I’ll come right out and say that I’ve only read one Philip Roth book, Indignation, too many years ago to remember the details. (I was also too callow to really “get it” all.) Still, I was smart enough then to know that Philip Roth was for a lot of people the voice of their generation. And I’m smart enough now to know that his death on May 22, marks the end of an era of incredibly productive literary giants, such as John Updike, Saul Bellow and Norman Mailer, all with strong ties to the Northeast. It’s true that Roth had his flaws and his critics (especially for his depiction of women and his characters’ attitudes toward them), but it’s also true that he was one of the greatest and most fecund American writers of the 20th century. “There are many notable things about Roth’s fiction,” says Robert Boyers, professor of English at Skidmore College and founder and editor of the literary journal Salmagundi. Boyers isn’t just familiar with Roth; he got to meet the famed author a couple of times, and even reviewed Roth’s American Pastoral for The New Republic. “For one, he wrote great sentences, sentences that made those of us who are writers want to take out our pens and jot them down,” says Boyers. Roth’s style, his technique were certainly impeccable, but in terms of content, the best-selling novelist often pushed the limits of critical and literary sensibilities. Some criticized his oeuvre as being too vulgar or inappropriate for the novel form. “Though he had it in him to be tender and to create vulnerable characters, he could also be lacerating and brutally frank, in ways that made him anathema to many readers who think that writers should always be nice and kind.”
Born in Newark, NJ, in 1933, Roth based many of his novels on his life in his hometown, inserting the semi-autobiographical character, Nathan Zuckerman, as a protagonist in a number of his works. In the portrayal and psychological probing of Nathan and his other characters, Roth is absolutely unflinching. He first rose to prominence with his fourth book, Portnoy’s Complaint, a novel in the form of a confessional-monologue told to the psychoanalyst of the main character, Alexander Portnoy. Published in 1969, the book stirred up a hornet’s nest of controversy for its lurid depictions of sexual activities and taboos, including a masturbation scene involving a piece of raw liver (and you thought American Pie was original). But Roth is perhaps best known for his 1997 work American Pastoral, which details the dissolution of the upper-middle-class life of the main character Seymour “Swede” Levov during the political and social tumult of Lyndon B. Johnson’s years as president. For many who lived through that time, American Pastoral is as emblematic of the turmoil of the 1960s as Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are a-Changin’.” It went on to win Roth a Pulitzer Prize.
Still, Roth wasn’t without critics or detractors. Many of his novels are dominated by a sex-obsessed, masculine perspective that has been criticized as toxic and even misogynistic. Literary scholar Mary Allen once said that Roth had an “enormous rage and disappointment with womankind.” Allen and others refer to Roth’s depiction of turbulent marriages and far less than flattering portraits of his female characters.
Philip Roth left behind a controversial and densely complicated legacy (as well as a staggering output). However you feel about his books or characters, Roth created a vivid world that reflected the desires, insecurities, phobias and manias of one of America’s most fascinating generations. Only time will tell if future generations find Roth equally fascinating. I know I do.
I’ve been told that Saratoga Race Course jobs are popular among local teachers. I mean, it makes total sense; they’re on summer vacation at the exact same time the track is in session, so it’s a great source of additional income. Plus, you get to awkwardly run into all of your favorite (and delinquent) students while they’re out having fun, and you’re stuck working a cash register or something.
Once again, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) is hosting its annual job fair for the Saratoga Race Course, this time around, at the Embassy Suites June 15-16. You can do live interviews there from 9am to 5pm on both days. You must have a photo ID and social security guard or I-9 on hand to apply. (I’m just guessing here, but if you show up in a three-piece suit, you’ll probably be laughed at. But definitely don’t look like a schlub.)
The list of jobs one can work at the track include betting clerks, chefs, hosts, parking attendants, bar-backs, turf workers and security guards. Unfortunately, ‘tweens need not apply; applicants must be at least 15 years old and be able to work in New York State, and there are choice few jobs available for fifteeners. Security guards, cashiers and betting clerks must be at least 18 years of age—and the latter two have to have had experience handling cash before (here’s looking at you vacationing bank tellers).
This year’s Saratoga meet begins on July 20 and runs through September 3. For a lineup of all the major stakes races at Saratoga Race Course, click here. At the very least, if you land a job on staff at the racetrack, you know you’ll be there for all the major races. Whether you’ll be “on break” at the time of the Travers—with a bet in hand from you-know-who—is another question altogether.
I’ve been in the Grandstand and at the rail for a lot of races at Saratoga Race Course—and one thing I’ve never seen is a runaway racehorse. Sure, sometimes horses have a tough time being loaded into the gate before a race—or throw their riders and are quickly corralled during one—but one that gets loose sans jockey? Never.
That’s exactly what happened following a seven-plus furlong race (just under a mile) at Chepstow Racecourse in Monmouthshire, Wales, on May 23. Just a single furlong in, and one of the horses in a 12-horse field, Give Em A Clump, threw his rider and then made a run for it. With some split-second thinking, Hayley Moore, a reporter for the British horse-racing TV channel, At The Races, stood her ground in front of the charging horse, grabbed his reins in mid stride and brought him to an incredible halt. All on live TV. (You can actually see her earpiece/microphone cable hanging from the back of her dress, as she gets up and unbelievably, seems completely fine, with the wherewithal to pat the horse on the side and take off his saddle.)
Moore’s no amateur in the horse business; her father is a famous horse trainer and her brother is thought to be one of the top jockeys in the world, per At The Races. Moore’s also ridden horses herself.
After the amazing feat, Moore said, “Give Em A Clump…I just couldn’t bear to see him go out on another lap, so I thought I’d go for it.” Watch the amazing video below.
It’s not everyday that you graduate from college. Nor is it everyday that you graduate at the age of 31—1,100 miles from where you were born and raised. This past Saturday, May 19, was Skidmore College’s 107th graduation commencement ceremony. Attended by approximately 5,000 people, yours truly was there but not as a spectator or a member of the press (as you might think), but rather a participant. With 672 others dressed in cap and gown, I walked across the stage to shake the hand of Skidmore President Philip Glotzbach and receive my diploma. The truth is, I never thought I’d be here, in this beautiful, unique city, graduating from this tiny but prestigious liberal arts college.
Honestly, I thought the whole thing would be a snooze-fest (nothing specific to Skidmore—most graduations are so formulaic and sententious that they’re almost designed to be snored through). And while there were still plenty of platitudes to go around, I was genuinely struck by the stories and diversity of my graduating class. Skidmore sometimes has the reputation of being a school only for affluent, white students from the East Coast; yet the class of 2018 had graduates from almost 30 different countries, 87 of which were first-generation college students. Even more impressive, however, were the words of the two main speakers at the commencement.
Commencement speaker Alison Bechdel, whose graphic novel, ‘Fun Home,’ was turned into a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. (Chris Massa/Skidmore College)
Many will remember that last year’s commencement address was given by none other than American TV icon Oprah Winfrey. A tough act to follow, I realize. Though perhaps not quite as well known, this year’s speaker, Alison Bechdel—an American cartoonist, whose critically acclaimed graphic novel, Fun Home, was turned into a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical—gave a speech that, in my opinion, was more impactful and personal than her predecessor’s (Fun Home played at Proctors last fall). Aside from her bestselling graphic novel, Bechdel’s also known for her cartoon strip, Dykes to Watch Out For, which gave the world the now-famous Bechdel Test, a set of criteria that asks whether a work of art (fiction or film, for example) features at least two women in a scene together who talk about something other than a man (the test is an indicator of gender inequality and misrepresentation in the arts, and you’d be surprised how much art fails it). Awarded an honorary doctorate of letters at the ceremony, Bechdel spoke about her own experiences post-graduation and how, instead of going to graduate school and following the straight and narrow, she started a comic strip for a magazine that later became Dykes to Watch Out For. Though she wasn’t paid anything to start this comic, it became the very thing that launched her career. “I don’t often like to give advice, because I rarely follow it,” said Bechdel. Still, she told my graduating class one simple thing: follow your passion. “Because the job of creating positive change in the world is such hard work, it will go a lot better if you really enjoy what you’re doing.”
Dr. Robert S.D. Higgins, an Albany native, is Johns Hopkins Hospital’s surgeon-in-chief. (Chris Massa/Skidmore College)
While Bechdel gave a short, funny and effective speech, the portion of the ceremony that moved me the most was a short anecdote told by Dr. Robert S.D. Higgins, who was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws. An Albany native, Dr. Higgins is Johns Hopkins Hospital’s surgeon-in-chief as well as a world-renowned authority in the field of coronary bypass surgery and heart and lung transplantation. Toward the end of Dr. Higgins’ speech, he described the moment when a new heart is placed inside a patient. “When you remove that heart from its Igloo cooler, it’s nothing but a lifeless muscle,” he said. “But when you put it in place…it begins to beat instantaneously.” Dr. Higgins then imitated the sound of a heart beating anew. “It gives me chills every time.”
I don’t know why Dr. Higgins’ speech hit me so hard. I graduated an English major and certainly have no plans of going on to medical school (I can’t even stand to write about surgery). But Higgins wasn’t addressing just the students in the sciences. He was talking to all of us, about the indomitability of not just the human heart but the human spirit as well. That we can do anything—even finish our undergraduate degree at 31.
When I was growing up, the biggest threat that faced school children was an act of nature. In Alabama, where I’m from, anyone who went through grade school had the more-or-less same memory of a spring tornado drill. The specific hiding spots varied over the years (hallway versus classroom), but it always entailed getting away from the windows and huddling in a corner or under some shelves or a desk (sometimes a textbook over our heads), while we waited for the storms to pass—lightning crashing and rain pouring down.
Flash forward 20-something years and, in addition to being a reporter, I’m a teacher’s aid for a 2nd grade class at Lake Avenue Elementary in town. Of course, there are no tornado drills in Upstate New York, but our children have gotten used to a different set of drills for a vastly different kind of threat, not just here but all across the nation: school shootings.
Yesterday, according to The Saratogian, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office will partner with some area school districts to implement a new School Resource Officer (SRO) program. Beginning in the fall of the 2018-19 school year, parents and teachers can expect to see more officers walking their halls. These armed deputies will not just try to reduce incidents of violence and increase school safety, but they’ll also interact with kids in order to serve as positive role models and boost officer interaction with the community. However, the new program won’t be coming to every Saratoga County school.
Owing to the recent spate of school violence and shootings across the nation, a number of parents, school leaders and citizens contacted the Sheriff’s Office asking for something more to be done. In response, the Sheriff’s Office sent out a letter earlier this year offering to expand the already existing liaison program (established four years ago) into a bigger, more hands-on SRO program. In all, seven school districts accepted: Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, Ballston Spa, Mechanicville, Schuylerville, South Glens Falls, Shenendehowa and Stillwater.
Noticeably absent from the list of schools in The Saratogian‘s story on May 17 was the Saratoga Springs School District (saratoga living reached out to the school district for comment and has yet to hear back). saratoga living has since learned that Saratoga Springs High School has actually had an SRO program in place for two decades, according to John Catone, Assistant Chief of Police at the Saratoga Springs Police Department. In fact, the high school has had three separate armed SROs onsite at the school—officers Russ Terpening, John Kelly and Lloyd Davis—since September 1998. That officer is assigned directly to the school, and not only works during regular school hours, but also at school-related events. The school district reimburses the department for the officers’ work. Beyond that, the Saratoga police department has had an active-shooter training program in the district in place since 2000—and doesn’t have its own SWAT team, but rather trains every police officer in dealing with active-shooter-type scenarios—and how to handle them in real time. The department even has a designated, off-campus area where it can safely move the entire student body in case of an active shooter situation, says Catone. (The location of that area has never been made public.) There are no SROs, however, at the local elementary schools within the department’s jurisdiction, despite the drilling I alluded to above.
One of the reasons why a school district might not want to accept the new program is because it would have to shoulder 75 percent of the costs for this new SRO program, including the benefits, salaries and equipment for the officers. Some argue that the cost to districts is justified, given the circumstances. “It’s also about enhancing our academic experience, [and] building trust and exposing students to true mentors and role models,” Ed Kinowski, Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman, told The Saratogian. The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department will assign several deputies to the seven school districts after the deputies graduate from their own SRO training program over the summer.
Still, with the addition of armed officers in local schools, one has to wonder whether it’ll make these schools safer—or even prevent a tragedy from occurring. Even as I write this article, another school shooting has happened in Santa Fe, TX, killing at least 10 people and injuring a number of others. This is a subject that hits home for me because I work in these schools. I’ve participated in the nameless, unplanned drills where the teacher and I lock the classroom doors, turn out the lights, and try to keep the children quiet, as armed officers patrol the halls with their police dogs. What hurts me the most is that we never explain to the children what’s really going on—what we’re really practicing hiding from. It hurts, because we shouldn’t have to tell them. Obviously, we want our children to be safe, but this shouldn’t have to be our reality. There has to be another way. It makes me think about those tornado drills, a heavy textbook over my head. Those were scary times—but it makes me miss when ordinary people were more predictable and less violent than the weather.
A new bronze sculpture by Bulgarian-American artist Dimitar Lukanov was unveiled in the city of Amsterdam, NY, on May 17. Mother and Child at the Mohawk River commemorates the city’s rebirth from an industrial and manufacturing hub to a modern, business-friendly community. The 12-foot-tall statue’s located at the Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook Pedestrian Bridge, which opened in 2016 and is the nation’s only river bridge to be planted with live trees. “The Overlook Bridge is one of the most unique bridges I’ve seen,” says Lukanov. “It’s essentially a floating park over water with grown trees and flowerbeds.”
Sculptor Dimitar Lukanov. (Herve Fabre)
Lukanov’s sculpture fits perfectly within the context of the waterfront: It depicts a mother and her child surrounded by a vivid whirl of local wildlife and plants from the Mohawk River (birds, fish, plants and flowers). The Mohawk flows straight through Amsterdam and was instrumental in the city’s past manufacturing boom. Now, it’s more emblematic of the closeness to nature that has come to define much of the upstate experience. Lukanov’s composition is all about this swirling interaction between humans and nature; there’s never a moment of stillness between the two. If you’re sensing a strong Mother Nature motif here, there’s a reason for that. “I was inspired by the paradisaical beauty of the lush and fertile land we live on here in Upstate New York,” explains the artist. Lukanov was born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, in 1969, but he has an intimate connection with New York: He studied on a full scholarship in New York and received his MFA from Columbia University in 1997. On top of this, Lukanov’s work has been featured all across New York State, including a commissioned, three-piece sculpture unveiled at JFK International Airport in 2014.
Lukanov’s bronze sculpture won’t be his last for New York—or even Amsterdam. The city commissioned a total of three pieces of public artwork from him, and considering it took about three months to complete Mother and Child, Lukanov’s certainly got his work cut out for him. However, it sounds like he’s already got a lot of it figured out: “The two upcoming pieces are utterly different from Mother and Child,” the artist tells me. “One, Waterfall Gates, is inspired by the Chuctanunda [Creek’s] cascade that runs through Amsterdam. The other, Dream River, is an homage to the Mohawk River. All three sculptures subscribe to different technical processes and use of materials.” The three pieces may be different, but there’s at least one thing they’ll all have in common: a love and respect for Upstate New York’s most precious resource—its natural surroundings.
Welcome back to The Calendar, my fair Saratogians. This time of year marks the very solemn occasion when college graduates walk across a stage to receive their diploma (okay, really it’s just a sheet of paper) and then shortly thereafter enter the terrifying “real world.” Yours truly will be marching along with Pomp and Circumstance come this Saturday. I’m a little older than your average college senior (when people ask me why I’m getting my bachelors at 30, I just tell them I took a gap year that turned into a gap decade). But every soon-to-be-graduate’s first real task, before entering the real world, will be hunting down enough entertainment and fun stuff for their friends and family to do while they’re in town (not to mention finding restaurants that won’t already be overflowing with the familiars of every other recent college graduate).
So this week’s pick is the 49th Annual St. Sophia Greek Festival in Albany. Last week it was clogs and tulips, but this week New York’s Capital is going Greek, and it’s a great opportunity for all graduates and their families to get a feel for the fun and diversity of the Capital Region. Not only will there be plenty of room and parking at the festival (it’s held at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church) but, more importantly, it will also last all weekend (Friday, May 18 to Sunday, May 20). There will be continuous live Greek music and Greek dancers in traditional garb, a Greek pastry shop featuring homemade pastries, amusement rides for children, plenty of souvenir and jewelry shops, church tours, plus, did someone say free parking and shuttle service? (Yes, yes they did.) Plus, there’s a raffle with with seven different prizes: the grand prize is $5,000, and 1st prize is two round-trip airline tickets to Greece (some restrictions apply). Best of all, the Festival’s affordable: only $3 admission for adults, and children under 12 are free. What’s more college appropriate than a low-cover event with delicious food?
If Greek Festivals aren’t your thing, then check out these alternatives:
Friday, May 18
Shiri Zorn – For those family members who love jazz but don’t want to spend a bunch of money, this is a free concert of a living jazz legend. Known for her impeccable phrasing, come hear Zorn play her original renditions of jazz standards. – The Gideon Putnam, 24 Gideon Putnam Road
Seth Warden Trio & Wood Fired Pizza – To commemorate four years of delivered pizzas and dorm life, enjoy an evening of free music and fresh-cooked pies (not to mention beer and wine) at the Saratoga Winery & Tasting Room. – 462 Route 29 West, Saratoga Springs
Saturday, May 19
Saratoga Brewfest – It wouldn’t be a college graduation without at least some beer. Come out to Saratoga’s 8th Annual Brewfest. With more than 160 craft beers from 80 breweries, this year’s Brewfest promises to have enough beer for everybody. – Saratoga Polo Association, 2 Bloomfield Rd, Greenfield Center
An Evening In Spain – For those family members who are willing to spend a little more, the Wesley Foundation is celebrating its annual gala with “An Evening In Spain”: Spanish-inspired food, dance and even a photo booth. – 131 Lawrence St., Saratoga Springs
Winter Raptor Fest – This two-day festival (May 19-20) is perfect for any visiting family members who may be birdwatchers or enthusiasts. Come learn about native raptors up close and personal. – Washington County Fairgrounds, Greenwich
Sunday, May 20
Justin Townes Earle – Alternative country star Justin Earle is coming to The Egg in Albany. The Nashville native is the son of famous singer-songwriter Steve Earle and has made a name of his own with his music which melds folk, blues and country. – The Egg, Empire State Plaza, Albany
Hello from Woody’s Barbershop! Sorry to be away for so long, but it’s been a tough few weeks. To start, let’s reflect on my last post about the Kentucky Derby: Well, I was right on and I bet way more than I should’ve, but over all, the Derby went well for me, and I won $4. Yee-haw! I risked a lot, though, as I’d chosen the 4th-place horse across the board at 85-to-1, but to no avail. The best three won and finished as they should have. Why I didn’t have the superfecta is mostly, because I’m an excellent handicapper, but a horrible bettor, but that’s a whole other article. I’m looking for an upset in the Belmont, and I have three possible winners already, if they run. To get my picks, just stop by the barbershop, and I’ll be glad to share my picks with you.
Next up, I’d like to mention the passing of our great barber, my longtime friend and a loving father and husband, Adam (Fareed). He died suddenly of a massive heart attack and leaves this place to be with G-d, and deservedly so. Adam came from Belgium and gave up his given named, Fareed, in the shop, because he didn’t want people to mistake him for a terrorist—and he just liked how it sounded! He loved America, and he was very thankful to be here. I remember him crying one day as he watched the news about a terror attack in Germany. He was so sad, and didn’t understand why anyone would want to hurt another human being, and that was him in a nutshell. He was all about G-d, love, family and hard work. He worked way harder than any person I’ve ever known, and he was a kind, gentle man, too, who always, regardless of the day, displayed and showed happiness and love to all who surrounded him. I can think of some of the worst-acting human beings who came into the shop as miserable customers—and whom I personally would’ve thrown out in seconds because of their antics—that Adam embraced, forgave and spent more than the usual time to ease their daily suffering (from whatever was causing their poor behavior). They’d leave, not only better looking, but as better people. I don’t know how he did it, but he always remained positive and filled with love, even in those tough times. He’ll be missed terribly, but I promise you, he’ll never be forgotten. Please, if you can afford it, stop by the barbershop and donate some of your hard-earned money to the wife and two kids he’s leaving behind. Sadly, he neither had life insurance, nor any plan for this tragedy. Adam was only 55.
Lastly, it’s time to talk about the upcoming summer and all the happenings and events in our area. Since Adam’s passing, I’ve been all about exercise, diet and the strong desire to get out and do more stuff, especially while I have the health and stamina to do it. Here at saratogaliving.com, we have a full list of upcoming events that you should continue to follow. For me, besides the long list of great concerts at SPAC, the Wine & Food Festival, the Saratoga racing season and the countless number of other events, I most look forward to the opera here in Saratoga this summer. Each year, it somehow gets better and better. Yes, I know, you’re sitting there asking yourself—especially, those of you who think you know me—do barbers really go to the opera? Well, this barber does, and I assure you, if you’ve never been, all you need to do is go once, and you’re almost a sure bet to return again and again. I neither have a clue what the performers are saying most of the time, nor do I desire to, but the acting and singing are entertainment enough for me. I know somewhere in those songs, there’s something about love, and for me these days, love is all I need. G-d bless you, Fareed!
If you’re on social media all day long—it’s part of my job, so I have a good excuse—you tend to see quite a few memes go viral. Whether it be hashtag games on Twitter or image-based creations on Facebook, memes are a fun distraction during a grueling work day. Like that multi-colored dress that broke the internet in 2015. Man, I spent way too much time trying to figure that one out. It broke my brain.
The latest meme causing a stir? “Laurel vs. Yanny.” It’s a short audio clip, with a robotic voice saying a single word. Some people hear “Yanny,” while others hear “Laurel.” If you’re wondering, on my commute in this morning, I was totally Team Yanny. I tried and tried, but there was no way I could physically hear “Laurel.” I heard the clip multiple times on my commute in to saratoga living HQ on PXY 106. Here’s the clip:
But when I just listened to the clip above, all I could hear was “Laurel.” I’m now afraid that I’ve gone completely insane. Or that there are two different recordings out there, and I just fell for another piece of fake (audio) news. CNN believes it has scientific proof which answer is the correct one. Please, help me make up my mind once and for all, Saratoga!
My girlfriend, Gabriella, and I pulled up to Burton Hall in Easton, NY, on what was a sunny Mother’s Day (it’s a teeny-tiny town about 30 minutes from Saratoga Springs). We’d been asked to attend a Mother’s Day Dance and Drum event hosted by Chelsie Henderson, a friend and the owner of Rural Soul Music Studio in Schuylerville, just a few miles up the road from Saratoga. However, my girlfriend and I weren’t there to dance with our mothers as you might think (they both live far away, and we’d already wished them a happy Mother’s Day). As soon as I stepped out of my car, I could hear drumming pouring out of the old hall, but it wasn’t the kind of music you’d expect from a little agricultural town just a stone’s throw from the Vermont border. It was West African drumming, djembes it sounded like (tuned, goblet-shaped drums played with the hands). I approached the open doors of the hall, and inside, more than 20 people were dancing in front of two drummers and a slender black man in colorful pants, M’bemba Bangoura, the instructor of the day’s Dance and Drum class. Chelsie saw my girlfriend and I from across the room and waved for us to join in. Gabriella pulled me into the group of dancers, and I stumbled through the steps as I prayed M’bemba didn’t pick me out for messing everything up (don’t let anybody tell you African dancing is easy).
Rural Soul is headquartered in Downtown Schuylerville. (Rural Soul)
Bangoura is the genuine article. Born in Conakry, Guinea, in West Africa, he first learned how to play the djembe and other drums at age seven. Bangoura played with the Ballet Djoliba, the National Ensemble of Guinea, and other groups there for 13 years before immigrating to New York City in 1992. “One of the first things [I noticed] when I moved to New York were that the people were very interested in African culture,” he told me. Since then, he’s recorded three albums, served as choreographer for dozens of dance companies in New York City and abroad and traveled the world giving concerts and teaching drum and dance classes to people of all ages. He was in Shenzhen, China, just the day before, giving a similar class to the one I’d clumsily stomped and sweated through (thankfully, Bangoura never called me out).
How’d someone like M’bemba Bangoura wind up in Easton? The answer is Chelsie. “My main intention is, always, building a world community,” says the 32-year-old Easton native. “I was tired of hearing ‘there’s nothing to do in this town,’ and decided to light things up.” And boy has she ever done so. Last year during the Philadelphia Orchestra season, Rural Soul offered free, pre-show workshops for visitors to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (they’re returning again this summer). The studio also hosts about four to five special events every year with master instructors from West Africa and other parts of the globe. In March alone, Rural Soul brought in two big world music acts: Irish musician Tim O’ Shea, who gave a workshop on the Bodhrán (a traditional Irish Drum), and master drummer Bolokada Conde who was featured in the IMAX movie PULSE: a Stomp Odyssey. On top of this, Rural Soul regularly offers drum and ukulele workshops/meet ups to students of all levels and ages. Private and group lessons are available in nontraditional instruments such as the djembe, doundouns and ukulele (as well as the Western standards like piano, violin, voice and guitar). Rural Soul’s located right in Downtown Schuylerville, and is housed in the Bullard Block, a large High Victorian Gothic structure built in 1881 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
Henderson was born in Easton, but was first introduced to West African music as a Music Education major at the University of Burlington. There, she was exposed to the djembe and other drums through a professional performance and teaching troupe in Vermont called Jeh Kulu. After she returned home, Chelsie, along with a grant from the Easton Library, was able to bring Jeh Kulu to perform at Burton Hall (the very hall my girlfriend and I danced at). “The place was packed with people from all over the Capital Region, and I met a lot of important area drummers and dancers that evening,” Chelsie says. That included local drummer and instructor Wayne White, who had been teaching djembe and doundouns in Albany, Troy and even at Henderson’s old studio in Greenwich, NY. Chelsie invited him to teach some classes at Rural Soul. “It turned out we had a lot more in common than an interest in West African music…and now he’s my husband,” she says. White introduced Chelsie to a network of incredible drummers and dancers, including a company down in NYC where White had once studied called Wula Drum.
Chelsie Henderson teaching a ukulele workshop at the Young Women’s Retreat in April, 2017. (Rural Soul)
There are two sides to this unique drum company. The first is production. “We don’t just go over there and buy instruments,” says Michael Markus, President of Wula Drum. The company has around 30 people working for it in Guinea, West Africa, designing and crafting djembes, doundouns and other traditional African instruments. The other side of Wula Drum is programming. The drum-makers offer all kinds of events and concerts, everything from educational classes and retreats for drum teachers to corporate team-building exercises. “It’s all based on a mission of bringing people together,” says Markus. “When we come together, we communicate, we learn about each other and that breaks down the barriers of classism or racism or any type of prejudice.” The company even does some school programs and teen outreach. Bangoura, who taught the class in Burton Hall that I attended, serves as Wula Drum’s artistic director (in addition to the 100-plus concerts and classes he gives a year).
After the Mother’s Day Dance and Drum, my girlfriend and I were covered in sweat (think of a Zumba class but with loud drums instead of big speakers). We walked over to a table where there were free refreshments and filled ourselves a couple of cups of water. Then we walked outside and sat on the steps in the sun, still panting but impressed with what we’d just seen. It’s incredible that West Africa and New York (and Alabama, if you count my home state) were able to come together here in this little hall just up the road from a dairy farm.
M’Bemba and Michael at the Mother’s Day Drum and Dance session. (Rural Soul)
Rural Soul is only six years old, but it’s already brought dozens of events like this one to the Capital Region. And its future looks bright: The local studio plans to offer regular classes in Body Percussion Stepping (and possibly Irish Stepping) and a special dance from West Africa called dundun (dancers play on a large bass drum while moving with live drumming). A women’s world-music singing group is currently being planned, and the next Young Women’s Retreat will be on Friday, June 22. These retreats, open to students ages 11-16, have been quite popular, because they include a little bit of everything: yoga and meditation, body percussion stepping, classes on homemade body-care products, painting, tea harvesting, drying and tasting, singing and ukulele playing and much more.
It’s an ambitious schedule the studio has ahead of it, but Henderson’s looking forward to it. “So much of the music that we know—bluegrass, blues, reggae, rock and roll—is rooted in West African rhythm and song,” she told me as she waited for the next class to arrive. “It’s important to me that we understand this and pay homage to the original rock and rollers.” Chelsie only had about a half an hour before people started arriving for the next event, an adult and teen African drumming class. She’d been dancing and drumming already for two hours, and she was nowhere near the end of her day. But she isn’t slowing down yet because she’s doing what she loves: bringing a little soul to the Saratoga countryside.
