Experience the rich culture and irresistible rhythms that define West African dance at workshops led by experts. Audrey Davis, a specialist in traditional dances of West Africa and an instructor and choreographer, will lead a workshop Saturday; and Euphrasie Gohoun, a master dancer from the Ivory Coast, West Africa, will present on Dec. 2. Both workshops will be held on Sundays from 3-4:30 pm at Synapse Studios, located at Dancing Foot Yoga 10 Broad St., third floor, Red Bank. The fee for both classes is $35, $20 for a single class. A preregistration form is online at www.dancingfootyoga. com/regAfricanDanceDrum.htm or call (732) 219-6662.
The Monmouth Conservatory of Music will present a concert in celebration of its new harpsichord Saturday at 4 p.m. In honor of the occasion, local composer/harpsichordist Timothy Broege will perform music by Byrd, Couperin, Scarlatti, Bach and Frescobaldi and two of his original compositions for harpsichord. The harpsichord was purchased with funding from the Red Bank-based Sunfield Foundation. The concert will take place at the conservatory, 50 White St., Red Bank, in the back of Trinity Church, and is free and open to the public. For information, call (732) 741-8880 or visit www.monmouthconservatory.org.
The Bluegrass & Oldtime Music Association of New Jersey will hold its November stage show and jam session Sunday 1-5 p.m. at the Embury Methodist Church hall on Church Street in Little Silver. Admission is $4 for members, $5 for nonmembers. Five bluegrass, county or folk bands will entertain. Visit www.newjerseybluegrass. org or call (732) 787-1891.
Artwork by students at Monmouth County Arts High School will be on display at the Sea Bright Public Library, 1097 Ocean Ave., through November. Now in its fifth year, the program features advanced arts classes in creative writing, dance, music, voice, acting and visual arts to public and private school students. Work by 14 students was selected for the exhibit in- cluding students at Keyport High School, Ocean Township High School, Middleton High School South, Monmouth Regional High School and Holmdel High School.
The West Park Players of Ocean Township High School will present “The Laramie Project,” written by Moises Kaufman, Nov. 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park. Performances will benefit The Matthew Shepard Foundation, The Tectonic Theater Project and The Center in Asbury Park. Tickets are $20. Call (732) 774-3416.
The Monmouth Museum’s annual holiday exhibition, “Holidays Around the World,” will open Saturday and run through Jan. 6 at the museum, located on the campus of Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. The holiday exhibit highlights holiday traditions from around the world in trees decorated by local garden clubs and the Friends of the Museum. The museum’s ever-expanding train layout will be set up and running throughout the holiday festivities. Tickets are $6; free for members, Brookdale staff and students and children under 2 years old. For information, call (732) 747-2266 or visit www.monmouthmuseum. org.
Pat Squire will be back at Middletown Township Library Tuesday, Nov.20, with her “three minute reviews.” Pat catches the essence of a book in a few words – she’ll talk about fiction, memoir, travel, even cookbooks and holiday books – suggestions for gifts, for book clubs, and for a plain good read. Refreshments will be served; reservations are required, for this special booklover’s bonanza. The Middletown Main Library is located at 55 New Monmouth Road. Call or e-mail the library to reserve your place, (732) 671-3700, ext. 320, or [email protected].
Compiled by Gloria Stravelli