Students in Monticello’s dance program virtually joined students from throughout the county to watch a performance workshop from Soul Inscribed, December’s artist-in-residence at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts on Tuesday, Dec. 15. On Wednesday, Dec. 16, Monticello High School dance students will participate in virtual dance workshops with the band as part of the organization’s “E3: Engage. Experience. Explore.” series.
According to the Bethel Woods website, New York-based, six-piece band Soul Inscribed brews up a mix of hip hop poetics and soulful vocals, propelled by a sonic blend of jazz, funk, and dub instrumentals. Soul Inscribed members are all veteran arts educators and have brought their music to young audiences across the world. Their educational programming uses the allure of hip-hop related art forms to get kids writing, expressing, moving, and thinking. Their educational performances share their music and bring participants up to perform as the band’s producer, as guest beatboxers, to program beats on drum machines, and provide topics for freestyle and improvisation.
When working with Bethel Woods, the band teaches the history of hip hop through the years with linkages to the music of Woodstock and elements of song writing, making beats, putting music together and break dancing.
Check out today’s performance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cm3zNF1_84 and stay tuned for some photos and reflections from this week’s workshop.
Bethel Woods is also hosting a live, family-friendly virtual show, “An Evening With Soul Inscribed” on Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. The event is free, but registration is required. To register, visit: https://www.bethelwoodscenter.org/events/evening-soul-inscribed
The week will cumulate with a performance from Soul Inscribed during Bethel Woods’ Family Fridays in the Holiday Hub on Friday, Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. For more information, visit: https://www.bethelwoodscenter.org/events/family-fridays-the-holiday-hub