Classes
Darien Arts Center young dancers

Register Soon for Winter/Spring Dance Classes at Darien Arts Center

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Registration is open for Darien Arts Center winter/spring dance classes, beginning Jan. 20, with a wide variety for all ages and skill levels. Don’t wait too long — classes fill quickly. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center

Classes for ages 3 & up include Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Teen Lyrical, Adult Lyrical Jazz, Teen Contemporary, Modern, Broadway Dance, Pop-Pilates Tap and Pointe. Different Levels:

—In the introductory program for ages three to five, students explore rhythm, music, creative expression and basic coordination skills in addition to dance vocabulary and basic positions.

Classes

Music Classes Begin in January at Darien Arts Center: You Can Register Your Kid Now

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Registration is available now for music classes that begin in January at Darien Arts Center. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center

DAC instructors, professionals chosen for their individual artistry and teaching skills, include Juanita Bosee, Music Director, Christine DeMaio, Anthony DiTaranto, Christine Geeding, Daniel Hague, Sharon Levin, Stephanie Wong and Daniel Saulpaugh. Private Music Instruction

The DAC Music Program includes private lessons for cello, guitar, flute, violin, voice, piano, and music theory as well as group classes. Private music instruction is available for

— students as young as five years if the young student is ready

— older students including middle and high school students, who develop skills to play music they enjoy,

— adults who have decided to acquire a new skill or to keep minds and hands nimble. Qualified students have the opportunity to participate in the Royal Conservatory of Music Program, which offers adjudicated testing in both music theory and practical application.

Music

Persian Music and Poetry To Be Spoken, Played and Discussed at St Luke’s on Jan 11

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Persian music and poetry will be featured at an evening concert-talk, “Gifts From the Magi: Music and Poetry of the Near East,” by Amir Vahab and Ensemble at 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11 at St. Luke’s Darien. — an announcement from St. Luke’s Parish

Vahab is one of New York’s most celebrated composer/vocalists of Sufi and Near Eastern music.

Art Exhibits
Shanan Haislip I Rise

Maritime Garage Gallery Winter Exhibit, ‘Seeds of Peace’ Runs Through Feb 29

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Stop by the Maritime Garage Gallery’s winter exhibit in SoNo to experience a sense of calm during the busy holiday season. The works of art featured in the gallery’s “Seeds of Peace” exhibit embrace the senses of peace and serenity. The exhibit will run through Feb.29, 2020. — an announcement from the Norwalk Parking Authority

“Seeds of Peace” presents the works of 28 artists from around the region, including Mark Schiff of Norwalk; Jennifer Prat from Fairfield; Julie O’Connor, of Weston; and Shanan Haislip of Terryville. Nadia Martinez has curated the exhibit.

Film
Tenet poster wide horizontal

You Can See, for Free, the 6.5-Minute ‘Prologue’ to Christopher Nolan’s Movie, ‘Tenet’ at Maritime Aquarium’s IMAX

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A short prologue to Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet,” one of the most anticipated movies of summer 2020, is now playing in exclusive 15/70 IMAX film – for free – over the holiday period at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium with additional information from Darienite.com. Show times for the 6 1/2-minute prologue at The Maritime Aquarium are 5 p.m. daily Dec. 20-23 and Dec. 26-31.

Holidays
Holiday Magic poster picture 2019

Santa, Animal Rides, Caroling and Hot Cocoa at ‘Holiday Magic’ Christmas Season Event Downtown

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On Saturday, Dec. 7, Santa will arrive at Grove Street Plaza and come down the Chimney to visit with children, who get to ride on animals, sip hot cocoa and listen to carolers from Darien High School. — an announcement from the Darien Chamber of Commerce

Families can be entertained while waiting for his arrival with Rides on the Giant Animals — Lucy the Polar Bear and Rudy the Reindeer, Carolers from Darien High School will entertain all, and there will be hot cocoa. This is one local event you won’t want to miss and is great way to spread the cheer. Holiday Magic is a joint effort and is put together by Bill Jensen of Darien Toy Box, the Darien Chamber of Commerce, PG Properties and The Melting Pot.

Darien Arts Center

Wreath-Making Workshop at Darien Arts Center

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Enjoy a cup of coffee at the Darien Arts Center and have a relaxing morning of creativity at their Saturday morning Wreath Making Workshop on Dec. 7 at 10 a.m.

Get in the holiday spirit & bring a friend. Wreaths & supplies are provided. $60 per person. Sign up online, here, or find out more at darienarts.org.

Charity Events and Opportunities

Rowayton Gardeners Christmas Market Coming Saturday, Dec 7

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From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, the Rowayton Community Center transforms into a stunning showcase of holiday decorations with the annual Rowayton Gardeners’ Annual Christmas Market. — an announcement from Rowayton Gardeners

The Market, which takes place at the Rowayton Community Center, 22 Highland Ave., features designer-quality wreaths and center pieces, one-of-a-kind gifts, boxwood trees and ornaments — all reasonably priced. A range of fabulous items are on offer at the silent auction, and Santa is also on hand to welcome children and grandchildren. Come support the Garden Club’s mission of spreading the word about conservation, maintaining most of our public spaces, introducing children to the joy of growing living things, and raising community awareness about the environment.

Darien Library

‘Blinded by the Light’ — Darien Library’s Friday Night Feature

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Darien Library’s Friday Night Feature film, “Blinded by the Light,” tells the story of a British teen of Pakistani descent whose life is altered when he’s introduced to the music of Bruce Springsteen. The 2019 film, which runs just under two hours, will be shown from 7 to about 9 p.m. in the Community Room of the library. — Darien Library announcement

Amid the racial and economic turmoil of the late 1980s, Javed (Viveik Kalra) writes poetry as a means to escape the intolerance of his hometown and the inflexibility of his traditional father. But when a classmate introduces him to the music of “the Boss,” Javed sees parallels to his working-class life in Springsteen’s powerful lyrics. As Javed discovers a cathartic outlet for his own pent-up dreams, he also begins to find the courage to express himself in his own unique voice.

Art Exhibits

Curator H.S. Miller of Darien Describes Bruce Museum’s Coming Exhibit: a ‘2D Cabinet of Curiosities’

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Opening on Saturday, Dec. 14, the Bruce Museum’s latest exhibition will feature depictions of sea serpents crushing ships, seven-foot-tall giants, a mummified Porsche, and a menagerie of other oddities sure to pique the interest of any visitor interested in the intersection of art and science. — an announcement from the Bruce Museum

“Collecting Reimagined: A 2D Curiosity Cabinet” is curated by H.S. Miller of Darien, the museum’s Zvi Grunberg Resident Fellow 2019-20, and will be on view in the museum’s Bantle Lecture Gallery through March 24, 2020. Below, Miller answers five questions about the exhibition:

1. What’s the difference between a 3D curiosity cabinet and one that’s 2D?

Charity Events and Opportunities

‘Frozen II’ — Darien Community-Wide Movie, Coming Dec 2

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Attention movie lovers: Mark your calendars — on Monday, Dec. 2, Frozen II, the annual “Community-Wide Movie” benefiting the Darien Human Services Holiday gift drive will again take place at the Darien Playhouse. — an announcement from the Darien Youth Commission
Sponsored by the Darien Youth Commission, the Darien Human Services Department, and the movie theater, Frozen II runs 1 hour 49 minutes. (This movie premieres in theaters on Friday, Nov. 22.

Art Exhibits
Spittoon Shards of History Exhibit Darien Historical Society

Curator Available Sunday to Talk About New Darien Historical Society Display of 19th Century Pottery

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A spittoon, beer bottle and milk pan are part of a unique collection of Norwalk Pottery items featured in the exhibition “Shards of History” now at the Darien Historical Society. Richard Prowse, a longtime collector of Norwalk Pottery, will discuss the display and answer questions on Sunday, Nov. 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Darien Historical Society. The display features several stoneware and redware pieces manufactured in Norwalk during the 1800s, when that city was known throughout the United States for producing top-quality pottery. “Glazed pottery items were once as ubiquitous as Tupperware is today,” said Prowse, who with Tracy Goodnow, loaned the pieces to the Museum and co-curated the exhibition.

Holidays
Gunsmoke band members November 2019

Gunsmoke ‘Home for the Holidays’ Benefit Concert on Dec 7 at the Piedmont Club

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Gunsmoke, the award-winning, Nashville-recording country western band formed in Darien, will perform its latest Music for Hope benefit concert, Home for the Holidays at the Piedmont Club on Saturday, Dec. 7. — an announcement from Gunsmoke

Admission is $15. Proceeds from the concert will be donated to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.