Arts Council of the North Valley

The ACNV is proud to present the cultural programs listed below. Check back to this listing as more will be added. For details on times and location, refer to the Tickets section.

Percussionist Amadou Kienou is a huge celebrity in Africa and his superstar fame has carried over to Europe and South America. Now West African Master Drummer, Amadou Kienou will visit Anthem, in Phoenix’s North Valley for a rare, special performance on Friday, September 21 at Fellowship Church, 39905 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the concert is from 8:00 – 9:30 p.m. Admission is free. Suggested donation is $5.

With equal parts passion, playfulness, and intensity, Amadou Kienou shares his mastery; he plays intricate rhythms with lightning speed, thunderous power and nuanced subtlety on the Djembe (a traditional wooden drum that is covered with goatskin) and sings beautiful folksongs with his powerful and stirringly soulful voice. He encourages total audience participation: dancing; clapping and call-and-response singing. This is a family-friendly event that you won’t want to miss!

Amadou has performed in Africa, Europe, South America and North America. Born in Ouagadougou at Burkina Faso, he is the seventh son of a family of praise singers from Dafing origin, originating from a tribe, which settled down at the ancient Mandingue Empire. This tribe has extended right up to Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta), Guinea and Mali. Most of them are musicians by profession.

In a national tour, renowned Salt Lake City's Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company will perform the work of Alwin Nikolais, the master of innovative and startling dance, composer, scenic and costume designer at the Del E. Webb Performing Arts Center in Wickenburg.

The Arts Council of the North Valley is hosting an educational Lecture/Demonstration in conjunction with their Arizona performance.

Lecture conducted by Alberto del Saz, Director of the Nikolais/Louis Foundation for Dance, former Artistic Director of the Murray Louis and Nikolais Dance Company, and Assistant to Murray Louis.

The Arts Council of the North Valley is hosting a Master Class on Alwin Nikolais with in conjunction with their Arizona performance.

Master Class conducted by Alberto del Saz, Director of the Nikolais/Louis Foundation for Dance, former Artistic Director of the Murray Louis and Nikolais Dance Company, and Assistant to Murray Louis.

Celebrate the New York cabaret with Shana and Joe Bousard. With professional careers that span 45 years and talents that promise to please, this dynamic father/daughter duo entices you to step out of the taxi and into the cabaret-hall where the lights are dim and the tables set with a single flame. Reminiscent of the infamous Don’t Tell Mama’s in Manhattan’s Restaurant Row, Shana and Joe invite you to relax and enjoy the vocal styles of Broadway, Jazz, and Blues. The show is about to begin…

Shana Bousard and her father pianist, Joe Bousard have performed at the Herberger Lunch Theater and the Kerr Cultural Center as well as other locations in the valley and the 2007 Festival of Fine Art. Cake and coffee will complement the evening. For information 623-516-2268

World-acclaimed The Kent Camerata, a professional vocal/instrumental ensemble affiliated with Kent State University’s Hugh A. Glauser School of Music, performs classical and contemporary music in this Festival opener.

In addition to appearances in New England, the Midwest, and the Southwestern United States, the Kent Camerata has performed numerous concerts in Canada, Ireland, Germany, Italy, and China. The objective of the Kent Camerata’s international creative outreach is to enhance the reputation of the university, to further international cultural understanding, friendships, professional collaborations, and to share the joy of beautiful music making. Kent Camerata Favorites is the title of the affiliate artist ensemble’s new CD featuring a variety of solo and ensemble music by Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Schumann, Brahms, Fauàe, Loeffler and Ravel.

This 4^th annual indoor, juried fine art show showcasing top Arizona artists. Artwork includes painting, sculpture, jewelry, photography, gourds, wood, glass, metal, ceramics. The Festival also hosts the 2^nd annual Regional Teen Art Exhibit and Competition, and features live music performed by such groups as Pete Pancrazi Trio and Meadowlark.

ACNV presents one of the top social events of the North Valley. Enjoy fine dining, dancing to the music of Messinger Band, entertainment and emcee T.A. Burrows, performance by AZDance group, silent and live auctions of premium items. This event serves as fundraiser for the arts in the North Valley and scholarships and programs for young people. It also serves as an opportunity to recognize scholarship winners.

On Friday, April 4^th, ACNV presents “Cabaret & Cake” featuring an entertaining evening of musical theatre with an original production of “Unforgettable” by the professional company, Act Two Productions. These talented singers will bring to life legends such as Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Patsy Cline and more. The evening begins with dessert at 6:30 p.m. followed by the performance at 7 p.m.

Tickets for event range from $5 to $15. No tickets at the door. Guests can purchase tickets online at www.acnv.org and print their receipts for admission or they can call the Arts Council of the North Valley at (623) 516-2268, extension 4, up to and including the show date.

The Beuf Community Center is located at 3435 W. Pinnacle Peak Rd., in North Phoenix (Exit 217 on I-17, west of the freeway at the corner of 35^th and Pinnacle Peak Rd).

On the afternoon of Saturday, April 5^th, the ACNV presents “Dancers & Divas,” a showcase of dance and music. The performances start at 2 p.m., but guests can enter at any point during the afternoon to enjoy all or part of productions.

Ballet Yuma, recognized nationally as one of the best preprofessional ballet companies in the country, and the exhilarating AZDance Group’s professional company, will perform classical and contemporary work. The afternoon will also feature the exciting Flamenco del Sol dancers. Professional singers from TML Arts will perform songs from their hit musical theatre production “A Woman X Three,” which celebrates the friendship, sisterhood, strengths and freedoms that only women find in one another. Performance times are: Ballet Yuma, 2 p.m.; AZ Dance Group, 2:45 p.m.; Divas Shana Bousard, Tina Khalil, Sally Jo Bannow with pianist Joe Bousard, 3:30 p.m.; and Flamenco del Sol, 4:10 p.m.

Tickets for both events range from $5 to $15. No tickets at the door. Guests can purchase tickets online at www.acnv.org and print their receipts for admission or they can call the Arts Council of the North Valley at (623) 516-2268, extension 4, up to and including the show date. Children 12 and under can attend for free when accompanied by a paying adult.

The Beuf Community Center is located at 3435 W. Pinnacle Peak Rd., in North Phoenix (Exit 217 on I-17, west of the freeway at the corner of 35^th and Pinnacle Peak Rd).

Join us for an intimate Cuban experience with special guest Leandro Soto, ASU faculty, Senior Lecturer, Artist in Residence ~ Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance.

At a private residence in Anthem from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., performance at sunset. Cuban hor d'oeuvres and beverages will be served. Suggested $25/person contribution for ACNV members; $35 for non-members. Limited to seventy people.

Purchase "tickets" on this website or contact Connie Campbell Henry at 623-516-2268, ext. 1, or concamhnry@aol.com.

This exciting performance presents musicians from Red Rocks Music Festival including David Ehrlich, Virginia Tech faculty; Nancy Buck, ASU faculty; Magdalena Martinique-Jeric, Phoenix Symphony; Russell Schmidt Trio, Jazz Department, Bowling Green University, Ohio.

Performance at Fellowship Church, 39905 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., performance at 7:30 p.m.