Art Academy
Art Academy of Westchester
Events Calendar

May 24, 2014 - Magdalen: written and performed by Erin Layton MAGDALEN is a one woman play about the women who lived and worked in the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland. MAGDALEN is written and performed by Erin Layton, directed by Julie Kline. MAGDALEN explores the stories of four women who were sent to work in a Magdalene Laundry in Dublin in the late 1940s.


May 3, 2014 -
The String Jazz Society
May 3, 7:30pm. Doors open at 7pm. Inspired by Django Reinhardt and his Hot Club of France, 1930's-1940's After a sold out concert at the Art Academy last year, the String Jazz Society returns with new friends, bassist Tom Yarnall and "Mandolinist Extraordinaire" Christian Davis!

March 22, 2014 - Mark Morganelli Brasil Project, "CARNAVAL UNPLUGGED III!"Featuring Vic Juris, guitar & Nilson Matta, Bass. Flugelhornist & 20-Year Dobbs Ferry Resident Mark Morganelli will collaborate with master guitarist Vic Juris and virtuoso Brazilian bassist Nilson Matta in an intimate acoustic evening of Bossa Nova and Samba, NEW REPERTOIRE! Let the Carnaval celebration continue!


February 8, 7:30pm - JP Jofre Hard Tango Trio featuring Yoni Leviatov, Piano and Amy Kang, Cello. After two sold out concerts with standing ovations at Lincoln Center and Celebrity Series of Boston, JP Jofre returns to the Art Academy with two high caliber performers: Amy Kang, cello and Yoni Levyatov, piano. The program will feature music of Astor Piazzolla and Mr. Jofre's much-praised compositions.

November 23, 7:30pm - Music In Monk Times Documentary Presented by Mark Morganelli, Executive Director of Jazz Forum Arts.
Special Screening of the Hour-Long Documentary on the life and music of Thelonious Sphere Monk, filmed in 1982 at the Jazz Forum, NYC. Proprietor and Dobbs Ferry resident, Mark Morganelli will discuss the history of his loft/club as well as this historic film starring Dizzy Gillespie, Carmen McRae, Jon Hendricks, Milt Jackson and others. Refreshments will be served.

November 16, 2013, 7:30pm - An Intimate Evening with Neville Dance Theatre
Neville Dance Theatre of New York travels to Dobbs Ferry this November for an exclusive evening performance of classical and contemporary dance at the Art Academy. This intimate studio showing includes a ‘sneak peak’ at a company class warm up plus a double bill of excerpts from The Nutcracker and a selection of enticing works from the company’s contemporary repertory. Refreshments served and chance to meet the dancers and choreographer Brenda R. Neville!

October 18, 19 2013 – “RED” by John Logan.“RED” John Logan’s "Intense and exciting play is a portrait of an angry and brilliant mind of famous abstract expressionist artist Mark Rothko, that asks you to feel the shape and texture of thoughts…“RED” captures the dynamic relationship between an artist and his creations." —NY Times.

October 10 2013 – Discussions on Art – “The River as Inspiration: 1860-1880: Cropsey, Gifford, Bierstadt, and the Hudson River School”presented by Betty Krulik, American Art Historian, Appraisers Association of America, Certified, American Art; 1st Vice President.

September 19, 2013 – Discussions on Art: Film Making, presented by filmmaker artist Peilin Kuo with special guest/special effects artist Jesse Spiro. Peilin Kuo will present two of her award winning short films- "Prescott Place" and "Everyday", and her upcoming feature film project "A Thousand Deaths" about the first Chinese American star, Anna May Wong(1905-1961), in Hollywood's Golden Era. Followed by discussions of the art of filmmaking.

August 16, 17 2013 –“Xerxes”, A Comic Opera By G. F. Handel with Farcical Moments Directed By Dominique Hellsten
Hellsten's Singing Society present G.F. Handel's comic opera Xerxes August 16 & 17. An implausible story slightly adapted for modern times about the ruthless invincible ( as he likes to think ) Xerxes King, in ardent and persistent pursuit of his brother's girlfriend Romilda, whilst singing Handel's gorgeous musical lines. Dominique Hellsten shares the lead with baritone Will Robinson and also directs the show. The event will take place at Vicente's and the Doors open at 7.30, performance begins at 8. Tickets $ 20.00 at the door. Cash only. Seats may be reserved by writing to HSS@me.com

June 29 2013 - Hernan Romero Flamenco Trio featuring Carmen Estevez, percussion, and Olyda Espinal, Dancer. Spiced with the exotic traditions that infuse flamenco-gypsy, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean folk interwoven with textures of classical, jazz, and Latin rhythms, composer and guitarist Hernan Romero received a Grammy nomination in 2001. His music is both sophisticated and accessible. It is sensuous, passionate, romantic and inescapably infectious. Romero is inspired by the music of his family from his earliest memory. "It's powerful….flamenco is very strong, and has its influence from the Middle East. The other side of my music is the romantic aspect of Latin music, so it's absolutely the best of both worlds”, says Romero.

June 22 2013 - Tango Mouvance Milonga, showcasing accomplished talent in Argentine Tango music and danceLearn, dance, listen and watch, and be wooed by the music. No partner necessary TATE DI CHIAZZA & CELI ARIAS Teaching and Performing!

May 25 2013 - The Joe Carter SAMBA RIO TRIO Featuring Nanny Assis, percussion & Leco Reis, bassThe trio’s repertoire is a combination of original tunes and songs by some of Brazil’s classic composers such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Ary Barroso, Baden Powell, Noel Rosa, Dorival Caymmi, Pixinguinha and others. The group creates a sound that is truly international and one that has entertained appreciative audiences on four continents. Highlights have included concerts and club appearances in Paris, Bombay, Corsica, Stuttgart and Rio de Janeiro.

April 24 2013- Discussions on Art: “Beauty & the "Contemporary"A presentation by Professor Jeffrey P. Smith. The history of art is in many ways synonymous with the evolution of ‘our’ idea of beauty. If an artwork embodies its maker’s notion of beauty, the diversity of human artistic production testifies to the varied conceptions of beauty of each historical time and place. This audience interactive presentation will address beauty today through a comparison with long established theories and works, canonical examples of the beautiful, in hopes of clarifying the nature of our current perspective. The goal will be to canvas audience opinions about beauty and set them in a broader historical context.

March 16 2012 - Milonga: A Tango Party on the Hudson with Ballet Hispanico Dancers featuring the J.P. Jofre Trio. Ballet Hispanico brings to the Art Academy a preview of its 25th season at New York’s Joyce Theater and bandoneonist J.P. Jofre. The evening’s performance will feature company members performing excerpts from Argentine choreographer Alejandro Cervera’s Tango Vitrola. The evening will also feature live music performance from composer and bandoneon master J.P. Jofre and his trio.

February 9 2012 - Mark Morganelli Brasil Project, "CARNAVAL UNPLUGGED II!" Featuring Vic Juris, guitar & Nilson Matta, BassFlugelhornist & 20-Year Dobbs Ferry Resident Mark Morganelli will collaborate with master guitarist Vic Juris and virtuoso Brazilian bassist Nilson Matta in an intimate acoustic evening of Bossa Nova & Samba, a few nights after Carnaval. Let the musical celebration continue!

January 12 2013 – The String Jazz Society Inspired by Django Reinhardt and his Hot Club of France, 1930's-1940's .The mission of the String Jazz Society is to enhance public education and appreciation of the art of Jazz performed on swing era stringed and fretted instruments. Performances feature the Great American Songbook (George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Cole Porter, etc.) performed in the style of Django Reinhardt and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France during the 1930's-1940's.

November 17 2012 - RiverArts in association with the Art Academy of Westchester presents “Nrityagram: For the Love of Dance” Nan Melville's award-winning film tells the story of the Nrityagram dance village in India, founded by Protima Bedi, who envisioned an idyllic setting where devotees could study the Odissi dance form full-time. The film debuted in 2010 as an official selection of the Dance on Camera Festival at Lincoln Center. May 19, 2012 - RiverArts in association with the Art Academy of Westchester presents “Limon: A Life Beyond Words" Directed by Malachi Roth.This highly acclaimed documentary offers a compelling look at the life and work of revolutionary modern dancer and choreographer, Jose Limon (1908-1972). A crucial figure in the development of modern dance, Limon’s choreography continues to bring a dramatic vision of dance to audiences around the world.

April 21, 2012 - Jay Azzolina Jazz Trio, featuring John Patitucci, bass, and Adam Nussbaum, drums

February 25 2012 -Mark Morganelli Brasil Project, "CARNAVAL UNPLUGGED!" Featuring Vic Juris, guitar & Nilson Matta, Bass. Flugelhornist & 20-Year Dobbs Ferry Resident Mark Morganelli will collaborate with master guitarist Vic Juris and virtuoso Brazilian bassist Nilson Matta in an intimate acoustic evening of Bossa Nova & Samba, a few nights after Carnaval. Let the musical celebration continue!

January 21 2012- James Wilson and Friends. James is known for diverse, lyrically driven songs delivered in a voice that is artfully lined with southern tonalities and notable diction.

November 12, 2011 - Jonathan Trotta, Concert Guitarist For three decades, Concert Guitarist Jonathan Trotta has dazzled audiences with his passionate and virtuosic performances. He performs solo concerts, concertos, concerts with flamenco dancers, as well as chamber music concerts with the group, Musicora throughout the U.S. and extensively in the local tri-state area. Some performance credits include Boston radio's "De Todo un Poco", Maine Public Broadcasting "Music du Jour", music for the PBS documentary soundtrack "The Crucible of Empire", the DiCapo Opera Theatre production of Manuel De Falla's "La Vida Breve", and a concert at a dinner party for Academy Award winning actress, Helen Hayes. He has also performed in concert with concert guitarist, Benjamin Verdery.

November 5, 2011-Clay Fried "Painting Over Time" Opening Reception: Saturday November 5th, 3~5pmClay Fried, New York based artist and art teacher is presented in a solo exhibit of a large group of small works done over the past 21 years. At the Art Academy of Westchester through November, there is something for everyone. Interested in process, impulse and reason, paintings are made as a mark in time.

September 24, 2011 - Graham The Dancer Revealed RiverArts in association with the Art Academy of Westchester presents rare excerpts from Graham's dances highlight this deeply moving American Masters documentary, Martha Graham The Dancer Revealed, which chronicles the life and work of the woman who revolutionized modern dance. Graham herself is featured in dialog along with Eric Hawkins, Ron Protas, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Woody Allen, Gregory Peck, and Agnes DeMille.

June 11, 2011 – “Dancemaker”, a Film by Matthew Diamond RiverArts in association with the Art Academy of Westchester presents “Dancemaker”, a Film by Matthew Diamond, is a breathtaking journey into the world of preeminent choreographer Paul Taylor, and his extraordinary creations. This film is a unique exploration of the mysteries of the creative life, the obsession of the dancers and the mind of an artistic genius. Join us for a Wine and Cheese Reception followed by the screening of Dancemaker. We also invite you to view the Dance Photographs of Dobbs Ferry's Ellen Crane, on exhibit at the Art Academy during the month of June. A discussion will follow the film.

March – May 2011- Jimmy Arrollo, “Pastels and Drawings” exhibition

April 17, 2011 - David Saphra on Lyra Viol
Music lovers bring your hungry ears and a picnic basket, if you like. Artists bring your sketch pads, dry or water based media. Join us as we welcome David Saphra, professional musician and member of several symphony orchestras, who will treat us to an evening of baroque music. For this event he will play lyra viols, related to the viola da gamba--a stringed instrument with frets like a guitar that is bowed like a cello. David strives to create the illusion of more than one instrument. He will play music from 16th century England and France.

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