Circus of the Roaring Twenties!
Circus Arts presents an evening of aerial gold as the advanced students, adults and coaches create a cabaret befitting the roaring 20s. Audiences are invited to feast their eyes on acts never before seen on the Circus Arts stage.
With international guest performers on the swinging pole and stylish silks, doubles trapeze, lyra, hoops and a flying trapeze finale complete this classy cabaret suitable for the whole family with the ever-effervescent Mae Wilde as the evening’s host.
Prizes for the best dressed, raffle, $5 trapeze swings. Doors open from 6pm. Friday 7pm.
Adults $5, kids $3, under 3 FREE. Tickets on the door.
Byron Entertainment Centre
17 Centennial Circuit, Byron Bay Arts & Industry Park
Art out Loud
Loud in the Gallery is a dynamic exhibition celebrating National Youth Week, with final-year works showcased from secondary schools in the Ballina shire.
Students from Alstonville High, Ballina High, Southern Cross K–12 School, Xavier Catholic College and the Emmanuel Anglican College will experience their artwork being exhibited in a professional gallery while giving the community a valuable insight into the processes, skills and concepts the students explore in art making.
Loud in the Gallery is an annual exhibition, proudly presented by Northern Rivers Community Gallery and Ballina Shire Council as part of the National Youth Week celebrations in April 2015.
Loud in the Gallery will be open from Wednesday 1 April to Sunday 26 April 2015, with the launch event to be held in the Gallery from 5.30pm to 7pm on Thursday 2 April 2015.
One Night of Liquid Gold
Get your glitter on for a tasty, potent mix of live gypsy jazz music from Portland’s Underscore Orkestra and tribal fusion bellydancer Ashley Lopez from the USA, a regular guest with cutting-edge band Beats Antique, whose graceful flexibility and depth of artistry will blow open your mind.
The night also features a cast of shining stars from all over Australia, including local diva Carola Apsara, The Barefoot Gypsies and Silk Road Rebellion, who will take you on a beguiling journey with swords, silk fans, zills and exotic contemporary sounds.
A decadent night of alchemical sights and sounds not to be missed!
Saturday at the Brewery. Earlybird tix $22 +bf available at www.wildhoneyevents.com or $25 at the door.
Starlight Festival Connects the Ancient with the Modern
Twice a year the Bangalow A&I Hall plays host to the Starlight Festival – a festival of conscious living, awakening and connection to humanity’s true potential through workshops, talks and ceremonies with national and international presenters.
The Easter long weekend sees a diverse and eclectic mix of cross-cultural and traditional healers such as Kyle Lazich, a herbalist and chocolate wizard! His love and appreciation of divine vibrations and sacred music has been a foundation from which the Sound Journeys have grown.
He will be facilitating the Aum Healing Circle, a powerful group meditation and Cacao Sound Ceremony with raw cacao and singing bowls at the Starlight Festival. There is Sunder Devi, a spiritual motivator who works around USA, Holland, India and Australia. She will be offering a Despacho ceremony in which she calls forth the ancient Incan goddess Pachamama and offers re-alignment and healing with Mother Nature.
Sean Sullivan is a musician, composer, healer and qualified educator. Sean was drawn to the sacred shamanic self-healing journey – the Medicine Wheel – and is recognised as a gifted healer and educator, blending the wisdom teachings of the Inca shamanic tradition with those of traditional Chinese philosophy and the energies of Indigenous Australia.
Steven Strong brings together ancient sites, archaeology, artefacts, and wisdom from the elders; the Strongs present ample evidence of an ancient technology used in Australia that is still beyond present-day capacities, and a depth and intimacy with esoteric wisdom that shames us today.
And Deva Nandan shares her 20 years of 5Rhythms dance experience and uses dance to uplift, empower and to bring us back to a grounded connected self. Her dance work, Dance to Connect, is devoted to explorations of self in relation to others and nature. With a more gentle and meditative use of the 5Rhythms dance, she has been giving more importance to the rhythm of flowing and stillness.
From Friday to Monday, every day at the A&I Hall for just $20.
Here comes the bride!
Are you about to get married and haven’t got the faintest about what is on offer in the region? Come to the 14th annual Ballina Bridal Expo for fashion parades, demonstrations and a diverse range of stalls. With more than 80 exhibitors and more than $5,000 worth of lucky door prizes. Mandy Nolan joins in on the fun as a guest MC and hair model! A wonderful day of dress-ups at the Ballina RSL on Sunday, 9.30am–3pm. Just $5 and lots of activities for kids!
Comedy Virgins in Mullum!
The latest crop of new standup comedians are ready. This time it’s a smaller yield, with only six people stepping up on the night, but Mandy Nolan believes they are six pretty amazing new comics.
‘These guys have really raised the bar with their routines,’ says Nolan, who has been teaching standup comedy with Byron Shire Adult Education for 18 years.
‘We have had a hoot each week, which to me is always a sign about what is in store on the night!’ The comedy hopefuls get to graduate from their six-week standup comedy course by sharing their five-minute routines of comedy genius at the
Mullumbimby Ex-Services on Sunday night from 7pm. Tix are $10 at the door!
Big Girls’ Gig
It was International Women’s Day on 8 March so it seems only fitting that some of the mouthiest mamas should take to the stage for the March edition of Ballina’s long-running comedy sensation The Big Gig.
Jenny Wynter is a force of nature. Comedian, MC and cabaret performer, this energetic mother of three is known for her spontaneous and often very interactive style of comedy.
Jenny doesn’t like to pick on her audience; when she chats it’s about making them feel like a star – with this very clever musical improviser making up comedy songs on the spot based on their input. From a love song to a tribute to their occupation, no two shows are ever the same, leaving the audience united and excited by their one-off special performance.
Jenny honed her skills in the US, where she toured her standup, and throughout Canada, and was invited to be a MainStage cast member with the world-renowned improv company Loose Moose Theatre.
In 2011 she was supported by the Ian Potter Cultural Trust to train in solo and musical improv in LA with renowned experts Gary Austin and Michael Pollock.
Jenny’s award-winning solo varied show was directed by Austin, who is an LA comedy legend known for launching comedy greats such as Will Ferrell and Lisa Kudrow.
Jenny is joined by support act Ellen Briggs. This mother of twins has made a name for herself on the comedy circuit as the woman Trevor Hendy refers to as ‘the funniest comedian I have ever seen’. A natural, born storyteller Ellen has the knack of weaving a twisted tale, always delivered with a surprising sting in its tail!
The biggest blond breeder of them all, Mandy Nolan, heads up as the regular MC.
Big Gig – with 10 kids between them, a vat of peroxide and a few ex-husbands, these girls know how to rock your boat!
Thursday, 8pm, Ballina RSL. Free.
SNIPPETS
Book fair
Thousands of fiction and non-fiction books, CDs, DVDs, magazines and games at Friends of the Library’s Book Fair, Byron Bay Surf Life Saving Club, Saturday 11 April 9am–5pm and Sunday 12 April 10am–1pm.
Flag Painting
Flag Painting Workshop 10 April, Mullumbimby Community Gardens. To book: 0428 222 525.
Archibald Prize
As a satellite venue to Lismore Regional Gallery, the selected Archibald Prize artworks for Lone Goat Gallery include winner of the People’s Choice Award, Vincent Fantauzzo. Runs until Sunday 12 April. Gallery open every day 10am–4pm.
Bay Singers
The Bay Singers (BB Community Choir) meets Mondays 10.30–11.30 at the Community Centre each week. More info: [email protected].