June 2015
Summer 2015 CATCH-Up: NYC Folk Arts “Gab-Fest”
We intend this meeting to be the first of a quarterly get together of NYC folklorists. As some of you know, the organization CATCH (Center for Art, Tradition and Cultural Heritage) was formed originally to look for a building that would house the Center for Traditional Music and Dance, City Lore and World Music, among others. While this remains a long term goal, the organization does have non profit status and we are using it to develop collaborative initiatives. We thought…
Find out more »August 2015
Heritage Sunday at Lincoln Center Out of Doors
A dynamic commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Hart-Celler Act, a landmark immigration bill that forever changed the demographic makeup of America.
Find out more »November 2015
What We Bring: Talks and Performances Marking the 50th Anniversary of the Hart-Cellar Immigration Reform Act
he panel will include short talks by Nancy Foner (The Graduate Center), Ray Allen (Brooklyn College), and Jack Tchen (NYU), with performances by Colombian vocalist and cuatro player Johanna Castañeda and harpist Vidal Garzón; Gambian kora player and jali (praise singer) Alhaji Papa Susso
Find out more »December 2015
Reform @ 50: Colombian Migrations and Identities in NYC since Hart Celler Act of 1965
The Hart-Celler, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, fundamentally changed the demographics of our nation. Still the foundation of immigration law today, the legislation brought in tens of millions of people from Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Caribbean, phasing out the 1920s quota system, which had sealed the borders to everyone but northern Europeans. This program focuses on musical migrations post-Hart-Celler to note cultural contributions by Colombian musicians and how they illuminate the current discussion…
Find out more »February 2016
Central Asian Music & Culture in New York -members of Ensemble Shashmaqam and Speaker: Evan Rapport, Ph.D.(The New School)
Free Lecture/Performance of Central Asian Music & Culture in New York, Performance by Members of Ensemble Shashmaqam, Speaker: Evan Rapport, Ph.D.(The New School). Part of a series commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Hart-Celler Immigration Act of 1965 presented by The Center for Traditional Music and Dance, City Lore & The Center for Art, Tradition and Cultural Heritage
Find out more »May 2016
Mad Hatters: New York Hats & Hatmakers
City Lore Gallery is open 2 – 6pm Thursday through Friday and 12 – 6pm on weekends. To visit at other times or to schedule group visits, please email Abby Ronner at [email protected]. Exhibits are free and open to the public. City Lore is pleased to announce its Spring 2016 exhibition, Mad Hatters: New York Hats and Hatmakers at its East Village gallery and cultural center on First Street with an opening reception on Thursday, May 19th from 7-9pm. In New…
Find out more »March 2017
Songs of the Borderlands: Village Songs of Polesia
Dmitri Slepovitch CATCH and Ukrainian Village Voices are pleased to present Songs of the Borderlands: Village Songs of Polesia at Playwrights Downtown Theater featuring Belarussian musician/ethnomusicologist Dmitri Slepovitch, Ph.D. of the Litvakus Ensemble. Includes a concert and vocal workshop. Presenting partners: Ukrainian Village Voices, Center for Traditional Music and Dance and Direct Cultural Access.
Find out more »May 2017
Music of the Crimean Tatars
Nariman Asanov Join the Nariman Asanov Trio (Nariman Asanov - violin, Patrick Farrell - accordion and Lennur Mamudov - percussion) for an amazing evening of firery Crimean Tatar fiddle music. Born in Uzbekistan as part of the large expatriate Tatar community, Asanov leads an amazing local ensemble that is carrying on Tatar traditions in the US.
Find out more »Evening of Albanian Music Featuring Merita Halili and Raif Hyseni
Merita Halili is one of Albania's top performers, renowned for her stunning voice, prodigious range and exquisite vocal technique. Raif Hyseni, originally from the Republic of Kosova, leads the most sought-after Albanian music ensemble in the United States. Together their performances thrill with masterful interpretations of instrumentals and urban folk songs from both Albania and the Republic of Kosova. Produced in partnership with Alwan for the Arts, Traditional Crossroads and the Center for Traditional Music and Dance. Admission: $20, $15…
Find out more »August 2017
Echoes of the Revolution at NY Public Library Performing Arts
Cheres Ukrainian Folk Orchestra From Tirana to Tashkent! With the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Soviet state, we explore the transformation of music and dance traditions under socialist states and how leading contemporary artists are working to reclaim & reinvigorate these genres. With Albanian superstars Merita Halili & Raif Hyseni (Steve Kotansky dance leader), Dancing Crane Georgian Dance and Cheres Ukrainian Folk Ensemble. At the New York Public Library's Performing Arts Division (111 Amsterdam Ave./Lincoln Center's Hearst Stage). Admission…
Find out more »September 2017
NY Voices / NY Votes! on the Brighton Beach Boardwalk!
New York Voices, New York Votes. Join us for a celebration of the centennial of women's right to vote in New York State with a series of festivals combining performing arts and voter registration! Join us in partnership with New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), Center for Traditional Music an Dance and Common Cause New York for NY Voices/NY Votes, pop-up community festivals in Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens. In addition to local craft demonstrations and voter registration tables, each event will…
Find out more »Russian and Soviet Art Songs
Born in Soviet Tatarstan, the UK-based singer/pianist Polina Shephard teams up with GRAMMY-winning vocalist Lorin Sklamberg of The Klezmatics to present a melange of Russian Art songs (Romance), folk and Soviet melodies in Yiddish, bilingual Odessa songs, Russian lyrics put to klezmer tunes, Soviet collective farm songs from a century ago and original material exploring the connection between the Steppes and the Shtetl. Presented in partnership with the New York Klezmer Series as part of the Echoes of the Revolution…
Find out more »November 2017
Songs of Kyiv’s Romani Theatre
In this vocal workshop, educator and musician Dr. Petra Gelbart will look to Kyiv’s legendary Romani theatre ensemble for a selection of folk and stage songs in Romani, a language that originated in India – the motherland of all Roma. Participants will sing together in the centuries-old Romani choral tradition. $15 adults, $10 students & seniors, children free. At Playwrights Rehearsal Studios, Room 4A, 440 Lafayette St., Manhattan. Presented in partnership with Ukrainian Village Voices, Center for Traditional Music and…
Find out more »December 2017
Hanukkah Songs Featuring Eleonore Biezunski
Jewish Songs for Children and the Whole Family Brooklyn-based singer/violinist Eléonore Biezunski presents a concert of Hanukkah songs in Yiddish, Russian and English as well as spirited klezmer music that young audiences and families of all backgrounds will enjoy. Celebrate the Festival of Lights with a wonderful afternoon of multilingual Jewish music. Free admission! Programmed in conjunction with Echoes of the Revolution.
Find out more »The Queens Silk Road – Tour of the Bukharian Community + Concert!
CATCH is delighted to invite you to join us in exploring the Bukharian community of Queens, NY– known to locals as Regostan Park (Rego Park) and Bukharian Broadway. Learn about the Jewish community that lived for over 2000 years on the Silk Road in cities such as Samarkand, Dunshabe and Tashkent. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the community has resettled in large diasporic enclaves in Queens and Israel, we’ll explore how community members continue to preserve unique Central…
Find out more »Goyfriend – Jewish/Slavic Intercultural Dialog in Song!
CATCH and the Yiddish New York Festival are excited to feature an evening of music by leading emerging artists in the international klezmer scene. Goyfriend/Друг-Гой (awesome name!) is an exciting new collaboration exploring Jewish/Slavic intercultural dialog through song by the Litvakus Ensemble, led by charismatic Belarussian-Jewish clarinetist Zisl Slepovitch and the divine Berlin-based, Latvian-Yiddish chanteuse Sasha Lurje. The evening also features a rising new force on the Brooklyn Yiddish music scene – Tsibele. Yes, that means “onions” in Slavic languages and Yiddish, and this band lives up…
Find out more »April 2018
What We Bring: New Immigrant Gifts Exhibition Opening
Spotlighting the Contributions of Artists from New York City's Immigrant Communities What We Bring: New Immigrant Gifts adds to the national dialogue on immigration, bringing in to focus the cultural contributions of new immigrants. With this exhibition, we mark the 50th anniversary of the Hart-Celler Immigration and Nationality Act, implemented in 1968, which inaugurated a new era of immigration from Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean. What We Bring celebrates the rich layers of creativity, tradition, and increased cultural diversity that the…
Find out more »September 2018
Soorya Festival
The Soorya (Sun) Festival is a night-long festival celebrating the cultures and traditions of Sri Lanka along Staten Island’s North Shore waterfront. Festival programming begins at dusk, as Faber Park is transformed into an island wonderland via an opening procession, elaborate decorations, and illuminated installations. Internationally recognized performers and artisans from Sri Lanka will make this a night to remember! Festival programming includes: Live Music, Dance, and Theater performances Smorgasbord of Sri Lankan Eats Interactive Instrument, Textile, Mask and Lantern…
Find out more »March 2019
La Patronal in Concert
La Patronal is a unique brass band rooted in the traditions of the ‘fiestas populares’ and ‘patronales’ from the Andes in South America.
Find out more »July 2019
Nrutha Haramba Sara: Pahim Path Mangalya II
In August 2014, the Sri Lankan Dance Academy of NY conducted the first ever Pahim Path Mangalya held in the United States, graduating a cohort of senior dancers on to the next level in Kandyan dance. On July 27th, 2019 SLDA will be graduating their next group of 9 dancers. After undertaking years of training, they are rewarded with this ceremony, where a distinguished headdress is placed on their heads, and are ordained to perform dance rituals before stepping foot…
Find out more »Heritage Sunday
Made in NYC 2.0 calls upon next-generation practitioners inheriting the city’s soundscape with increasingly New York–formed traditions and stories.
Find out more »November 2019
Soorya NYC Festival
Featuring the exquisite Sri Lankan Dance Academy, singer Sharaanya Pillai, kavi poet Seetha Wickramasuriya, and other live performances rooted in diverse Sri Lankan traditions.
Find out more »December 2019
Jewish Silk Road Tours™: Bukharian Community Queens Walking Tour
Embark on a walking tour of several fascinating neighborhoods in Queens, NY!
Find out more »March 2020
Jewish Silk Road Tours™: Bukharian Community Tour in Rego Park
Learn about the Jewish community that had lived along the Silk Road, for over 2000 years. Look at the period of Jewish emigration from Central Asia, and visit one and only Bukharian Jewish Museum to understand the essence of the Bukharian Jewish culture.
Find out more »June 2022
NY Crimean Tatar Ensemble at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Nariman Asanov of the NY Crimean Tatar Ensemble (photo by Chloe Accardi) CATCH is excited to partner with MetLiveArts in presenting a concert celebrating Ukraine’s diverse musical cultures with performances by world-renowned Ukrainian American artists and artists with Ukrainian roots. Experience a sonic exploration of folk and contemporary Ukrainian music, from a cappella village folk songs and Klezmer to Crimean Tatar music and the national instrument, the bandura. All ticket proceeds from this event will support Ukrainian museum workers and…
Find out more »December 2022
Ensemble Shashmaqam at the Restaurant Shashlik!
Join us for a performance of the renowned Ensemble Shashmaqam at Restaurant Shashlik (Shashlichnaya) in the midst of the large Central Asian community in Rego Park, Queens. Shashmaqam features leading performers in the Bukharian Jewish, Uzbek and Tajik communities, and promotes inter-cultural understanding through its captivating performances. And get the chance to sample the delectable foods of Central Asia. Call 917-326-9659 to reserve a space or send an email. Admission $20 (meals not included).
Find out more »April 2023
Eid Al-Fitr Celebration with Jalikunda
We're excited to join the Jalikunda Collective in a Eid Al-Fitr Celebration marking the end of Ramadan. Performances feature kora (gourd-harp) masters Salieu Suso, Malang Jobarteh and other leading NYC-based West African performers. Jalikunda is dedicated to sustaining and revitalizing the practice of West African performing arts in the city, and the performances are always electrifying.
Find out more »May 2023
Parampara Exhibit Opening Reception!
This Parampara Exhibit presents ways of teaching and learning in a variety of cultures and art forms from ten artists: Amino Belyamani, Aurelia Fernandez, Haifa Birnt-Kadi, Hector Morales, Malini Srinivasan, N'Ketiah Brakohiapa, Potri Ranka Manis, Rokafella, Sidiki Conde and Quraishi, who learned their art informally, in family and community settings, or in mentor and apprentice relationships. The program features a performance by dancer/drummer Sidiki Conde at 7pm.
Find out more »December 2023
The Unity Club at the Crossroads: A Forgotten Chapter of Crown Heights History
The Unity Club is a name with some swagger. Beginning in 1914, this upscale Jewish club met here at 19-29 Rogers Avenue in Crown Heights to plan ambitious efforts to transform Brooklyn. By 1944, the club moved to Park Slope and another transformative movement took residence: the first Chabad yeshiva in the USA. This program led by local community history maven Raul Rothblatt will probe the building’s surprising & diverse history: 19-29 Rogers Avenue is situated on a Native American trail and…
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