Murray Grove To Hold Fourth Annual Drum And Dance Fest

Plan a getaway right in town to Murray Grove Retreat and Renewal Center for their fourth annual Drum and Dance Fest this weekend.

The weekend will feature various workshops on Afro-Brazilian, Latin, and West African drumming as well as African dance and belly dancing.

“It’s informal and relaxed. We really just want people to come enjoy themselves and the ambiance of Murray Grove,” said Louise Ille, Executive Director of Murray Grove.

So far 34 people have registered to attend the event, which will begin on Friday, July 15 and end Sunday, July 17. Openings are still available for the entire weekend or just parts, Ille said.

“We would love to have more people,” Ille said.

People who are not interested in drumming or dancing can still attend and simply observe, Ille said.

The highlight of the weekend will be Saturday night’s Facilitators Showcase, where the instructors will put on a show followed by drumming and dancing by everyone around a fire circle, Ille said.

“With a full moon weekend, it really could be very nice out there,” Ille said. “ If the weather cooperates the full moon will light up our courtyard with a magical feeling.”

Instructors include Lara Gonzales and Yael Schacham of Marafanyi, a West African Dance and Drumming group; Maire Tashjian and Amy Schindler of ViRAGO, an Afro-Brazilian Drumming group; Tom Brown, a Latin Drumming instructor; Skip Leib, a West African Drumming instructor; and Mihrimah, a Belly Dancing instructor.

Registered people will be able to pick from a variety of workshops that interests them.

The weekend will also feature vendors selling t-shirts, drums, and African clothing as well as Tammy Stewart-Valencia, a masseuse.

Meals will be catered by Biagio’s Trattoria, an Italian restaurant located on Route 9 in Lanoka Harbor.

There will also be free time to relax, practice, swim in Murray Grove’s new saltwater pool, walk their trail to the Barnegat Bay or the labyrinth.

The weekend package costs $250 and includes all workshops, the Saturday night show, two nights of lodging (double occupancy), and five meals.

Day passes for Friday, July 15 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. cost $25; Saturday, July 16 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. is $50, $7 for lunch and $15 for dinner; and Sunday, July 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. is $25.

The tentative schedule for the weekend is as follows:

Friday:
7 p.m.- Registration and Opening in the Fireside Room
7:30 to 9 p.m.- Workshops: “Fun with Hand Drumming Basics” with ViRAGO and Skip Leib; Belly Dancing Introduction lesson with Mihrimah.
9:15 to 11 p.m.- Drum and Dance Jam around a fire circle

Saturday:
7:30 to 9 a.m.- Breakfast
9 to 9:30 a.m.- Registration for Day Pass in the Fireside Room
9:30 to 10:45 a.m.- Workshops: Bucket Brigade with Virago; African Drum Rhythm with Skip Leib; Belly Dancing with Mihrimah; Music Fundamentals with Tom Brown.
11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.- Workshops: Afro-Brazilian Samba with ViRAGO; African Drum Rhythm with Skip Leib; Belly Dancing with Mihrimah; Latin Drumming with Tom Brown.
12:30 to 2 p.m.- Lunch
2 to 4 p.m.- Break
4 to 5:30 p.m.- Workshops: West African Dance with Marafanyi
5:30 to 6 p.m.- Tom Browns provides entertainment with the clarinet
6 to 7:30 p.m.- Dinner
8 to 10 p.m.- Facilitators Showcase

Sunday:
7:30 to 9 a.m.- Breakfast
9 to 10:30 a.m.- West African Dancing
10:45 a.m.- DounDoun Dance with Marafanyi
1 p.m.- Lunch and Checkout

For more information on the event and the instructors and to register, visit http://www.murraygrove.org/. Call 609-693-5558 with any questions or concerns.