Spring in the local Sierra promises more than a few feet of powder. Those who seek cultures will also get their fill. Arts For the Schools (AFTS) in Tahoe City has a solid line up planned as they wind up their year. Founded in 1984, this community- and volunteer- supported, non-profit organization thrives on giving the community an opportunity to engage and witness worldly performing artists.
First on the upcoming list is Samarabalouf. On Friday March 23 at 7 p.m. this ‘delightfully crazy’ trio from Amiens, France, brings their gypsy jazz sound to the stage. Infusing ‘a good dose of humor’ and ‘a deluge of happiness,’ Samarabalouf ‘s music ranges from calypso to blues and their thematic material from Middle Eastern to Arabic. ‘Samarabalouf is a very engaging group who make an immediate connection with the audience, no matter what language the listener speaks,’ said Terry Yagura, AFTS executive director. ‘Under the artistic directorship of Francois Petit, acoustic guitar Pierre Margerin, double bass, and Luc Ambry, mandolin, this string trio show themselves as versatile and talented musicians with a killer feel for their instruments and an obvious love for what they do.’
The March 23 show tickets are $25 for preferred seating, $18 for adults, $8 for students in advance and $10 at the door. The event is at the Kings Beach Student Activity Center/Boys and Girls Club. If you can’t make the Friday show or you are strapped for cash, Moody’s in Truckee (530-587-8688) is holding another Samarabalouf show on March 24 free of charge at 9 p.m.
Then on April 10 AFTS brings a zany physical comedian to the area. The Hong Kong Festival Review said ‘Laughter it was. Unadulterated, uninhibited, roars of hysteria, mind you…and the ‘magician’ who transcended all age, cultural, and language barriers to reduce the lot of us to a convulsing mass was Bob Berky.’
Bob, who has traveled the world performing his unique form of comedy, will take the stage at 7 p.m. at North Tahoe High School Theatre. ‘My act is based on the way humans act. It is humorous and relatable,’ Bob said.
Bob is not a stand-up comedian; he uses no words but rather imitates human behavior much like Charlie Chaplin. ‘I spend a lot of time watching people and observing their interactions,’ Bob said. Although he has worked with schools before, this will be Bob’s first time working with Tahoe’s Arts For the Schools. ‘I look forward to working with the community and the kids plus the two days I have to ride [snowboard],’ Bob said.
To conclude the month of April, AFTS will have a community dinner at 6 p.m. on April 27 followed by Galumpha, a trio of astonishing male gymnasts who will be performing modern dance with humor and wacky inventiveness. The dinner and Galumpha performance will be held at the Kings Beach Activity Center/Boys and Girls Club. Preferred seating will cost $20, adult tickets will cost $12, family tickets $25 and student tickets $5. Dinner will be an extra $10.
For information on Arts For the Schools call 530-546-4602.
