BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Library Market//iCal Export//EN BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Intergenerational West African and Caribbean Drum & Song Class w/ Tamarack Hollow UID:4999 DTSTAMP:20260418T122800Z DTSTART:20260214T171500Z DTEND:20260214T181500Z LOCATION:David and Joyce Milne Public Library, 1095 Main St, Williamstown, MA 01267, United States ROOM: Community Room DESCRIPTION:Join in an intergenerational, interactive and hands on drummin g and singing experience rooted in folkloric West Africa and Caribbean mus ic led by Aimée Gelinas and musicians from the Tamarack Hollow Nature and Cultural Center, Gaia Roots and the Berkshire Rhythm Keepers. Participant s will play on traditional percussion instruments and learn songs in vario us languages and the cultural context of the music. Visit www.tamarackholl ow.org & www.tamarackhollow.comThis project is supported by a grant f rom the Mary and Henry Flynt endowment fund of the Williamstown Community Chest and the Fund for Williamstown of the Berkshire Taconic Community Fou ndation.Aimée Gelinas M.Ed is a musician and naturalist educator who has been performing and facilitating educational programs for 30+ years. She c ofounded and directs the Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center in W indsor, MA a non-profit conserving 88 acres of rare, high elevation Boreal forest and watershed that is dedicated to “Inspiring environmental and cultural awareness, appreciation and stewardship” by providing year roun d nature and drumming programs for all ages. As the Director, she is curre ntly guiding the organization in building a nature and cultural educationa l center on site that broke ground in 2024. She is a skilled and seasoned nature educator and outdoor guide as well as a master percussionist and si nger specializing in West African and Caribbean music specifically folklor ic percussion such as Djembe, Doun Doun, Conga, Shekere and more. She cofo unded the music ensembles Gaia Roots in 1994, Trio Candela in 2007 and Sif er in 2000 and also performs with Las Mujeres de la Bomba since 2019. She teaches drumming, singing and nature programs throughout Western MA and be yond to hundreds of students and produces a yearly fundraiser event: The A nnual Tamarack Hollow Berkshire Drum and Dance Fest celebrating its 17th y ear in October 2026. She also leads her two intergenerational student drum performance ensembles: The Berkshire and The Valley Rhythm Keepers. Aimee is a lead drum accompanist for dance classes at Jacob’s Pillow, the Fiv e Colleges, Springfield College, Berkshire Pulse and at local festivals su ch as Wandering Dance and also teaches at local venues such as CATA (Commu nity Access to the Arts), the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts for her wee kly Pittsfield drum classes, programs through her non-profit Tamarack Holl ow, Noel’s dance classes and venues including schools, senior centers, r etreats and more. Aimee has traveled to West Africa, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Me xico, Central America and throughout the US to perform and study percussio n with master drummers. She co-produced the 19-track CD Mother Drum by Gai a Roots featuring music from West Africa, the Caribbean and originals. URL:https://milne.librarycalendar.com/event/west-africa-and-caribbean-drum ming-workshop-w-aimee-gelinas-4999 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR