The Goddess Festival
Last spring, two Northwest Arkansas women, Diana Rivers and Vick Kelley, organized a month long festival to celebrate the divine feminine. The Goddess Festival is back for a second year and opens today at 1 E. Center St. on the Fayetteville Square. There will be art, performance and learning experiences throughout the month.
At 5 p.m. today there will be an artists’ reception, which coincides with the First Thursday artists’ reception at the Fayetteville Underground galleries and studios, which are in the basement of 1 E. Center St.
Pianist Claire Detels will perform music from the Golden Age of Broadway playing selections made popular by women performers like Judy Garland, Ethel Merman, Ethel Waters and Lena Horne.
At 7 p.m. Friday, there will be a “Sisters in the Round” concert with NWA singer/songwriters Darlene, Tiffany Christopher, Candy Lee and Emily Kaitz. $5.
At 7 p.m. Saturday, Fayetteville’s TerraNova Tribal belly dance troupe will perform with Udit, Chamisa Wheeler, Pharanda Cole, Darius & the Lokjaw Crew, Darlene, Eric Ableitner and an ensemble of drummers. There will be belly dance, African, Hip Hop, and Free Style.
At 7 p.m. Sunday, the OMNI Center will host local poets, musicians, and others passionate about peace. Bring a poem, story or song to share. Jori Costello will lead.
Here are some of the highlights.
Monday
6:30 p.m. Singing in Sacred Circle. Chants about the Goddess led by Cynthia Huelsmann.
Tuesday
6:30 p.m. East Coast Swing dance class with Elayne. $15.
6:30 p.m. Night Vespers Yoga.
Wednesday
5 p.m. Walk the Labyrinth. An indoor, canvas labyrinth with background music and information on labyrinths, scared spaces that allows for exploration and enlightenment. Led by Linda Flores and Robert Pressman.
March 11
6:30 p.m. Introduction to Sound Healing and Sacred Chant. $10. Learn to use sound to free your spirit. Led by Rebekah Clark.
March 12
7 p.m. CD Release Party for 2010 Goddess Festival CD: “The Journey Continues” featuring performances by local and national artists.
March 13
7 p.m. Do the Hustle! With Elyane. Lesson and dance. $10.
8 p.m. DJ dance bebop, boogies and breakdance. $5.
March 14
7 p.m. The Couples Game. Al Lord hosts her version of the Newlyweds game. Sliding Scale $5 to $25
March 15
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reiki II Attunement with Karen Hefner
6:30 p.m. Pets Who Have Crossed Over with Norah O’Connor, an intuitive animal healer/communicator. $10.
6:30 p.m. Singing in Sacred Circle. Led by Cynthia Huelsmann
March 16
3 p.m. Fire Walk Ceremony with Karen Hefner. Registration required. E-mail karen@ignitingspirit.com. Sliding Scale: $25 to $60. A six to eight hour ceremony.
6:30 p.m. Night Vespers Yoga
March 17
6 p.m. Croning Ritual. A celebration ritual to honor the sage women of the community. $5.
March 18
7 p.m. Music and sing-a-long with Geoff Oelsner and Harmonia
March 19
7 p.m. Comedy open mic with Jules Taylor. Performance by Phunbags. Music by Snake Eyes & the Bug Band.
March 20
5 p.m. Spring Equinox Ritual. Dance and sing.
7 p.m. Concert by Candy Lee, Kahula Gypsy Band and Darlene. $5
March 21
7 p.m. HOWL Drag and Flag Erotic Poetry Slam. Hosted by Mendy Knott. $5.
March 22
6:30 p.m. Soap Making workshop with Tracie Kehoe
6:30 p.m. African Flow Healing Dance Workshop with Chamisa Wheeler. $15
March 23
6 p.m. at the Fayetteville Public Library. Two Goddesses of the Piano, the music of Clara Schumann and Florence Price performed by Claire Detels.
6:30 p.m. Night Vespers Yoga
March 24
5 p.m. Walk the Labyrinth
March 25
7 p.m. Short Plays by Arkansas Playwrights Workshop and Betty Anderson
March 26
7 p.m. Music by Big Bad Gina and the Divine Femmes $5
March 27
7 p.m. Belly Dance performance
March 28
7 p.m. African Drums and Dance performance
March 29
6:30 p.m. African Drumming Class with Sheila Richards. $10
March 30
6 p.m. Full Moon Candlelight Walk and meditation
March 31
6:30 p.m. Closing Ritual. Drum, dance, sing and share special moments and say goodbye to the festival for this year.
