years in the public schools of northeast Ohio. In addition to maintaining an active performance schedule in the greater Columbus area, he is a clinician on innovative educational pedagogy that integrates popular music styles into various teaching disciplines, presenting sessions for the Ohio Music Education Association’s State Conference and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Summer Teacher Institute.
Isaya Oleporuo, a Maasai Warrior from a remote village in northern Tanzania, loves to share his culture with others. In his interactive “Growing up Maasai” program you will learn about this peaceful, kind and sharing people who live in extended-family homes (bomas). Maasai life has remained largely unchanged for the past several centuries. The arts and its symbolism is very rich in Maasai culture. Isaya will show and demonstrate their traditions, dress, beautiful jewelry (available for purchase to help the Maasai women), dance and song. He will tell about the roles of elders, young men and women in their culture. Boys learn from fathers about becoming warriors who are guardians of their cows and servant-leaders for their people. In the past, girls have become wives and mothers at a very young age. You will also learn about Isaya’s work to rescue young girls from forced childhood marriage and finding sponsors to help them further their education.
On View May 16 – July 2, 2024
Image: Karin Dahl - Transcending
On View May 16 – July 2, 2024
Image: Leah Wong Shape & Reshape
We invite you to celebrate the opening of Leah Wong and Karin Dahl's exhibitions on Thursday, May 16, 2024 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
Lalgudi Jayaraman (1930-2013) had a unique attribute: a visual imagination. He painted characters and settings on his mindscreen as he composed his music. His compositions became the auditory forms of the visual scenarios he imagined. He found greater freedom to do this by opting for ragas never used before for the genres he chose.
That is how his jatiswaram in Raga Rasikapriya depicts a shipwrecked couple exploring an uninhabited island, the varnam in Charukesi follows a woman deluded into playing hide- and-seek with the lover - who has never left her side! The tillana in Pahadi has a God dancing on the mountain, protecting nature and the environment, to nourish body and soul.
My script and directorial design grew out of listening to the master bowman’s music from childhood. My understanding acquired more dimensions when I interviewed him and reviewed his concerts as a critic (The Hindu). Now JustUs Repertory combines dance, music and storytelling to recreate the visual scenarios for the music as imagined by the composer. We also roam with him through the village scenes of his childhood which inspired him in his life and music.
Join exhibiting artist, Leah Wong in an informative and in-depth tour of her exhibition, +/- Perspectives, at the McConnell Arts Center.
The MAC is hosting a VIP breakfast to kick off the Worthington Arts Festival. Come join us for breakfast (including mimosas) with delicious food from Steven’s Catering. You will have VIP parking at the Griswold so that you have “first dibs” when the Arts Festival opens!
Admission includes drink tickets.
VIP Breakfast purchasers will receive a lanyard that provides them access to the Community Room in the Griswold Center that will be stocked for the weekend with snacks and free non-alcoholic beverages.
Proceeds go to support programming at the McConnell Arts Center.
Join exhibiting artist, Karin Dahl in an informative and in-depth tour of her exhibition, "How Does Color Sound?" at the McConnell Arts Center.
