2003

Led by Nick Dow and Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel) with Dean Sharp, Zach Alford (B-52s), Tani Tabbal (Dewey Redman), Carlos Valdez (Mambo Kicongo), and Mohamed Camara (Guinea, W. Africa).

A week-long intensive of drum set lecture and instruction along with African drum classes. The workshop featured local professionals who have been great successes and have influenced many in the world of music. Featured artists were Jerry Marotta (Indigo Girls, Peter Gabriel), Zach Alford (B-52s), Dean Sharp (Trio Loco, Moby, Sound Track for the film The Three Kings), Carlos Valdez (Mambo Kicongo), Tani Tabbal (Dewey Redman, Karl Berger and the Creative Music Studios) and others!

The goal of this workshop was to bring together the vast percussive talent of the Hudson Valley into one space, and together learn technical skills, basics, what percussion means in music, where it comes from, and why it is so important. In my personal philosophy, the drum is not just a noisemaker, as it is commonly referred to, but an instrument with immense power and purpose. In musical history, percussion came first.

This was an opportunity for the entire community to explore their relationship with drumming and expand their repertoire through an exciting week-long, hands-on intensive.

As quoted from the homepage of Serpentessa:

"The body is the Temple of the Soul. Temple belly dancing accesses its movements from the authentic source of bliss that exists within each of us, thus connecting the pulse of life force in the body with the eternity of the soul. From this foundation we remember, discover, learn and practice the ancient body vocabulary of bellydance. Temple Belly Dance is multidimensional and acknowledges the serpentine, lunar and planetary influences, as well as those documented in our ancient heritage."

Featuring Carlos Valdez and company on the history and technique of Afro-Cuban drumming and percussion, Carlos Osorios will lead the Afro-Columbian Dance portion, specializing in Cumbia, and Adah Frank will lead in the Afro-Caribbean dance, plus a wonderful array of cultural arts!

A week-long (full 7 day program including 3 days of performances) focusing on reggae music, dance, art, technology, performance and reggae cultural history and arts. Sponsored in part by Upstate Reggae and Reggae Spectrum (91.3FM). Part of the Reggae Festival brought to Woodstock by Lea Bos featured 12 reggae bands, poets, Jamaican food, sale of ecology-wise clothing and products.

Featuring West Senegal's Fode Sissoko and Toby Stover!

Sarah Chianese led theatre improv, and Caroline's Comedy, Mike Irwin, led the comedy portion of the workshop! Oscar award winner Tom Brumberger (Planet of the Apes, Ziggy Stardust) also produced a wonderful stage art portion for the workshop!