Workshops & Retreats

African Song & Dance – Saturday March 21, 2020

Larry Gordon is director and founder of Village Harmony. He has been singing in community since the 1970s and led singing workshops and travels under Village Harmony since 1989. He has led many singing vacations to South Africa and is a walking library of South African music. Not to mention his knowledge of Renaissance and Medieval music, Shape note singing, Balkan and Corsican music, and world music in general!

We are incredibly lucky that Larry is coming back to Portland where he grew up to share his passion and wisdom of South African music in a full day workshop. You will also get to learn a few Balkan and Corsican songs and dances. The ensemble Village Harmony will be present at the workshop to lead each vocal part, which makes the day extra efficient and rewarding.

Saturday March 21st from 9:30 am till 12 noon and from 2 – 4 pm you will sing and dance your heart out with South African rhythms and harmonies. You’ll also learn a few traditional songs from the Balkan and Corsica. The Workshop will be held in the beautiful light filled Bothmer Hall on 5915 SE Division Street. You’ll have a two hour lunch break to enjoy one of the restaurants close by, or you can bring your own lunch to enjoy in neighboring Mt Tabor park.

Joint performance with Northern Harmony

Larry’s semi professional ensemble Northern Harmony will be performing the evening of March 21 and all workshop participants are invited to join them with 3-4 songs. 

Workshop Highlights

  • What: South African Song & Dance plus Balkan and Corsican songs
  • When: Saturday March 21, 2020
  • Times: 9:30 am – 12 noon, and 2-4 pm
  • Where: Bothmer Hall, 5915 SE Division Street, Portland OR 97206
  • How much: $95 per person, $75 for seniors and students
  • Treat: includes Northern Village concert ticket for same evening (7:30 pm at The Old Church downtown)

WORKSHOP IS SOLD OUT

Please come and attend the concert Saturday 3/21 at 7:30 pm  – tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door. 

Singing Weekend at the Oregon Coast!

Treat yourself to three heart-filled days of song, mindful movement and reflection.

Ocean Inn, Manzanita, OR.  October 9-11, 2020

You’ll be spending three days (Friday evening till Sunday noon) mingling with fellow singers, singing sweet songs, eating great food, and nurturing heart and soul in the lovely beach town of Manzanita, OR. This is a perfectly balanced weekend with lots of singing, moving, and conversing in an intimate group (25 max) of fellow singers with plenty of time for relaxation and beach-combing. Great opportunity to get to know your fellow singers better.

Beautiful accommodations right at the beach 

You’ll be staying at the beautiful Ocean Inn, which is centrally located in Manzanita (close to all the shops and restaurants) and is right on the beach. The rooms are lovely – all of them have ocean views, and decks, and almost all rooms have a wood stove. All rooms have a separate bedroom, and a very comfortable sofa bed in the living room. All meals but Saturday dinner are provided. You’ll be only 2 blocks from the singing venue – the Pine Grove Community House, a light filled place with hard wood floors, as beautiful as all our regular rehearsal venues.

Three days of pure joy!

You can check into your room as early as 4pm on Friday, and we’ll gather Friday at 7pm for dinner and our first songs. Saturday is a nurturing day spent with singing, mindful movement and conversation. You’ll have a three hour lunch break so you can comb the beach, explore Manzanita or take a nap. And we’ll gather again for three hours in the afternoon for more singing, movement and conversation. Saturday evening is left open so you can spend it any way you’d would like to: on your own, chanting by candle light, campfire on the beach, vocal improv, playing charades…

Sunday morning you’ll spend another three hours singing, moving and exchanging in the group. You’ll have the entire afternoon to find your way back home again.

The songs and activities for the fall focus on a theme that will be announced early 2020. 

Manzanita is nestled in the shadow of Neahkahnie Mountain on the Oregon coast, two hours west of Portland on Highway 101, halfway between Seaside and Tillamook, OR. Map to Ocean Inn. 

Retreat Highlights

  • 3 days/2-nights at Ocean Inn, Manzanita
  • All meals included (except Sat dinner)
  • 12 hours group singing
  • Plenty of personal time to enjoy the beach, relaxation and Manzanita
  • Friday October 9 through Sunday October 11, 2020

Registration

Early bird single registration: $595. Early bird for two: $1095.

After June 1, 2020: $645 for one person, $1190 for two.

All prices based on double occupancy.

Full refund minus $50 cancellation fee before 4/1/2020. 50% refund before 7/1/2020. No refund after 7/1/2020.

 

I so look forward to singing with you.

 Marion