She Sings, She Drums, She Dances for Womansong

Asheville’s Womansong Chorus

Staff reports

Local women performers lift their voices, dance in beauty, and beat their drums! Womansong, Asheville’s oldest and largest women’s community chorus, shares the stage with a dynamic showcase of local women performers.

The concert will take place on Saturday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, June 12 at 3 p.m. in the UNCA Lipinsky Auditorium. Proceeds from the concert will benefit Womansong and its New Start Program.

‘SHE SINGS’ guest artists:

•    Wild Bodema, a high-energy women’s drum troupe will perform a variety of traditional and original rhythms;

•    The Sue Ford Trio will present Sue’s compelling, original songs
with backup harmonies by Womansong’s own Althea Gonzalez and Susan
Taylor.

•     Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre ensemble will present
“Beauty,” a preview of a piece from the full length contemporary ballet
“The Birds of War.”

•    Now or Never, a new ensemble of Womansong members, will make their debut with a humorous Righteous Mothers’ piece.

Womansong’s seventy singers will offer up the group’s usual blend of
eclectic song selections, with a spotlight on the theme of music in our
lives. The lush jazz standard, “Without a Song,” encapsulates that
sentiment. An original song by Womansong member Lytingale, “My Sisters,”
celebrates the special bond of friendship among women. Back by popular
demand will be “Sing, My Sister, Sing!” a global choir song written by
Annie Lennox. Other pieces will express humor and harmony, with
energetic percussion and audience sing-alongs.

Directed by Debbie Nordeen, and assistant directors Althea Gonzalez and
Sarah Rubin, Womansong is a community chorus that celebrates the unity,
diversity and empowerment of women through musical expression. A
recipient of the Community of Kindness Award in 2005, Womansong promotes
social change through its New Start Program, which offers scholarships
for women in Western N.C. to improve their lives through education or
training. It also provides small grants to “fill in the gap” for women
in need when other funds are not available.

Tickets are $12 in advance/ $15 at the door. Child/Student tickets are
$7. They are available from any Womansong member, online at
www.womansong.org, or at the door. A $10 per person group rate is
available to groups of 10 or more who buy tickets in advance.