15th annual OCEANS OF RHYTHM FESTIVAL 2008
ZEYBRAH in conjunction with The Long Branch Office of Community Development and the Long Branch Department of Recreation presents:
the 15th annual OCEANS OF RHYTHM FESTIVAL 2008
as part of LONG BRANCH DAY
DATE: Saturday September 13th, 2008
TIME: Part I: 3:00 - first show at Jerry Morgan Park
Part II: 5:00 - procession and 2nd show on the Great Lawn
PLACE: Jerry Morgan Park, Liberty Street between Broadway and Joline
Procession ends at the Great Lawn at the beach near Cooper Ave.
FEE: Free admission!
CONTACT: Basha @ (732) 290-0967 or ZEYBRAH@aol.com
ZEYBRAH's 15th annual Oceans of Rhythm Festival will be held at Jerry Morgan Park and the Great Lawn in Long Branch on Saturday, September 13th. This year's theme, "In 2008, Be Great, Educate to Elevate," uses music, drumming and dance to uplift the spirit! There will be a host of talent, local and international, young and old, with entertainment on two stages and a carnival procession. The Oceans of Rhythm Ensembles will begin at 3:00, on the stage at the Jerry Morgan Park, followed by a musical procession to the Great Lawn, leaving at 4:30, followed by more entertainment at the Great Lawn!
As the finale of Long Branch Day, the Oceans of Rhythm Festival will feature several groups: Lavendar Larry, a jazz funk fusion band, playing standards and original music: Yakar Roots and Rhythms, an electrifying dance group from Senegal, West Africa. Grupo Iwa Dada, a children's musical theatre and dance group with a tale, How PeaceBird Started to Bring Peace; and the Kotchegna Dance group from the Ivory Coast in West Africa, performing traditional African dance masquerade, chacaba.
Following these performances, the Yakar Roots and Rhythms Drum and Dance Company and the Stiltwalker, will lead a carnival-like procession with audience participation, culminating at the ocean. All are invited to join in the procession or meet at the beach at the Great Lawn! This is a family oriented festival, where all ages can celebrate together the beauties of the African drum rhythms, the ocean and the community! The carnival procession will begin at Jerry Morgan Park and parade down Broadway to the Great Lawn and amphitheatre located a block from Cooper Ave. at Greeley Terrace and McKinley St. for more spectacular drumming and dancing, performances and workshops!
Long Branch Day starts at 8:30 and will offer a variety of activities for the whole family, including bocce, horseshoe contests and a family walk. (In case of rain, the Oceans of Rhythm Festival will be held at the Long Branch Department of Recreation, located at the North end of Long Branch Ave. at 3 Bay Avenue.)
This African/ Caribbean based festival is a celebration of the arts, the people, and the environment, and aims to enrich the community through cultural expressions reflecting its diversity. ZEYBRAH is a nonprofit cultural organization that creates community arts projects & festivals and trains young artists.
Transportation:
From NYC area
Train:
From NYC Penn Station take the NJ transit train to Long Branch and walk 7 blocks; trains run every hour on the half hour.
Driving:
Take Turnpike South, from GW, Lincoln Tunnel, or Holland Tunel; Get off at exit 11 and change for the Garden State Parkway. Then take Exit 105 to Long Branch, go straight and head south on route 36; turn right onto Broadway, go to Liberty Street (after the McDonalds) and turn left for two blocks, find the Jerry Morgan Park, next to Second Baptist Church
Bus:
Buses leave from Port Authority, hourly, Academy Bus line
ARTISTS:
- Oceans of Rhythm Ensemble - Global beat music with special guests
- Grupo Iwa Dada - Children's musical theatre, dance, and music
- Lavander Larry - Jazz - Funk fusion band
- Yakar Roots and Rhythms - Internationally renowned master drummers and dancers from Senegal: Ousmane Sall, Pap Sow, 'Thojo' Diagne, 'Ngor Jallow, 'Guido' Faye,
- Katchegna Dance and Masquerade - renowned group from Ivory Coast
Long Branch Day begins at 8:30 am.
Venue 1: Jerry Morgan Park on Liberty Street, Long Branch, New Jersey, between Broadway and Joline Ave (Take New Jersey Transit train to Long Branch train station, or take GSP to exit 105, heading to the shore)
Venue 2: Great Lawn, near Ocean Ave and Cooper Street, (McKinley Ave. and Greeley Terrace) Rain location: Long Branch Dept. of Recreation, 3 Bay Ave. north end of Long Branch Ave.
