MARCH PROGRAMS

Saturday, March 16; 2-3:30pm
International Dance at Olana
Wagon House Education Center
All ages
$5/person, Families of four: $15
Come kick up your heels to live fiddle music! Enjoy a tradition of community dancing and music handed down from generation to generation. Each culture has its own unique dances, but each culture's dances also share common ground with cultures around the world. The energetic and concise teaching of Paul Rosenberg founder and organizer of the Dance Flurry Festival in Saratoga Springs, New York for eighteen years, as well as numerous dances throughout the Capital region, will guide the afternoon, as he gets everyone involved, especially those who have not danced before-in easy-to-learn barn dances in circles, squares, and lines from around the world, including Ireland, Scotland, Russia, the Middle East, Mexico, France, Scandinavia, China and Africa. The toe-tapping tunes consist of reels, jigs, polkas, hornpipes and waltzes. Instruments include fiddle, banjo, mandolin, flute, pennywhistle, clarinet, guitar, piano, recorder, percussion, and more. While participation in the dancing is encouraged-and it's hard to sit still-it's fun to just watch and listen to the music as well. Space is limited, please pre-register by preceding Thursday to 518-828-1872 x 109 or shasbrook@olana.org.

Wednesday, March 20; 9am
First of Spring Birding Event
Wagon House Education Center
All ages
$5/person
Join Audubon NY education coordinator Larry Federman for a first day of spring birding event at Olana. Observe a brief PowerPoint presentation about local birds at Olana and in the Hudson Valley. Following the presentation will be a guided walk in Olana's beautiful artist designed landscape. Please pre-register by Tuesday, March 19 by 3 pm to 518-828-1872 x 109 or shasbrook@olana.org.

Saturday, March 23; 7-9pm (Cloud and Rain Date: Saturday, April 13; 7-9pm)
Astronomy Tour at Olana
Wagon House Education Center
All ages
$5 suggested donation/person
Frederic E. Church painted Aurora Borealis (1865; Smithsonian American Art Museum) following his voyage and arctic exploration of the north Atlantic, between Labrador and Greenland to sketch icebergs in 1859. Join Dr. Willie Yee, president and Joe Macagne, vice president of the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association for a 21st Century exploration of the night sky at Olana. The evening will begin with a presentation of the wonders of the night sky that are presently observable. We will then move out to the viewing field where you will be oriented to the major features of the night sky. Members of the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association will be present with various size telescopes to view the moon, Jupiter, and stellar clusters. Comet PANSTARRS may still be visible, and is best viewed through binoculars, so if you have a pair, bring them, along with a red flashlight. Please pre-register by preceding Thursday to 518-828-1872 x 109 or shasbrook@olana.org.