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Upcoming Events

(Date headings are color- coded to match event types)

Below is a highlight of upcoming events. Bring friends and family! All ages welcome.


Starting Monday April 8, 2013 and continuing for 6 consecutive weeks
on Mondays and Fridays through May 10th

CASA-Cultural After-School Adventures Workshop Mambo/Salsa with teaching artist Nydia Ocasio at PS12.


Wednesday, May 15, 4:00-5:00 PM

Culminating Event featuring performance by Orlando Marin: “The Last Mambo King" at PS12.


Saturday, May 15

“TAP EXTRAVAGANZA – 2013” at Norman Thomas High School, NY, NY


AIE programs

Learn more about our ongoing Arts In Education (AIE) workshops and performances.


AIE programs

Learn more about our ongoing Arts In Education (AIE) workshops and performances.


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Circuit Productions Inc. (CPI) is supported, in part, with public funds from New York State Council on the Arts, A State Agency, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

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For press and publicity please contact:
Serena Rockower, Bookings/ Outreach at Circuit Productions, Inc.
TEL: 718.638.4878
or EMAIL us at
susangoldbetter@gmail.com

News and Press

May


  • Cultural After-School Adventures Program (CASA) grant awarded to Circuit Productions, Inc. (CPI) and designated partner School 12/Dr. Jacqueline Peek Davis School distributed through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and City Council.
  • FY13 Discretionary funding by Councilmember Darlene Mealy, 41st Council District, Brooklyn for the two month residency of New York Then and Now: Latin Dance

    • During April and May 2013 students’ ages 6-10 completed an in-depth “hands-on course” in Latin Mambo and Salsa music and dance taught by choreographer/performer and teaching artist, Nydia Ocasio. At the conclusion of the Latin dance course students will “strut their stuff” on May 15, 2013 with Ms. Ocasio. They will be joined by legendary bandleader Orlando Marin – The Last Mambo King. The PTA, local community members, Council Member Darlene Mealy and/or staff will be invited to the May 15th performances.

    About the Teaching Artist: Nydia Ocasio is a unique Latin dance artist with years of experience in the dramatization of the Latin heritage, its culture and arts. Her teachings have featured historical and cultural folklore introductions from Puerto Rico, Cuba and Brazil. She is a dynamic and vivacious dancer who also has the rare talent of teaching others not only the true essence and “sabor” of the dance, but its music as well. She performs regularly in NYC and has been on tour to Japan with the famed Xavier Cugart Orchestra.

    About Guest Company: Orlando Marin – The Last Mambo King grew up in the South Bronx home to some of the greatest Latin musicians world-wide. He is one of the few drummer/ bandleaders doing what he does best for the past 60 years! In the early 1950s he formed his first band, a trio featuring a 14-year old by the name of Eddie Palmieri, on piano. Orlando claims to be, at the time of this interview, the second longest running Latin band in New York, after Tito Puente's. He truly was – and still is – a part of Latin music’s golden history referred to as "The Era of The Pioneers".

    About Circuit Productions, Inc. Susan Goldbetter founded Circuit Productions, Inc. in 1986 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, production and preservation of the uniquely American art forms of jazz and tap dance. Our mission is to inspire, entertain and educate underserved audiences in New York through performances, public classes, workshops, and arts education programs featuring senior and emerging artists who are living legends of the city's rich tap, jazz and world music/dance history. Annually, Circuit provides booking and management services for these artists; placing them in schools, museums, public libraries, community-based organizations, local colleges, senior centers, hospitals and nursing homes. Since 1990 Circuit has been providing arts education programs in public schools throughout the five boroughs.

    Roslyn Smith: Education & Arts Management Consultant has more than 25 years experience in the areas of museum education, youth development, events production, government outreach, and curriculum and program development. She began working in art museums and became the Director of Youth and Family Programs at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum (BCM). At BCM she piloted new programs, managed public programs and worked with community and professional groups on educational programming for young audiences people. In this capacity she was able to see how informal and hands-on education positively impacts and empowers the lives of young people, their families and the larger community. Ms. Smith has been working with Circuit Productions on educational and government outreach projects.

    About PS12: The mission of Public School 12 and its community is to ensure that all students, including Special Needs, ELL and bilingual students are able to achieve high standards of excellence and develop cognitive, creative, and social growth. Together we will promote lifetime learners who will be able to meet the New York State Standards, as well as the challenges of a changing world.

    For press and publicity please contact:
    Serena Rockower, Bookings/Outreach at Circuit Productions, Inc.
    635 Carroll Street, Ste. #2, Brooklyn, NY 11215
    T: 718.638.4878
    E-Mail: susangoldbetter@gmail.com or website: www.circuitproductions.org

     

    Read more on our Press page >>

    View our past press material

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    Executive Director's Corner

    Dear Friends -

    As the weather becomes hotter so do our programs! Hear some great jazz blues, and world music this spring during Circuit Productions’ annual
    performance and workshop series. On May 15th, 2013 at 4 pm join Salsa dancer, Nydia Ocasio and her CASA dance students at the Dr. J. Peek Davis School. Legendary bandleader Orlando Marin – The Last Mambo King will join them. For details contact our office at www.circuitproductions.org. Nydia performs and teaches regularly in NYC and will be giving a series of mambo and salsa classes
    next month at branches of the Queens Borough Library. For her workshop sites and dates check www.queenslibrary.org.

    On Saturday, May 25, 2013 at the “TAP EXTRAVAGANZA – 2013” I am delighted to announce that as the Executive Director of Circuit Productions. I will be honored at the Tap Extravaganza – 2013, an annual celebration
    of National Tap Dance Day. Additional honorees and performers TBA. For directions and ticket information to Norman Thomas High School, 111 E. 33rd St., New York, New York please contact 212-279-4200.

    June and summer event dates will be posted but look for:

    • Brass player Joey Morant will give a tribute to Louis “Pops” Armstrong. For sites and dates see www.queenslibrary.org

    • Orlando Marin – The Last Mambo King Harlem Meer Performance Festival, 20th season www.centralparknyc.org/hmpf

    •Harlem Blues & Jazz Band – Plaza Swing Dance Series. For sites and
    dates see www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org

    Please join Circuit Productions’ free performances throughout the City by visiting our website at www.circuitproductions.org. New events are posted monthly.

    Keep the beat!

    Susan
    May 2013

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    Special Programs

    Scenes from February's Harlem Blues and Jazz Quartet Performance!
    Photos by Paul Handelman

    singing

    audience

    end pose

    Arts-in-Education (AIE) Programs

    children in class

    Circuit Productions can foster collaborations between schools and some of New York City's most engaging arts professionals, as well as train educators to work more effectively with existing school artist-in-residencies. Our program offerings include: Lectures and Workshops, Assembly Programs, Artist Residencies and Staff Development.

    Email or call us at 718-638-4878 to explore the different ways American art forms can be integrated with your History, Arts or Language programs.

    Let's Go Dancing from our recent CASA program

    Ongoing Exhibitions: Cookie's Harlem

    Charlie 'Cookie' Cook

    Cookie's Harlem - A Tap Dancer's World, is a collection from the legendary tap stylist Charles "Cookie" Cook. The exhibit preserves a vibrant moment in the history of jazz and lends itself to adaptation to specific sites.

    Download an article about the exhibit published from the magazine "On Tap".

    Contact us for bookings and more information about the exhibit.


    In Memoriam

    Charles "Cookie" Cook

    “Mr. Cook, who was born in Chicago, began performing in vaudeville as a child with Garbage and the Two Cans and with Sarah Venable and Her Picks, working with that act into 1929. The following year, he and Ernest (Brownie) Brown formed Cook and Brown, performing as a headline act in vaudeville theaters throughout the United States and in Europe. The two were known for their blend of tumbling and acrobatics with dancing and sly comedy. They first performed together in 1930 at the College Inn in Chicago, and opened four years later at the Cotton Club. Knockabout Style” – Jennifer Dunning NY Times

    Read the NY Times article here.

    Ernest Brown

    Susan Goldbetter, Executive Director of Circuit Productions, Inc. had the pleasure of working as a producer with "Cook and Brown" during live performances;
    "Dancing All Over the World" (1989 Museum of Natural History), video documentary "Cookie's Scrap Book", (1986) and mulit-media exhibits (after Charles Cook's death) at Brooklyn's Central Library, (1992), Metro Tech (1993), and The Museum of the City of New York (1994-95).

    Ernest "Brownie" Brown brought joy to thousands of people. He will be sorely missed!

    Read The New York Times article about Ernest Brown