SUNDAY, 2/5: Tales from the Andes Story Theater

Creative Cauldron performing artists will join forces with Raymi musicians for an afternoon of storytelling, folktales from the Andes in South America, puppets, choreography and music.  An interactive event for the whole family on Sunday, February 5 at 2 pm.  Part of the Passport to the World Festival presented by Creative Cauldron.

Tickets are $10.  Creative Cauldron is located at 410 S. Maple Avenue in the Pearson Square building.  Order in advance at www.creativecauldron.org or by calling 571-239-5288

SATURDAY, 2/4: Andean/Latin Fusion Music Concert

Raymi will perform a concert of music from the Andes of South America on Saturday, February 4 at 7:30 pm.  Part of Creative Cauldron’s Passport to the World Festival of Music, Dance and Story.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors.  Creative Cauldron is located at 410 S. Maple Avenue in the Pearson Square building.  Order in advance at www.creativecauldron.org or by calling 571-239-5288

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, 2/3-5: Latin Music and Story Theater at Creative Cauldron

The Passport to the World Festival goes to South America this weekend with two musical performances and a story theater show at Creative Cauldron at ArtSpace Falls Church.

On Friday, February 3 at 7:30 pm,  the Latin American musical duo Ernesto Bravo and Jose Sacin will present a musical journey with a wide variety of instruments such as guitar, charango, quena and Latin American percussion instruments. Bravo and Sacin are talented singers and musicians who will surprise the audience as they swithc from instrumentals to vocals for an unusual effect.

Raymi will perform Andean - Latin Fusion Music Saturday, February 4 at 7:30 pm at Creative Cauldron at ArtSpace.

On Saturday, February 4 at 7:30pm, Raymi will perform their haunting and mystical fusion of Andean and Latin music. Raymi uses traditional instruments such as Zamponas, Moscenos, Quenas and Tarkas in context with the classic band instrumentation, exploring the possibilities that the bass, guitars, keyboards and trap drums can have with the Andes tradition.

Creative Cauldron performing artists will join forces with Raymi musicians for an afternoon of storytelling, bringing to life ancient folktales from teh Andes with large-scale puppets, choreography and music.   The family-friendly story theater presentation “Tales from the Andes” will be on Sunday, February 5 at 2 pm.

Tickets for the evening shows are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors.  Tickets for the Sunday Story Theater are $10 each.  Order in advance online at www.creativecauldron.org.

Creative Cauldron is located at 410 S. Maple Avenue in the Pearson Square building.  Free parking is available in the garages at 410 and 400 S. Maple Avenue.

Through February: Little League Registration Underway

Through SUNDAY 3/4: Passport to the World

From January 14 through March 4, Creative Cauldron will present “Passport to the World” a multicultural performance series at ArtSpace Falls Church featuring music, dance and theater troupes representing regions around the globe. The Festival is sponsored by the Economic Development Authority of the City of Falls Church.

Creative Cauldron Producing Director Laura Hull describes the eight-week series as an opportunity to “travel the world without ever leaving Falls Church.”   Tickets for the festival events range from $10 to $20 and can be purchased in advance at www.creativecauldron.org Creative Cauldron at ArtSpace is located at 410 S. Maple Avenue in the Pearson Square building.

North and West Africa

The series begins on Saturday, January 14 at 7:30 pm with a performance of Kamel Zennia and Band. Algerian born Zennia plays music inspired by the diverse cultures of North Africa, from the coastal regions of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, to the towns in the deepest reaches of the Sahara.  With his unique fusion of Berber, Gnawa, Rhumba Flamenca and Algerian folk/rock sounds, the evening is sure to be one full of great music and dancing.  West African storyteller Auntie (Vera) Oye, will introduce families to West African culture and food on Sunday, January 15 at 2:00 pm.

Bulgaria and the Balkans

The hot spicy music of the Balkans will be next on the line up as Lyuti Chushki performs toe-tapping music played on traditional instruments that take you back to the old country.  The concert and dance party will be held on Saturday, January 21 at 7:30 pm.  On Sunday, January 22 at 2:00 pm traditional Bulgarian storytelling and puppetry will be performed by the Hopa Tropa Puppet Theatre.

Asia: Korea, Thailand and Vietnam

The Korean Heritage Foundation Peace Mission Dance Troupe and Hannori will perform a collection of traditional dances and songs on Friday, January 27 at 7:30 pm.  Trained in Thailand with the most celebrated dance masters including the National Artists and others from the prestigious Department of Fine Arts in Bangkok, Somapa Thai Dance Company will perform seven unique Thai dances on Saturday, January 28 at 7:30 pm. The weekend will be rounded out with a Vietnamese Lunar New Year Tet Celebration on Sunday, January 29 at 2:00 pm. Traditional folkloric dance and music on traditional 16 stringed instruments will be featured along with a fashion show highlighting Vietnamese costume and dress through the ages.

Latin America and the Andes

February will feature a performance by the Latin American musical duo Ernesto Bravo and Jose Sacin on Friday, February 3 at 7:30pm. Bravo and Sacin are talented singers and musicians who perform with a wide variety of instruments such as guitar, charango, quena and Latin American percussion On Saturday at 7:30pm, RAYMI, will perform their haunting and mystical fusion of Andean and Latin music. Raymi will then team up with Creative Cauldron teaching artists for a family-friendly story theater presentation “Tales from the Andes” on Sunday, February 5 at 2:00pm.

Italy

DC based commedia dell’Arte performance troupe, Faction of Fools will present two performances for the weekend of February 11-12. On Saturday at 7:30, Faction of Fools Artistic Director Matthew R. Wilson will perform “The Great One-Man Commedia Epic,” a one-man show in which he performs 12 different characters drawn from the historical commedia dell’ Arte canon. On Sunday, February 12 at 2:00pm, the Faction of Fools troupe will present a fun-filled commedia version of Shakespeare’s classic “Romeo and Juliet.” The Faction of Fools performance will be followed at 4:00 pm by an Italian Village Dance Workshop led by Celest DiPietrapolo and Marie Cocco.

Pacific Islands

The weekend of February 18-19 will highlight the rich and diverse cultures of the Pacific Islands. Hui o Ka Pua ‘Ilima will start the weekend on Saturday, Feburary 18 at 7:30, with traditional and contemporary Polynesian songs and dances from Hawa’ii, New Zealand and Tahiti. On Sunday, February 19 at 2:00pm the group will also pair up with Creative Cauldron teaching artists for “Tales from Hawaii” an interactive afternoon of storytelling, and puppetry shedding light on the heroes and adventurers of Hawaiian legend. Also performing on Sunday, February 19 at 7:30 pm will be Gamelan Whratnala, a troupe composed of elegant and exquisitely costumed dancers and musicians playing met allophones, drums, gongs, flutes and cymbals.

Russia and the Ukraine

On Saturday, February 25 at 7:30pm, Russkie Musikanti, a talented ensemble comprised of 10 members from the celebrated Washington Balalaika Society, will perform authentic Russian folk music, bringing the magic of Russia and Eastern Europe to the broader community. On Sunday,
February 26 at 2:00pm, “Tales from Russia and the Ukraine” another family-friendly story theater presentation by Creative Cauldron teaching artists, will bring to life folk and fairy tales from ancient Slavic culture.

Celtic

The festival will culminate with a weekend of Celtic celebration.  Local Falls Church trio The Dirty Pints, will get the weekend started on March 3 at 2:00pm with traditional Irish music. The Dirty Pints are a favorite band at Ireland’s Four Provinces Restaurant playing a crowd-pleasing mixture of traditional Irish on fiddle, whistle and guitar.  Moch Pryderi, a six piece Welsh American band will follow at 7:30pm.  Their music is firmly rooted in the traditional Brythonic-Celtic musicof Wales and Brittany and their instrumentation includes rare Welsh triple harp, pibgorms and bagpipes as well as highland pipes, fiddle, Breton bombarde, bouzouki, flutes, whistles and percussion. The final performance of the festival will feature rousing Celtic reels and exquisite music of the Emerald Glen Trio on Sunday, March 4 at 7:30pm. Flute, hammered dulcimer and violin combine in a sparkling mosaic of sound that is both contemporary and timeless—an enchanting collage of musical textures.

Through SATURDAY 3/24: Mulch Madness

Mulch Madness, the biggest fundraiser of the year for Mason Athletic Boosters, will take place on Saturday, March 24.   Mulch can be purchased online at www.masonathletics.org.   Just click on the “Shop” icon.  Three-cubic-foot bags are available for $5/bag.  Delivery is free in Falls Church City and surrounding areas. Order forms are also available at the library, community center and city hall.  Deadline for orders is March 15.

Volunteers are needed to assist with delivery on March 24, especially those with truck, vans or trailers.  To volunteer or receive additional information, contact Rob Donovan at rdonovan6@gmail or 571-224-3871.