March 14 João Junqueira @ Broomfield Auditorium

The CU in Broomfield World Music series continues this Wednesday, March 14 with João Junqueira and the CU Brazilian Ensemble. The show starts at 7:00 at the Broomfield Auditorium.

Guitarist, performer, composer, arranger, and CU lecturer, João Junqueira, brings his unique style of improvisational music-weaving guitar, voice, and percussive sounds influenced by Brazilian, Jazz, and World Music. Join him and the CU Brazilian Ensemble for an evening that transcends the boundaries between beings, spirits, and cultures.

March 14 Mrs. Warren's Profession @ DCTC

The final round of plays in the Denver Center Theatre Company's season gets started this month. There will be an SCFD-funded free performance of Shaw's Mrs. Warren's Profession on Wednesday, March 14 at the Bonfils Theatre. Box office opens at 4:30, and curtain is at 6:30.

March 13 Opera 101 @ DPL

On Tuesday, March 13, the Opera 101 program will focus on La Traviata (Central City Opera) and Un Ballo in Maschera (Opera Colorado), both by Verdi. As always, there will be excerpts performed live. Go if only for the Traviata excerpts -- it's a fabulous opera.

March 12 Young Dubliners in-store @ Twist & Shout

Bring on St. Patty's Day! The Young Dubliners will do an in-store at Twist & Shout on Monday, March 12 at 6:00 p.m. I don't think they'll be serving any Guiness, unfortunately...

March 8 is International Women's Day

Although art that is purely agenda-driven doesn't usually do it for me, I believe that the arts do have tremendous power to impact society at large. I like to think that sometimes just hearing diverse voices telling diverse stories will help us all see things in new ways, which may in turn help us see each other in new ways, which may someday lead to global, everlasting peace. I appreciated Forest Whitaker's Oscar acceptance speech, and think his sentiment can be applied to any creative effort:

Because when I first started acting, it was because of my desire to connect to everyone. To that thing inside each of us. That light that I believe exists in all of us. Because acting for me is about believing in that connection and it's a connection so strong, it's a connection so deep, that we feel it. And through our combined belief, we can create a new reality.

Hey, a chicksinger can dream, can't she?

So today, in honor of International Women's Day, I'm going to blog against sexism and highlight some women's artistic ventures in the Denver and Boulder area. And also, because the personal is political, I just might be engaging in some self-promotion with this post.

If you -- that is, if there is a "you" out there reading this -- know of something I overlooked that you think should be included in this list, please leave a comment for me. Thanks.

Vox Feminista is a "multi-media, multi-passionate performance tribe of womyn" that is presenting an event this Saturday, March 10. From their website:

VOX RISING! proudly presents their first show "Closet Traumas" Saturday, March 10 @ Nomad Theater1410 Quince Ave, North Boulder at 8:00 pm --- $5-$500 sliding scale --- no one turned away
VOX RISING! is a safe-space theater for passionate youth to speak out on political issues. Through music, spoken-word, and group skits, young people will create dialogue on issues meaningful to them and their future. "Closet Traumas" is more than young people deciding what to wear. It is an exploration into the many dilemmas youth face in their possible futures.

Marin Alsop, Conductor Laureate of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, founded the Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship to "foster and encourage women who are studying or training to be orchestral conductors in orchestras or ensembles.” Rei Hotoda, the 2006 fellowship recipient, will be appearing with the CSO and Maestra Alsop in concerts March 9-11.

The Denver Women's Chorus is a lesbian community choir that will be presenting a joint concert with the Denver Gay Men's Chorus on April 13 entitled "A Night of Dark Music" at St. John's Cathedral.

The chorale Safonia is a "women's ensemble dedicated to the synergy of music, passion and excellence." They have concerts coming up April 14 & 15 in Denver based on the theme "The Poet Sings," featuring many works by women composers.

The ASTER Women's Chamber Choir is also presenting a spring concert entitled "The Poet Sings" (April is National Poetry Month) on April 14 & 21 in Broomfield and Boulder. Donations accepted, but tickets are free.

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts has created the Women’s Voices Fund, an endowment fund "designed to foster the work of women playwrights in the American theatre." There don't seem to be any upcoming events scheduled in the immediate future, but keep your eye on the website for premieres and receptions.

March 11 Kids for Bach concert @ BPL

From the Boulder Bach Fest website:

Sunday, March 11, 2007 — 2:00 & 4:00 PM
Kids for Bach — A Concert for Children, by Children
Boulder Public Library
FREE!

“Kids for Bach” gives students of all ages an opportunity to perform in an excellent small concert hall, the auditorium at the Boulder Public Library. The two concerts, free and open to the public, take place Sunday, March 11, 2007 at 2:00 and 4:00 pm at the Boulder Public Library Auditorium, 1000 Canyon Boulevard. Student performers are selected from taped auditions submitted in January.
Each program includes a mix of ages from 6-18 years old, with some 30 soloists and small ensembles performing on a variety of instruments, such as piano, violin, cello, guitar, voice and recorders. Children’s choirs and string groups often appear as well. All the pieces performed are works of J.S. Bach or one of his sons, most in the range of 2-4 minutes. The student participants are residents of Boulder County.

March 11 Meditate with a Master @ Samadhi Center

From the Samadhi Center for Yoga website:

Sunday March 11th, 2-4:30pm By donation.

Shivabalananda, a long-term, very close and direct disciple of Sri Sri Sri Shiva Bala Yogi Maharaj for thirty years, blessed with the yogic powers of his Master, Shiva Bala Yogi, will be offering Shiva Bala Yogi Meditation Programs on the 2007 International Visit.

All programs are free and open to the public. Shiva Bala Yogi Maharaj (Swamiji) attained God-realization through Tapas, meditating in God-consciousness for twelve years, traveled for thirty-three years offering initiation into dhyan meditation and left the body in the spring of 1994, attaining Mahasamadhi. Sri Swamiji's meditation mission continues through several disciples and devotees, such as Shivabalananda, who travel internationally. Shivabalananda/R. B. Singh, scientist and engineer, soon to retire from the Indian Space Research Organization in Sriharikota, India, will be traveling with his wife, Vidyawati Singh, on this fourth visit. His first international visit was in the fall of 1994 with 24 programs in 9 US cities and 21 programs in Germany and the United Kingdom.

For information on Shivabalayogi's Meditation Mission and Tours, please click here.