Starting August 18th, New Haven residents will be able to attend bi-weekly music and dance performances on the New Haven Green during their lunch break.
Rhythm Exchange, a series of concerts organized by International Festival of Arts & Ideas, will present music and dance performances of various genres every other Thursday from noon to 1:30 p.m., according to a press release from the Festival. Organizers hope the event will help New Haveners take a break from their busy day and enjoy the city’s culture.
“This is an opportunity for the New Haven community to make art an intentional part of our day,” Shelley Quiala, executive director of the organization, said in the release. “We take people away from everyday life and into an exciting artistic moment to incorporate the healing power of art into their day.”
The seven events will be held on the New Haven Green and include breakdance, Indian Vocals, jazz, bachata, Funk and Drum & Tap is a celebration of the Day of the Dead.
“This concert series will reflect how our community is simultaneously global and local,” Malakhi Eason, director of Community Impact and Programming, said in the press release. “New Haven is home to such an artistic variety, from traditional practices like Irish dancing to more contemporary work in hip hop and funk.”
The International Festival of Arts & Ideas is an organization that hosts an annual celebration of performing arts, lectures and discussions each summer in New Haven, CT. The organization invites artists, leaders and innovators from around the world to celebrate different genres of art and host events on sharing ideas.
The event follows the organization’s 2022 festival, Connect, which ended on June 26 and featured more than 200 in-person programs specializing in arts, fashion and education. Its 27th festival celebrated the global community in New Haven and included main events such as jazz singer Gregory Porter, comedian Michelle Buteau and Prajje Oscar of Project Runway.
International Festival of Arts & Ideas aims to use the New Haven Green space year-round and allow artists to showcase their work.
“The Green is the one place we all call home. We are excited to partner with the Festival on this opportunity to enjoy our shared love for art and culture in our historic city center,” said Kika Matos, one of the owners of the Green, in the press release.
The Rhythm Exchange program is as follows:
August 18: Indian Music & Indian Classical Dance with the Wesleyan University Ethnomusicology Ensemble & Raina Das
September 1: Jazz & amp; Gospel with the Shannon Trio & Sharlee Smith
September 15: Funk and Drum & Tap, with Velez & His Band is Medusa
September 29: Bachata Dance & Musical Storytelling with Baila con Gusto CT & kamrDANCE
October 13: Hip Hop Honors with Tang Sauce, Alyssa Hughes, Marshun Art & DJ Dooley-O
October 27: The New Orleans Second Line
November 1: Day of the Dead with Unidad Latina en Acción (ULA)
For more information about the Rhythm Exchange, visit the New Haven International Festival of Arts & The site of ideas.
