Ars Longa Est

Kirtan Yoga festival at George Street

On Saturday July 5th from 7 PM to 10 PM at George Street Playhouse, ISKCON of Central New Jersey presents Kirtan Yoga, a spectacular cultural expo of India's dance, drums, & drama.

The evening will start out with an exotic display of a classic style Indian dance, nown as Bharat-Natyam. This art presents spiritual symbols through dance and musical accompaniment.

The mridanga is a very unique and special barrel-shaped drum from eastern India, that is commonly used by Gaudiya Vaisnavas practitioners in accompaniment to prayer. On this special occasion, traveling experts in the art will demonstrate various rhythms and beats as an exciting and enlivening performance.

The story of Karna and Kunti, a tale of courage and intrigue from the Mahabharata, will be performed by the theatre troupe Krishna Culture Festival Tour, which performs yearly on hundreds of stages and locations throughout North America, from Vancouver to Miami, Florida. Be sure not to miss it as they perform this spectacular timeless and popular Indian epic at the George Street Playhouse.

One of the most inspiring and engaging presentations of the evening will be the Kirtan Yoga led by dynamic youth of the Krishna Culture Festival Tour. Kirtan is glorification of the Supreme through the changing of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, and accompanied with harmonium, mridanga drum, flute, and various other instruments.

Vegetarian appetizers will be available during the intermission and free dinner will be served at the evening's conclusion. These preparations will be made with love and devotion by the members of the Govinda's Catering service.

For tickets or more information, contact Kevin Craig 908.943-4576, or Hari Rama 862.228-4586, or visit www.iskconnj.com.

Stage Stars shine a light on cancer care

On Friday June 27, a charity benefit performance is being held at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick. The 7:30 PM performance is organized and hosted by Stage Stars, a performing arts company based out of Highland Park. The youth cast will perform a few monologues, one-acts, musical theatre numbers and dances -- everything from Hairspray to Madonna's "4 Minutes to Save the World" -- in the honor of Jessica Fox who succumbed last winter to triple negative breast cancer at age 32.

Net proceeds will help the Jessica Ann Fox Foundation, which raises awareness and funds for the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, says Stage Stars founder Jamie Marie Harrigan. Jessica Fox, a close friend and supporter of the troupe, was very passionate about theatre and performing arts and was a dancer herself.

Stage Stars is an audition-based company where members train at least nine hours a week in multiple dance styles, acting and voice, improvisation, and audition preparation. The group are no strangers to raising money for charity. Last year they raised $500 for Mariska Hargitay's The Joyful Heart Foundation in a similar benefit for which they received many accolades.

This event can be wonderful night out after dinner, enjoyable by parents and children alike with a contribution to a great cause. Tickets in advance for adults are $20 and for children $12 and under are $15 and at the door are $25 for adults and $20 for children.

To purchase tickets in advance please call 732.777-7877; for more information visit www.jessday.org and www.stagestarsshine.com.

- Tanya Buva

ChaCha nights heating up the Avenue

Saturday, June 21, 2008 at IM Gallery, 235 Raritan Avenue in Highland Park. Join us for a Ballroom and Latin Dance Social from 7:30 to 11:30 PM. Hosted by DJ Happy Feet, Herbert Ho. $18 includes light buffet and refreshments. For more information call 732.236-5297, herbho@hotmail.com

Saturday, June 28, 2008 at IM Gallery, 235 Raritan Avenue in Highland Park. Join us for a Ballroom and Latin Dance Social with two-hour Latin workshop featuring ChaCha and Bachata taught by Dany Joshua. After the lesson stay and dance to your favorites: Rumba, West Coast Swing, Samba, Waltz, Foxtrot, and more.

Bachata, 5 - 6 PM; ChaCha, 6:10 - 7:10 PM. Dance Social, 7:30 - 11:30 PM. The workshop is $10; the social only $10; $15 for both. Hosted by the New Jersey Dance Society. For more information, contact Marc Liebeskind 201.320-9176 or visit hpds.webhop.org/Events.htm.

Attention "Highland Park Idol" hopefuls

After receiving several calls and letters, Highland Park Idol will continue auditions throughout the summer to accommodate those who were unable to make the deadline. To perform at our upcoming “Red Carpet Event” for prizes, please contact Human Relations Commission chairwoman Shelia Highsmith at 732.777-7820 or send an email to sheliahi2003@yahoo.com. You can also pick up forms from Sheila Flamm, director of the Senior/Youth Center on South Sixth Avenue.

Artists Collective Inaugural Exhibition

Free - through June 8 at IM Gallery, 233-235 Raritan Avenue, H.P.

Participating artists include RickBlack, Bill Bonner, Lisa Cameron, Jill Caporlingua, Fred Cole, Morton Farah, Phyllis Freedman, Bill Giacalone, Marsha Goldberg, Leon Jansyn, Ruth Jansyn, Miriam Lefkowitz, Susan Lichtig, Lucky Jo Boscarino...and many more. For more information, visit www.highlandparkartists.org.

Salsa “On2” Beginner Course

Wednesdays in June 8pm at IM Gallery, 233-235 Raritan Avenue, H.P.

De-mystify and learn the Salsa On2 Style. With this course, participants will gain a solid understanding of the fundamental steps of Salsa On2. Special focus will be placed on mastering the rhythm and dancing perfectly on-beat. Material covered: Intro to Shines (open footwork), all basic turns and variations; crossbody lead and variations; intro to multiple turns. To register, contact dany@scarletmambo.com or call 732.391-1110.

Academy of Art features local sketch artist

David A Stone of Highland Park will present drawings and watercolors at the Academy of Art of H.P. and Gallery, 727 Raritan Avenue, through Saturday June 21st. The exhibit is open by appointment; contact dastone@optonline.net or call 732.545-8328.

"Rosie's Art Show" at Yoga Vayu

Rosemary Moses will exhibit her paintings at Yoga Vayu, 354 George Street Suite 201, New Brunswick through the month of June. The opening reception is Saturday June 7th, from 4 to 7 PM and from 9 PM to midnight. The paintings (gouache paints on cardboard) will be up until June 30th.

Photographer in library lobby

Rodolfo Juliani, an environmental biologist and Rutgers faculty member, has turned his camera from Africa to the United States, capturing natural sights in New Jersey as well as the skyline and skyscrapers of New York. The exhibit will be on display through June in the front lobby of the Highland Park public library, 31 North Fifth Avenue.

The Highland Park scientist last displayed "African Photographs: A Vision of Hope," at the library in December 2007.

Biomed researcher shows watercolors

Dr. Indrani Choudhury will exhibit her watercolor exhibit through June in the meeting room at the Highland Park library, 31 North Fifth Avenue. An art reception for the Edison artist will be held on Saturday, June 7 from 1:00-5:00 PM. Everyone is invited.

Dr. Choudhury, who has had a career as a biomedical research scientist for 25 years in both India and the United States, began painting full time in 2005. This exhbition catalogues the three-year creative journey of the self taught artist.