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Saturdays beginning July 3 at Artpark Emerald Grove
Artpark & Company announced Free Drum Circles with Stephen Bell as part of the summer season. Performances run 2-3:30 p.m. Saturdays, July 3, through Aug. 28, at Artpark’s Emerald Grove, 450 S. Fourth St., Lewiston.
Bell, member of the International Drum Circle Facilitator’s Guild, and retired local educator, leads a group of percussionists of all abilities. He spent 32 years in education, the final 21 years as middle school principal in the Springville-Griffith Institute CSD in Western New York. Music has been an integral part of his life since beginning drum lessons in elementary school. Forty-nine years ago, he was introduced to hand drumming and the mesmerizing pulses of African rhythms.
The enjoyment Bell received in working with staff and students and his life-long involvement with percussion led naturally to facilitating drum circles – a perfect melding of two passions. As a result, he has pursued training in facilitating circles for wellness and full participatory enjoyment. This comprehensive training has included workshops in rhythm circle facilitation, sound empowerment, and drumming for wellness, leading to his accepted membership in the International Drum Circle Facilitators’ Guild. Through an intense two-day training, Bell recently received certification as a health-rhythms facilitator.
Admission is free, but attendance is limited, and RSVP is required. Drums will be provided, but participants are also welcomed to bring their own. For more information or to register, visit artpark.net.
The 2021 Artpark season is supported by: M&T Bank; Cullen Foundation; Coors Light; Miller Lite; Wright Beverage Distributing; and New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. “Artpark Works” funding for salaries of cultural sector workers at Artpark made possible by the John R. Oishei Foundation and KeyBank in partnership with First Niagara Foundation.