SPAN Arts, the Narberth-based community arts group, are getting excited about their autumn programme of arts events. They have two international dance promotions coming soon from India and Spain.
On Thursday, September 26, one of the most interesting dancers from India, Jayanthi Eshwarparthi, whose visit to Wales has been organised by Tenby resident Olivia Argent, is coming to give a dance workshop for children and adults at the Queen's Hall, Narberth.
Olivia said: "Jayanthi is a highly skilled dancer and teacher and I was so impressed by her flexible approach to teaching and performing I had to try and get her to come to Pembrokeshire. She has worked all over the world with African and Spanish companies as well as classical Indian dancers. I was very impressed with her talent for making the art so approachable."
The dancer will be giving an afternoon workshop for all ages, and dancing in the Kathak and Bharatnatiam styles with musical support from local musician Mike Chant at the evening performance.
Friday, October 4, sees the return of the popular Spanish company of flamenco dancers, singers and musicians collectively known as Jaleo.
Jaleo fuse the essential elements of flamenco with their own inimitable brand of Spanish passion and emotion to unleash the raw energy and sensuous rhythms inherent within flamenco. A potent cocktail of explosive footwork, haunting singing, virtuoso guitar playing and percussive handclapping from southern Spain with some of flamenco's finest award-winning artists. A welcome return for the Seville based flamenco company who always thrill capacity audiences wherever they perform. Advance booking is essential.
The autumn half-term will be full of the activities of 'Word Feast', the 2002 Narberth Literature Festival which will give opportunities for everyone to celebrate reading, writing and performing with words.
October 24-27 are the dates for a host of performances, workshops, talks and competitions about writing. An Australian story-teller and artist will be there to give a workshop on Aborigine painting, music and culture. There will be a short story competition that you can enter now on the theme of 'The Feast'. This will be judged in three categories, under 12s, 12-16 years, and over 16s. Prize winners will be judged by well-known local writers and announced during the event. There will also be a competition to compose a limerick with the first line 'There once was a member of SPAN'. Well-known Pembrokeshire writers and performers will be involved and the whole event is set to make a splash in Narberth next month.
In November there will be a dance with the popular Celtic/African band Baka Beyond and in December a visit from acclaimed theatre company Red Shift with a haunting play called 'The Love Child'.
To get further details or book tickets for any of these events you can call SPAN on (01834) 869323 or take a look at the newly constructed website http://www.span-arts.org.uk">www.span-arts.org.uk