Virtual dance classes offered
Aloha Theatre’s CREATE Program and Kona Dance and Performing Arts have teamed up to bring a new virtual program for the dance community.
Dancers ages 10 to 18 are invited to take part in the Summer Spectacular via Zoom. This four-week workshop will feature professional instructors ranging through a multitude of genres including ballet, hip hop, modern, fusion, jazz, musical theater, Zouk, choreographer’s workshops, conditioning and more.
Students may register for the full four weeks or a single week.
Kona Dance is also offering two classes for all ages: daily Conditioning Classes and Friday’s Dance for Parkinson’s series.
All of the programs are free with an option to donate to Kona Dance and Performing Arts.
For more information and to register, visit https://apachawaii.org/virtual-classes-for-isolated-times.
Annual Christmas in July fair canceled
Joann Williams announced last week that the 26th annual Christmas in July Art, Gift, Jewelry and Craft fair has been canceled due to COVID-19.
The event was slated July 25 at the King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. Williams said the annual Christmas Treasures &More Art, Gift, Jewelry, &Craft Fair is still planned for Nov. 27 and 28 at the hotel.
For more information, email Williams at dagoose@hawaii.rr.com.
Ohrlando’s Chamber Ensemble to livestream performance
Ohrlando’s Chamber Ensemble will livestream a performance benefiting The Food Basket at 5 p.m. Sunday via its YouTube channel.
The ensemble is asking those who view the performance featuring Roland Maurer on oboe and bassoon and Ursula Hesse on piano to donate to The Food Basket online at www.hawaiifoodbasket.org.
Hawaii Writers Guild announces ‘Inside the Writers Studio’
When COVID-19 put an end to Hawaii Writers Guild’s program of public authors readings, two of its board members turned to technology for a solution. The result is “Inside the Writers Studio,” a new online program hosted by the guild’s North Kohala director, Eila Algood.
Algood had previously hosted a series of authors readings at the North Kohala Public Library. She was in the process of organizing a reading in March when Gov. David Ige’s “stay-at-home” rules shut down public events.
Algood teamed up with guild president, Diann Wilson, also from North Kohala, and after some research, Wilson discovered Google for Nonprofits, a program for federally tax-exempt organizations. Hawaii Writers Guild had received its certification from the IRS as a nonprofit charity this past Valentine’s Day. Wilson explored the benefits of the Google program and discovered that it gave nonprofit organizations access to their own YouTube channel, which made it easy to post videos widely available to the public.
Episode One of Inside the Writers Studio is now posted on Hawaii Writer Guild’s new YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/D1oNEIHGdF8 .
Algood promises there will be more programs in the future. She’s excited about the ability of this technology to showcase the diversity of Hawaii Writers Guild members who reside on several of the Hawaiian Islands and on the mainland as well.
“This technology can lift people up and provide an equal playing field for people from many diverse backgrounds,” Algood said. “It can benefit everyone.”
By local sources