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In praise of those who came before us, with hope for those who will come after us

Please join us for an evening of poetry, dance, reading and art to benefit 350.org, a political action group that devotes its efforts to fighting climate change

Please note: this event is sold out, and advance tickets are no longer available. There may be a limited number of tickets available at the door – please stay tuned, and if you have a ticket, please arrive on time so all can be seated. Thank you to our very supportive community for helping us in this cause!

Readings by R. J. Palacio, author of Wonder, and members of Sweet Action Poetry Collective

Dances choreographed by Cynthia Kalathas and Lori Ana Perez-Piazza and performed by Judy Schneier, Alicia Lafranchi, Lindsay Blake and Lori Ana Perez-Piazza

A silent auction with something for everyone, fine art, a weekend in a Woodstock Craftsman cottage, and more will be held as well to further benefit 350.org

Free refreshments, beer, and wine will be served

The Old Stone House
336 3rd Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215
(F,G,R to 4 Av- 9 St, R to Union Street, B63 Bus)

Thursday, May 10, 2018
7 pm to 9 pm
$20

Buy tickets at brownpapertickets.com! SOLD OUT!

Bios:

Lindsay Blake was in the first cast of the German production of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Starlight Express. He has also done stage, television and runway shows. His professional mentors were Frank Hatchett (Jazz), Maurice Hines (Tap), and Alonzo Castro (Ballet and Modern).

Cynthia Kalathas got her first pair of ballet slippers at the age of three and hasn’t stopped dancing, performing and creating since. Trained in classical ballet with a sprinkling of other genres, Cynthia began focusing on Afro Latin Funk under the instruction of Frankie Martinez in 2009. She choreographed pieces in 2012 and 2013 which were presented at Ailey Citygroup Theatre as part of a showcase organized by Kat Wildish. She is thrilled to be collaborating with a 360.org poet to help bring her vision to life.

Alicia Lafranchi was born in Bern, Switzerland. Since her childhood, she has always loved to dance. Her experiences in various countries in South America only encouraged her to deepen her training in Afro-Latin Dance. Since Spring 2013 she lives in New York and studies Afro Latin Funk with Frankie Martinez.

R. J. Palacio lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, two sons and two dogs (Bear and Beau). Her debut novel, Wonder, has been on the New York Times bestseller list since March, 2012, and has sold over 5 million copies worldwide. The book’s message of kindness has inspired the Choose Kind movement, and has been embraced by readers, young and old, around the world.

Lori Ana Perez-Piazza began dancing mambo/salsa and chacha professionally at the age of 14. At 18 she joined Abakua Afro-Latin Dance Company where she became principle dancer and partner to the director Frankie Martinez. Lori has performed and taught all over the world including such venues as Madison Square Garden, Lincoln Center, and Jacobs Pillow. Now her most important role is now being a mother to her toddler, but she continues to teach and perform.

Judy Schneier has been writing for about four years and owes many thanks to the supportive communities at the Brooklyn Poets Yawp and the Sweet Action Poetry Collective. Judy has been studying Afro Latin Funk with Frankie Martinez for about the same amount of time. She greatly appreciates the inspiring and consistent instruction Frankie offers in dance and performance. She benefits from the warm community of students in Frankie’s classes and his Ache performance workshop. Judy has (in her distant youth) studied ballet, modern dance and contact improvisation.

Sweet Action is a poetry collective that supports each member’s unique voice through respectful discussion and critique, public readings, and our anthologies. The collective seeks to create a welcoming space for a diverse group of women, non-binary, and LGBTQIA poets. It was founded in 2014 by Mirielle Clifford and Julie Hart and is based in Brooklyn.

Buy tickets at brownpapertickets.com! SOLD OUT!