Kevin Locke Dance Ensemble at the Troy Music Hall

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Photo Courtesy of Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
TROY, NY - Bring the whole family for a cultural experience like no other as Native American Music Award winner Kevin Locke and his Native Dance Ensemble bring their high-energy show to the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on Saturday, April 19 at 7 pm.

This performance, entitled "The Drum is the Thunder, the Flute is the Wind", represents the Return of the Thunders. Each instrument represents a part of nature: the Drum is the Thunder, the Rattle is the Rain, the Flute is the Wind, the Voice is the Lightening. In the physical world, the rains are limited in their dominion of the Earth to only half the year. But with music, we celebrate this spirit always. The return of the "Thunders" revitalizes the Spirit within the People, as Spring revitalizes the spirit within each living thing. Reprinted from the http://ixtlanartists.com website.

Divided into seven parts, the show offers a rich variety of traditional American Indian traditions of dance, song and storytelling representing the Plains nations of Lakota, Anishinabe and Comanche, including the Shield and Spear Dance performed by Locke and master Native singer Doug Foote, the Hoop Dance, and a freestyle dance performed by all the members of the group. Lincoln Center for Performing Arts described Locke's performance as "thought provoking" and of such a "fine quality that the overall presentation engaged the audience on all levels."

Each year, Kevin Locke performs tirelessly in schools, community centers and festivals. In doing so, he shares his passion for the arts and ensures the survival and growth of his indigenous culture. Locke has lectured on diversity in more than 70 countries and has served as the cultural ambassador for the United States Information Service since 1980.

Tickets for the Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble are $29, $26 and $15 and may be purchased through the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Box Office by calling (518) 273-0038 or online at www.troymusichall.org. The Music Hall Box Office opens 90 minutes prior to the performance. Otherwise, Box Office operations are handled at its business office at 30 Second Street, Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall's full season schedule can be viewed at www.troymusichall.org
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Pittsfield Council Says 'Yes' to Soccer at Crane Park

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

The pitch will have the logos of the city and the US. and Massachusetts soccer associations. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is gladly accepting a "mini-pitch" from the U.S. Soccer Foundation to bring games back to Crane Park. 

Fueling excitement around the World Cup, U.S. Soccer has been working with the Massachusetts Youth Soccer League to make these facilities available to 20 communities — one of which will be at the park at the intersection of Benedict Road and Springside Avenue. 

The City Council accepted the gift on Tuesday during its regular meeting. 

A mini pitch is a compact, modular field typically used for soccer, and it can also accommodate inline skates. It has a galvanized steel border with built-in goals and a rubber plastic surface that is clicked together; installed on the existing inline hockey court. 

Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham said he has gone door to door speaking with nearby residents, and they are "really excited" about the upgrade. He also sees it as a great addition. 

"They say that nobody really uses the court a ton now, and they are excited to see kids back on there playing," he said. 

Decades ago, the Crane Park facility was a wading pool. It closed in 1980, and before the turn of the century, it was filled in and marked for hockey. 

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath explained that the wooden border around the rink is showing its age, has been vandalized and tagged, and the facility is seeing a "real decline" in use. 

"This would seem to be an appropriate spot for us to remove the board system that's in place and install the mini pitch system through this grant," he said. 

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