Albuquerque’s annual Klezmer music and dance festival celebrates its sixth year over
Presidents’ Day weekend.
The Southwest’s annual celebration
of Klezmer music and dance, KLEZMERQUERQUE 2008, will present a weekend of concerts,
dance parties, classes, and a lunch with music featuring world-renowned klezmer
artists as well as many local artists. The annual event will take place from
February 15-17 (Friday evening through Sunday afternoon) at Albuquerque’s
Congregation Nahalat Shalom which is located on 3606 Rio Grande Blvd. NW (between
Candelaria & Griegos).
KLEZMERQUERQUE 2008 welcomes back by popular demand the klezmer dance master from
Chicago- Steve Weintraub, who teaches and performs klezmer and East European Jewish
dance at workshops around the world. Steve will perform on Friday and Saturday
evenings in addition to teaching two dance workshops on Saturday and one on Sunday.
The Rebbe’s Orkestra, the popular Albuquerque-based klezmer ensemble will also give
brief performances on Friday and Saturday evening. Appearing with The Rebbe’s
Orkestra will be special guest clarinetist and vocalist from Seattle – Sheila Fox.
On Saturday, February 16th from 11- noon there will be a special FREE klezmer
potpourri presentation for kids and families – advanced reservations required (call
243-6276). And from 12:15-1:30PM come have a vegetarian lunch at KLEZMERQUERQUE as
you listen to the beautiful klezmer string music of Albuquerque’s “Kompanye”
–Admission is an $8.00-$15.00 donation.
KLEZMERQUERQUE 2008 also welcomes back Toronto’s critically-acclaimed and
award-winning 5-piece klezmer ensemble BEYOND THE PALE
(www.beyondthepale.net
teaching klezmer music classes on Saturday and Sunday plus BTP’s virtuoso violinist
will teach a special Serbian violin workshop on Saturday. Beyond the Pale will
perform on Friday evening and is the featured band at the concert on Saturday night,
Feb. 16th at 7:30PM. Tickets for this concert may be purchased in advance for $18.00
(for ALL seats/ages) at Bookworks, 4022 Rio Grande Blvd. NW (505)344-8139 and at
Natural Sound, 3422 Central Ave. SE (505)255-8295 – both in Albuquerque. Tickets
will also be available at the door for $20.00-general and $18.00-fixed income &
under 18.
The festival will open on Friday, February 15th at 6:30PM with a danced Freylekhe
Shabbes (Joyous Sabbath) “service” to the music of Alavados, Nahalat Shalom’s
5-piece in-house band with dancing led by Rikud -Nahalat Shalom’s Yiddish dance
troupe. At 7PM there will be a vegetarian potluck dinner and at 8PM there will be
performances by Beyond the Pale, Yiddish dance-master Steve Weintraub, and ABQ’s own
The Rebbe’s Orkestra with special guest artist Sheila Fox. The music and dance will
continue with Nahalat Shalom’s 20-piece Community Klezmer band and open dancing led
by Steve Weintraub and Rikud. Admission for Friday evening’s event is a $15-$18
suggested donation (under 18-free/donation).
Admission for the entire weekend of events (2 concerts/dance parties, 3 classes,
klezmer potpourri presentation and a lunch with music program) is $90-general,
$75-seniors/fixed income/under 18. Individual classes (one-and-a-half hour long
each) are $20-general / $16-fixed income.
For more information about concerts, class times/prices, Saturday lunch with music
and any other questions please contact:
Beth Cohen (505)243-6276 mailto:cohenedmunds@netzero.net
and/or
Congregation Nahalat Shalom http://www.nahalatshalom.org/
(505)343-8227