Winter Weekend Shows Continue In Hamden

HAMDEN, CT — (Contributed press release): On Saturday, Jan. 20, Mikata African Drumming and Dance will kick off the Saturday Family Series for 2018, presented by the Hamden Arts Commission. Mikata means “all of us” in the Ewe language of Ghana. Everyone is invited to join the musical journey from West Africa to the Caribbean and Brazil. Mikata will make your pulse quicken as they chant, clap and dance to powerful rhythms from Ghana, Nigeria, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti and Brazil. Garbed in colorful traditional cultural clothing, the artists of Mikata perform on an array of authentic drums, bells, rattles, flutes and xylophones. Families will dance, sing and clap to the rhythms of Mikata as they learn about the cultures of the African nations, Caribbean and South American countries.

The Saturday Series programs are held in the handicapped accessible Thornton Wilder Hall in the Miller Cultural Complex, 2901 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, 06518. All Saturday shows start at 1 p.m. with doors opening at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $2 for children, $3 for adults, available at the door only and CASH ONLY.

The Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble, will perform on Sunday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. at the Thornton Wilder Auditorium. The traditional "Cuadro Flamenco" program will feature traditional Flamenco guitar, song, and dance as well as guitar and flute instrumental solos. This program will also include a short narrative on Flamenco as a culture and musical expression featuring Val and Alfonso Cid.

The concert program will feature Flamenco dances and a number of guitar duet and guitar and flute pieces, some with singing. The artists that are part of the group are among the very best Flamenco artists in the U.S. including Jose Ramos (who works with all of the major Flamenco companies in NYC); Alfonso Cid--widely regarded as one of the best Flamenco singers in the U.S. (he also works with all of the Flamenco companies in NYC); and Rebeca Tomas, regarded as one of the best Flamenco dancers in the U.S. (some consider her to be the best Flamenco dancer in NYC).

All Sunday Series performances begin at 2 p.m. and are held in the handicapped-accessible Thornton Wilder Hall, Miller Cultural Complex, 2901 Dixwell Ave., Hamden. Admission is $7 general admission/ $5 for senior citizens, students and children 12 and under. Tickets are sold at the door only and are CASH ONLY. The series is presented with generous support from the estate of former Commissioner Emeritus Peter C. Hereld.

For details on the Saturday and Sunday Series performances, contact the Department of Arts & Culture at (203) 287-2546 or www.hamdenartscommission.com.

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