Tuesday, May 15, 2012

IN CONCERT: DANCE AND MUSIC OF THE SUBTROPICS


Get a jump on summer’s lazy vibe at a late afternoon concert of dance and song from subtropical countries, Sunday, May 20, from 4-6 p.m. at the Dome Playground stage. Dome is located on Dahill Road between 37 and 38 streets, off Cortelyou Road and McDonald Avenue.

Organized by Annie Ferdous, a Kensington dancer and the director of the BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF THE PERFORMING ARTS, the event will feature her 8-member troupe of 10-to-15-year-old girl dancers from local schools. In addition, students at Latin Fever, a dance studio in Ditmas Park, will show off their salsa moves. DVS, a Bangla rap group, and dancers from PS 230 will also perform. And there will be three singers: two Bengali—Bashma and Ashraf Rana—and a rock 'n' roller: Allen Guzman.

An assist from City Councilmember Brad Lander made this program possible. Friends of Dome Playground, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Dome-Playground/122549374516214, is co-sponsoring the concert which will showcase Dome’s stage, the playground’s major architectural feature.

Up until now, no outside theater, music, or dance troupe has appeared here. But this Sunday’s concert, one of the many events being held citywide this weekend at NYC parks in celebration of “It’s My Park Day”—which NYC Parks/Partnerships for Parks holds yearly—could alert Dome’s regular users and neighbors to its possibilities.