Improvisation is at the Heart of Creativity and Play

Cherry Valley, NY – Cherry Valley Artworks and The Telegraph School present the “Improvised Art Festival” at the Star Theater, 44 Main Street, Cherry Valley, on Saturday June 22nd.  There will be two afternoon workshops followed by a performance at 7pm.

The Improvised Arts Festival celebrates improvisation across mediums of dance, music, video art, and painting.

The Festival will feature performances from accomplished musical and dance improvisors, live painting, and projected abstract video art.  Two free workshops will allow participants to explore improvisation, creativity, and play.

“Improvisation is a natural part of our everyday lives, yet when it comes to improvisation in the arts many people feel intimidated to participate or excluded from the conversation. Through our afternoon workshops and evening performance, we want to make improvised arts accessible to all and honor the rich history that they have in Cherry Valley,” says Evan Jagels, musician and teacher of the Music Improvisation & Graphic Scores workshop held Saturday at 3pm.  It is particularly geared toward children and families and will explore new practices of sound creation (for those with instruments), and the creation of graphic scores to be interpreted by musicians (for those without instruments). “We hope that people of all ages, even those with no performing background or experience, will join us for this truly unique and exciting opportunity to experience the joy of collaborative expression in real time”.

“If you can breathe, you can dance.  Improvised movement is about listening, playing and letting your mind be supple,” says Angelica Dzeli Palmer, dancer and teacher of the Dance Improvisation & Contact Improv workshop, held Saturday at 4pm. It is open to all ages and skill levels, and will explore connection, touch, and spontaneity through play.

The Festival will culminate Saturday evening at 7pm with a headlining multidisciplinary performance of improvised dance, music, video art, and painting.  Tickets are $20 and are available online and at the door.

More info, workshop registration and performance tickets are available at TheTelegraphSchool.org.

The Festival is a joint project of Cherry Valley Artworks and The Telegraph School and is sponsored in part by a grant from the Otsego County Government, Stewart’s Shops, and the Cooperstown Foundation for Excellence in Education.