Passport to the World Begins at ArtSpace Falls Church

From January 14 through March 4th, Creative Cauldron will present "Passport to the World" a multicultural performance series at ArtSpace Falls Church featuring music, dance and theater troupes representing regions around the globe. Creative Cauldron Producing Director Laura Hull describes the eight-week series as an opportunity to "travel the world without ever leaving Falls Church." The Festival is sponsored by the Economic Development Authority of the City of Falls Church Tickets for the festival events range from $10 to $20.

North and West Africa
The series begins on Saturday, January 14 at 7:30 pm with a performance of Kamel Zennia and Band. Algerian born Zennia plays music inspired by the diverse cultures of North Africa, from the coastal regions of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, to the towns in the deepest reaches of the Sahara. With his unique fusion of Berber, Gnawa, Rhumba Flamenca and Algerian folk/rock sounds, the evening is sure to be one full of great music and dancing. West African storyteller Auntie (Vera) Oye, will introduce families to West African culture and food on Sunday, January 15 at 2:00 pm.

Bulgaria and the Balkans
The hot spicy music of the Balkans will be next on the line up as Lyuti Chushki performs toe-tapping music played on traditional instruments that take you back to the old country. The concert and dance party will be held on Saturday, January 21 at 7:30 pm. On Sunday, January 22 at 2:00 pm traditional Bulgarian storytelling and puppetry will be performed by the Hopa Tropa Puppet Theatre.

Asia: Korea, Thailand and Vietnam
The Korean Heritage Foundation Peace Mission Dance Troupe and Hannori will perform a collection of traditional dances and songs on Friday, January 27 at 7:30 pm. On Saturday, Trained in Thailand with the most celebrated dance masters including the National Artists and others from the prestigious Department of Fine Arts in Bangkok, Somapa Thai Dance Company will perform seven unique Thai dances on Saturday, January 28 at 7:30 pm. The weekend will be rounded out with a Vietnamese Lunar New Year Tet Celebration on Sunday, January 29 at 2:00 pm. Traditional folkloric dance and music on traditional 16 stringed instruments will be featured along with a fashion show highlighting Vietnamese costume and dress through the ages.

Latin America and the Andes
February will feature a performance by the Latin American musical duo Ernesto Bravo and Jose Sacin on Friday, February 3 at 7:30pm. Bravo and Sacin are talented singers and musicians who perform with a wide variety of instruments such as guitar, charango, quena and Latin American percussion On Saturday at 7:30pm, RAYMI, will perform their haunting and mystical fusion of Andean and Latin music. Raymi will then team up with Creative Cauldron teaching artists for a family-friendly story theater presentation "Tales from the Andes" on Sunday the 5th at 2:00pm.

Italy
DC based commedia dell'Arte performance troupe, Faction of Fools will present two performances for the weekend of February 11-12. On Saturday at 7:30, Faction of Fools Artistic Director, Matthew R. Wilson will perform "The Great One-Man Commedia Epic", a one-man show in which he performs 12 different characters drawn from the historical commedia dell' Arte canon On Sunday, February 12 at 2:00pm, the Faction of Fools troupe will present a fun-filled commedia version of Shakespeare's classic "Romeo and Juliet." The Faction of Fools performance will be followed at 4:00 pm by an Italian Village Dance Workshop led by Celest DiPietrapolo and Marie Cocco.

Pacific Islands
The weekend of February 18-19 will highlight the rich and diverse cultures of the Pacific Islands. Hui o Ka Pua 'Ilima will start the weekend on Saturday, Feburary 18th at 7:30, with traditional and contemporary Polynesian songs and dances from Hawa'ii, New Zealand and Tahiti. On Sunday, February 19th at 2:00pm the group will also pair up with Creative Cauldron teaching artists for "Tales from Hawaii" an interactive afternoon of storytelling, and puppetry shedding light on the heroes and adventurers of Hawaiian legend. Also performing on Sunday, February 19th at 7:30 pm will be Gamelan Whratnala, a troupe composed of elegant and exquisitely costumed dancers and musicians playing met allophones, drums, gongs, flutes and cymbals.

Russia and the Ukraine
On Saturday, February 25th at 7:30pm, Russkie Musikanti, a talented ensemble comprised of 10 members from the celebrated Washington Balalaika Society, will perform authentic Russian folk music, bringing the magic of Russia and Eastern Europe to the broader community. On Sunday, February 26th at 2:00pm, "Tales from Russia and the Ukraine" another family-friendly story theater presentation by Creative Cauldron teaching artists, will bring to life folk and fairy tales from ancient Slavic culture.

Celtic
The festival will culminate with a weekend of Celtic celebration. Local Falls Church trio The Dirty Pints, will get the weekend started on March 3rd at 2:00pm with traditional Irish music. The Dirty Pints are a favorite band at Ireland's Four Provinces restaurant playing a crowd-pleasing mixture of traditional Irish on fiddle, whistle and guitar. Moch Pryderi, a six piece Welsh American band will follow at 7:30pm, Their music is firmly rooted in the traditional Brythonic-Celtic music of Wales and Brittany and their instrumentation includes rare Welsh triple harp, pibgorms and bagpipes as well as highland pipes, fiddle, Breton bombarde, bouzouki, flutes, whistles and percussion. The final performance of the festival will feature rousing Celtic reels and exquisite music of the Emerald Glen Trio on Sunday, March 4th at 7:30pm. Flute, hammered dulcimer and violin combine in a sparkling mosaic of sound that is both contemporary and timeless-an enchanting collage of musical textures.

Tickets for Passport to the World can be purchased on-line at www.creativecauldron.org or by calling 571-239-5288.