Flushing Town Hall, a global arts center in Flushing, Queens, is adding Global Mashups, a bi-cultural music performance, to its calendar of family music performances.
Flushing Town Hall aims to offer a hands-on family workshop before each performance so children can have a rich cultural experience. |
Flushing Town Hall has a long history of presenting programs that are geared to families, says Gabrielle Hamilton, director of education and public programs. Building on its extensive list of family programming, Flushing Town Hall is adding Global Mashups, and recently remodeled its gift shop to include a small café area.
In each Global Mashup performance, two authentic musical groups from two different cultures and geographical regions perform. Each group performs one set on their own and come together at the end of the show to “spontaneously jam, creating a totally different concoction of music,” says Clyde Bullard, music and jazz consultant. Before each group performs, there will be a 30- to 40-minute dance lesson, during which attendees learn dance moves from that specific culture.
“Because Queens is so diverse—there are more than 120 languages spoken here—we were thinking Global Mashups would be a way to bring in cultures that would probably never be in the same space together,” he says. “They are the perfect cultural cocktail.”
Upcoming Global Mashup shows include Cuba Meets Hawaii on April 10, Scotland Meets New Orleans on April 24, Antigua Meets France on May 8, Mexico Meets Greece on May 22, and Haiti Meets China on June 5. Dance lessons for each concert will begin at 7pm and the musical groups will begin playing at 8pm. Tickets for the mashups are $15 and $10 for members and students, and all ages are welcome.
Flushing Town Hall recently remodeled its gift shop to include a small café area where attendees can purchase refreshments such as coffee, tea, water, chips, and cookies before a show starts. The gift shop also features a variety of items made by local artists. The shop is open from 12-5pm, Monday-Friday, and 1 hour before shows start.
