The Ark, A Cultural Centre for Children presents
CONCERTS FOR CHRISTMAS
This Christmas, The Ark presents a series of concerts and interactive musical experiences for children and their families to join together in festive celebration. As part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue in 2008, The Ark is delighted to provide an opportunity to creatively explore music from around the world.
| Duration | All concerts run for one hour | |
| Price: | Public | €12/€8 |
| Schools | €6.50/€4.50 | |
Kíla
Kíla have long been considered at the forefront of traditional and world music in Ireland. Their high-energy and innovative performances attract people of all ages and walks of life. Kíla’s children’s concerts are designed for big imaginations and small, restless feet! With maximum audience participation, this is a wonderful opportunity for you to join in with rhythm and song, as well as getting an insight into Kíla’s eclectic, colourful world of music.
| Dates: | Sunday 23 November |
| Times: | 2pm & 4pm |
| Age Range: | For all the family |
Nico Brown & Martin Brunsden
An hour of gentle participation in songs and stories from near and far ... Share some seasonal cheer, with an ear to the world on instruments exotic and familiar, with Nico Brown and Martin Brunsden, who brought The Christmas Orchestra to The Ark last year.
| Dates: | Tuesday 25 – Friday 28 November |
| Times: | 10.15am & 12.15pm |
| Class Range: | All classes |
Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Mel Mercier & Size2shoes
Full steam ahead for Christmas fever as Prof. Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin & Dr. Mel Mercier get together once again for their special family concert. Intertwining Irish traditional music with pop, rap and world music, the concerts are aimed at reminding children, and parents, to be good in the weeks leading to Christmas. Dr. Mel works as one of Santa’s little helpers and has been in touch with Santa himself who has all sorts of instructions for children expecting presents. Prof. Mick has often been mistaken for Santa, but they have only met twice.
Santa has commissioned Prof. Mick & Dr. Mel to write a song for this occasion! They will be joined by the singing brother duo Size2shoes for Christmas carols, sing-a-longs, funny stories and lots of strange sounding musical instruments!
Come along and sing with them!
| Dates: | Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 November |
| Times: | 2pm & 4pm |
| Age Range: | For all the family |
Brian Fleming, Gabriel Akujobi, Solomon Ijigade & Gwenn Frin
Join musicians and performers Brian Fleming, Gabriel Akujobi, Solomon Ijigade and Gwenn Frin as they celebrate the meeting of two cultures with drumming, singing and dancing. Learn a line dance from Ghana, songs in Yoruba, how to answer a call from a drum and the difference between bongos and bougaraboos.
Audience participation is welcomed as Brian, Gabriel, Solomon and Gwenn use voice, movement and an array of Irish and West African percussion instruments to bring to life songs and rhythms from Ile-Ife in Nigeria to the banks of the Liffey.
| Dates: | Tuesday 2 December – Friday 5 December |
| Times: | 10.15am & 12.15pm |
| Class Range: | First class to sixth class |
Liam Ó Maonlaí
Liam will delight family audiences with music from his travels around Australia, Japan, America, Europe, Scandinavia, Morocco and India. He continues to play with traditional musicians from these places and remains true to his own roots in traditional Irish music.
| I believe the style known as sean-nós carries a sense of the soul of the land and the people who are awake in that land. I feel, when in the company of other cultures, the singing of this style opens a window into what it is that connects us. Every country has its own sean-nós. |
| Dates: | Saturday 6 December |
| Times: | 2pm & 4pm |
| Age Range: | For all the family |
RTÉ Cór na nÓg
RTÉ Cór na nÓg is delighted to perform in The Ark this year as part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue celebrations. Founded in 1987, RTÉ Cór na nÓg consists of 65 children between the ages of 9 and 14. Come and hear the choir sing a programme ranging from Irish tunes to African Folk songs, spiritual hymns to modern day pop and a mix of traditional Christmas carols. This is an ideal concert to start off the festive season for audiences young and old. Tickets for this concert are free, but advance booking is advised.
| Dates: | Wednesday 3 December |
| Times: | 7pm |
| Age Range: | For all the family |
Robbie Harris, Emer Mayock, Francesco Turrisi & Nick Roth
Children of all ages are invited to join in with a musical journey from Ireland to Italy , Turkey and beyond. The concert is full of interaction between the musicians and the audience. A collaboration between Francesco Turrisi (Piano, Percussion), Nick Roth (Saxophone), Emer Mayock (Flute, Fiddle) and Robbie Harris (Percussion), these concerts seek a musical link between Ireland and many different Mediterranean countries.
| Dates: | Public | Saturday 20 - Sunday 21 December (public) |
| Schools | Tuesday 9 - Thursday 11 December Tuesday 16 - Friday 19 December (schools) |
|
| Times: | Public | 2pm & 4pm |
| Schools | 10.15am & 12.15pm | |
| Age Range: | All ages | |
| Class Range: | All classes | |
