Darien Arts Center

Live Acoustic Music at ‘Coffee and Culture’ Benefit for Darien Arts Center at Caffè Nero Feb 28

These New Summer Camps and Classes Are Offered by Darien Arts Center

Deadline — THURSDAY, Feb 14 — to Enter Your Photo in the Pic Darien Smartphone Photo Contest

Past PIC DARIEN Winner Captures Nuances of Life, 2019 Photo Contest Open until Feb 14

Casting Call: Darien Arts Center Wants 6th, 7th, 8th Graders for Short Version of ‘A Wrinkle in Time’

Jeffrey Wyant Named Judge of Darien Arts Center’s 2019 Pic Darien Smartphone Photo Contest

‘Pic Darien’ 2019 Smartphone Photo Contest Entries Now Accepted

Darien Arts Center Registration Now Open for Classes Beginning Soon

Staged Reading of Madeleine L’Engle’s ’24 Days Before Christmas’ on Nov 3 at DAC

Reserve Tickets Now (They Usually Sell Out) for Darien Art’s Center’s 18th ‘Evening of Dance’

Musician Joins Darien Arts Center to Teach Rock Ensemble, Young Composers, Give Private Music Lessons

Artist Sam Morrow Leads Darien Arts Center Photography Class for Kids, Painting Class for Adults

Bonnie Gombos Both Heads DAC Dance and, with Husband Jamie, Teaches Martial Arts

Art Classes for Kids, Ages 3 to 10, Start This Week, Register Soon

Workshop Series for Teens Who Want to Sharpen Theater Auditioning Skills

Charity Events and Opportunities

By DARIENITE.COM | February 27, 2019

Darien Arts Center

By DARIENITE.COM | February 22, 2019

Darien Arts Center

By DARIENITE.COM | February 13, 2019

Darien Arts Center

By DARIENITE.COM | January 14, 2019

Auditions

By DARIENITE.COM | January 13, 2019

Darien Arts Center

By DARIENITE.COM | January 8, 2019

Darien Arts Center

By DARIENITE.COM | January 2, 2019

Darien Arts Center

By DARIENITE.COM | January 2, 2019

Darien Arts Center

By DARIENITE.COM | October 21, 2018

Dance

By DARIENITE.COM | October 9, 2018

Darien Arts Center

By DARIENITE.COM | October 7, 2018

Classes

By DARIENITE.COM | October 1, 2018

Dance

By DARIENITE.COM | September 24, 2018

Darien Arts Center

By DARIENITE.COM | September 24, 2018

Classes

By DARIENITE.COM | September 7, 2018

Darien’s newest coffee house, Caffè Nero, will be host to “Coffee & Culture,” a benefit for the Darien Arts Center, on Thursday, Feb. 28 from 6:30p.m. to 9 p.m.

The evening will include live acoustic music by DAC music instructor Dan Saulpaugh, artwork by the 2018 Ginny Wright Scholarship recipient Nadia Czebiniak, and complimentary beverages and light fare provided by Caffè Nero. Admission to event is $20 and all proceeds will support the Darien Arts Center. To purchase tickets, visit the DAC website or purchase at the door. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center

Caffè Nero is located at 1075 Post Road in Darien, and parking for the event is available in the rear of the building in addition to on-street parking.

The Darien Arts Center is offering a variety of new summer camps and classes for all ages in theatre, dance, martial arts, visual arts and music. — an announcement from the Darien Arts Center

Use the DAC’s new improved registration system, sign up for their newsletter or find more information on the DAC website or call (203) 655-8683. The DAC is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Town Hall. VISUAL ARTS, THEATRE & MUSIC CAMPS

PERFORMANCE KIDS – Two age groups available: Group A: Ages 3-5, Group B: Ages 6-8. Monday-Friday, 10:15am-12:45pm.

Photographers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to enter and compete for cash prizes at DarienArts.org. The deadline to enter the Darien Arts Center’s smartphone photo contest Pic Darien is Feb. 14. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center

The contest is open to all and contestants are not required to live in Darien. Participants may enter Pic Darien, as often as they wish, either as a student (ages 17 and under) or as an adult (ages 18 and over)

The fee to enter the contest is $10 per photo.

The Darien Arts Center encourages smartphone photographers of all ages and abilities, locally, or anywhere in the world, to enter its fourth annual Smartphone Photo Contest, Pic Darien through Feb. 14 at DarienArts.org. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center

“With the world increasingly using their phones as cameras, we are seeing an explosion of incredible photos taken every day. We love the idea of gathering what people consider their best smartphone photos and are amazed by the submissions every year,” said DAC Executive director, Amy Allen. “Although the contest is a fundraiser for the DAC, it is largely about fun, creativity and celebrating artistic expression at the Award and Reveal Reception where all entries are showcased and winners are announced.”

Darien resident Lee Smith a three-time winner in last year’s contest, entered several photos into the competition at the encouragement of his wife.

Casting call for 6th, 7th and 8th graders: the Darien Art Center’s Theatre Department is producing a 35-minute version of A Wrinkle in Time, adapted by Morgan Gould from the novel by Madeleine L’Engle. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center

This one-act production will be ensemble-driven, and casting will be audition-based. 6th through 8th graders may audition by emailing DAC Theatre Director, Maria Pizzarello at maria@darienarts.org by Feb. 4. To prepare for an audition, read the full script for free on YourStagePartners.com.

Award-winning photographer, filmmaker and TV producer Jeffrey Wyant will judge the Darien Art Center’s 2019 Smartphone Photo Contest, Pic Darien. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center

This is the fourth year for the photo contest, which garnered 375 entries in 2018. This year, contestants may submit their smartphone photos for cash prizes in six categories at DarienArts.org until Feb. 14. Photos do not need to be taken in Darien.

Photo by Harrison Slotkin Pic Darien student travel first place

The Darien Arts Center is announcing the return of its annual smartphone photo contest, Pic Darien, which will be accepting entries at darienarts.org from Jan. 1 through Feb. 14. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center

Adults (18 and up) and Students (17 and under) may submit their smartphone photos for cash prizes in six categories: People and Pets; Landscape, Seascape, Nature; Travel; Food and Drink; Abstract; and Love, Anguish and Triumph. The contest is open to all; there are no age restrictions and contestants are not required to live in Darien.

You can register now for Darien Art Center’s upcoming adult and children’s educational classes in dance, visual arts, music, theater and martial arts, as well as special events. Use the DAC’s new improved registration system, sign up for their newsletter or find more information at DarienArts.org or call (203) 655-8683. The DAC is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Town Hall. —an announcement from Darien Arts Center
FOR AGES 3 THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
Theater
NEW! A Wrinkle in Time, grades 6 to 8, Auditions: Saturday, Feb. 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Rehearsals: Saturday, March 2 to April 27 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Performances: May 3 to 5.

24 Days Before Christmas square thumbnail DAC 2018

The Darien Arts Center is presenting a staged reading of Madeleine L’Engle’s The 24 Days Before Christmas on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 5 p.m.

Refreshments and a holiday craft for ages 5 and older will be available at 4:30 p.m. and a talkback takes place after the performance at 6:15 p.m. with Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughter, Charlotte Jones Voiklis. — an announcement from the DAC

The play was adapted for the stage by internationally produced playwright Jason Pizzarello and is directed by Carole Claps, director at Curtain Call. In The 24 Days Before Christmas, the Austin family has a cherished tradition of doing something special every day counting down to Christmas — from baking cookies to decorating the tree. This year is a stressful one for Vicky Austin as she’s cast as the youngest angel in the Christmas Pageant.

Once again, a dazzling ‘Evening of Dance’ promises to thrill audiences at the Darien Arts Center’s annual performances at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 20 and at 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 21. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center

Celebrating it’s 18th year, the DAC’s ‘Evening of Dance’ will showcase an impressive culmination of performances by the DAC Dance department staff, and the adult and student performance groups that have worked together since 2000. Under the direction of DAC Dance Director Bonnie Gombos, instructors and students have developed, choreographed and polished performances to feature the versatility of the dancers in a wide variety of dance forms.

Performances will encompass classical ballet, modern, contemporary jazz, and ballroom styles, and approximately 30 dancers will perform in the 90-minute show.

Musician Dan Saulpaugh has joined the Darien Arts Center to lead new group lessons that include a Rock Ensemble Workshop as well as the Young Composers’ Workshop, in addition to teaching private music lessons in guitar and voice. The group workshops each take place on Saturdays, beginning on Oct. 13, and private guitar and voice lessons are ongoing. Dan Saulpaugh is an active performer and teacher throughout the greater New York City metro area and holds a bachelor of fine arts in jazz studies from City College of New York. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center

He also spent time studying with Douglass Rubio at SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music as a classical guitar performance major before relocating to New York City.

Artist Sam Morrow is leading the Digital Photography class for ages 9-12, starting Friday, Oct. 5, and an Oil Painting class for adults at the Darien Arts Center, starting Oct. 10. Morrow has taught at local art centers including Silvermine, Rowayton Arts Center, Greenwich Art Society and Ridgefield Guild of Artists, as well as at East Tennessee State University and Virginia Intermont. He has a BFA from St.

For many in Darien, “Miss Bonnie” is synonymous with ballet, modern, tap, hip hop, jazz and multiple other dance opportunities for youth. It’s not a surprise, as Bonnie Gombos has been at the helm of the Darien Art Center’s well-known dance department since 2007 and has been teaching dance at the DAC for 23 years. — This article was provided by Darien Arts Center. First hired as a dance instructor, Gombos soon found herself filling the shoes of original DAC Dance Director Val Pullman when Pullman moved to Maryland. Already known for its welcoming and creative dance space, Gombos grew the DAC’s dance “family” into one of the largest dance schools in Connecticut, teaching dance to many generations in Darien.

DAC art classes registration announcement

The Darien Arts Center is introducing three new visual arts classes and instructors for children, aged 3 through 10. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center

The classes are tailored to specific age groups, where students will create developmentally appropriate art projects using the elements of art and a variety of different media. Techniques will be explored while students create using pastels, watercolor, ink and more. Karen Siegel, leads the Art Studio class for 8 to 10 year olds, taking place on Thursdays, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., from Sept. 27 through Dec.

DAC Weatherstone Studio entrance daytime Thumbnail square

« August 2022 »

The Audition Workout, an intensive workshop for high school students at the Darien Arts Center, promises to hone auditioning skills and give participants the tools to make every audition a positive experience. _____________

— an announcement from Darien Arts Center

_____________

The DAC’s theatre department has invited local industry professionals Claire Kelly, Carole Claps, Jenifer Menedis, and Dwayne Condon to share their expertise in this workshop series. The series consists of three sessions, taking place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 26, Oct. 1 and Oct.