My Favorite Artists and Services

LOCA ROSA (Wild Rose), Old World Folk Songs & Fables, specializes in the traditional Ashkenazi (Eastern European Yiddish-speaking) performing folk arts of her Jewish family heritage from Russia. Her Jewish culture also includes the Sephardi heritage of Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) folk songs from the Diaspora countries of Turkey and Spain, and the Hebrew folk songs of Israel. She also includes cross-cultural folk repertoire from her diverse Old and New World heritage such as Renaissance England, Ireland, and Scotland; the United States; and, her birth place, Canada. She performs in splendid ethnic costumes; plays guitar, lute, balalaika, gusli (Eastern European lap harp), tof (Israeli hand drum), and loshki (Russian clicking spoons); and, sings in many languages which include English, Russian, Yiddish, Hebrew, Ladino, Spanish and French.

LOCA ROSA has over 30 years of Performing Artist experience. This includes hundreds of superb performances in many different entertainment venues throughout Western Canada and Arizona. This accomplished artist also has 17 years of experience as a Teaching Artist and 12 years of experience as a Music Specialist. She has been selected continuously since 1993 through rigorous review panels to the Arizona Commission on the Arts Residency Roster, and has conducted numerous Arts In Education programs and student assembly performances.

LOCA ROSA offers many types of Arts in Education school and community programs for groups of all ages. They include, and are not limited to, long-term residencies, one-day workshops, after-school arts learning, educator training, adult lecture/demonstrations, international festivals and full concert performances. School and community programs introduce students to the geography, history, culture, customs, rituals, festivals, crafts, stories, and folk songs of Old World cross-cultures. Educational programs may also include creative workshop projects such as traditional Eastern European paper-cutting crafts and making and learning to play ethnic rhythm instruments. In a school setting, LOCA ROSA connects her teaching and performance repertoire with student curriculum and the State Arts Standards. Her secular approach to the Russian-Jewish folk culture of her traditional family heritage is an objective, constitutionally appropriate educational event. She consults with the Residency Coordinator, educators, staff and parents to integrate her performing folk art into student learning. This way, students can connect other cultures with something from their own family, experiences, culture, or heritage and carry on the folk tradition. The end result of Arts In Education programs can be either product (performance) oriented or concerned with student learning, depending on the needs of the Presenter. LOCA ROSA encourages an appreciation of cultural diversity to prepare students to live in our diverse, multicultural world. By getting to know each other through the universal language of folk music, we may find the common ground of friendship.

Scarlette Porter, Residency Coordinator at Laveen Elementary School, said LOCA ROSA was "...very professional and worked with a minimum amount of interruption or interference to everyone's schedule..." and "...is very flexible and has a good sense of humor which enables her to get through all the challenges of a school day." Porter went on to say that "...her final performance was a tremendous success and enjoyed by the entire student body."

Self-produced indie recordings by LOCA ROSA include 'STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND: Music of Many Lands,' endorsed by notable Hollywood actor Gordon Signer (Mayor in the movie 'Superman III') who said "...we were very impressed with the content, and especially how it was delivered..." and praised the recording as "...having an over-all international appeal." Another recording by LOCA ROSA, 'TREE HOUSE TUNES & TALES: For Children of All Ages,' is a delightful, cross-cultural mix of songs, stories and poems, many of which are original compositions. The ethereal 'Early One Morning,' one of LOCA ROSA's English Renaissance songs, was included in the fine compilation disc 'A DAY AT THE FAIRE,' produced by Big-U Music.

You will be enchanted with LOCA ROSA's heartfelt, poignant vocals, her dramatic skill in storytelling, her expertise on numerous ethnic instruments, and her ability to joyfully involve community and school audiences of any age.

SAMPLE CONCERT, COMMUNITY & AIR PROGRAMS:
* Bobe Mayses (Grandmother Tales): Rhymes & Rhythms for Little Folk
* Children's Game Songs & Stories of Old World Cultures: Interactive Play Time from European Heritage
* Russian-Jewish Folk Songs & Fables: Traditional Eastern European Heritage
* Jewish Festival Songs & Stories: A Celebration of Jewish Feasts
* Fall Harvest Festivals: Old World Autumn Traditions in Folk Songs & Fables
* Old World Year-End Winter Festivals: The Winter Solstice In Euope
* Snegurochka: The Russian Snow Maiden
* Red Hill Holiday: European Spring Festivals from England to Russia
* Russian Folk Tales: Baba Yaga; The Good Comrades of the Flying Ship; & more
* Rhythms from the Global Village: Cross-Cultural Interactive Folk Songs
* Jewish Shtetl (Village) Stories: Yingl Tsingl Khvat; Why Dogs Chase Cats; & more
* American Songs from the Old World: The Folk Process In Action
* Jewish Songs of American Folk Singing Icons: Woody Guthrie & His Jewish Mother-In-Law, Aliza Greenblatt
* Loca Rosa Goes Hollywood: Old World Songs from the Movies
* Songs of a Russian Gypsy: The Influence of Tziganki (Russian-Gypsy) Culture on World Music
* My Old Canadian Home: Folk Songs from the Great Lake Waters to Vancouver Island
* 'Tis the Renaissance Way: Folk Songs & Stories from the Old, Old World

Styles: Arts Education, Costumed Characters, Multi-Cultural, Teach Youth Enrichment Program, Traditional Arts, Unique, Variety Acts

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Tish Dvorkin
Mesa AZ
(480) 986-6016
E-mail