The WaterFire lighting tonight Saturday, Sept. 13th

is brought to you by

Northeastern Society of Orthodontics &

Waterplace Luxury Residences

with special thanks to our

season sponsor

Citadel Broadcasting;

WPRO NewsTalk 630

WaterFire Providence is presented on the three rivers in downtown Providence and will be lit shortly after sunset at 6:58 pm and remains lit until 12:30 pm.    

Weather Updates: 

(Updated: 9/13/08 at 3:00 pm):  WaterFire is going ahead as planned!  Current forecasts call for cloudy weather for the rest of the day and a clear night, with a slight possibility of some light passing showers around midnight.  It is going to be a great night.  We are proceeding with everything as planned and do not expect rain in the evening.  Please check back here for regular updates on both weather and new special events for this evening. 

The Ribbons of Light Program:

WaterFire volunteers will be giving out gifts of glowing blue Ribbons of Light in exchange for donations to support WaterFire.  WaterFire is an independent non-profit and your contribution is what Keeps the Fires Burning.  The volunteers are located along the river at stations marked by illuminated blue columns. Please make a donation to support WaterFire and keep the fires burning. Donations of $3, $5, $10 or more are much appreciated and allow us to keep offering this event for free.  All proceeds go to support WaterFire.  By wearing a glowing blue necklace you will become a part of the artwork and create a river of soft blue light flowing alongside the riverbanks.

Thank you for coming to WaterFire and thank you for your support!  Please realize that the commercial novelty vendors outside the park are not affiliated with WaterFire and your purchase there does not support WaterFire.  Further, many of those who attend WaterFire find the flashing, and strobing novelties they sell are disruptive and distracting and ruin the calm of the WaterFire evening. 

The Sovereign Plaza Ballroom at WaterFire

Presents our annual Swing Extravaganza

WaterFire is proud to announce that Sovereign Bank is sponsoring the 8th season of the ever popular WaterFire Sovereign Plaza Ballroom, featuring live dancing under the stars. This evening is the last Sovereign Plaza Ballroom feature for the 2008 season.  

September 13^th - Swing Night Extravaganza Special

7:00pm - Free dance lesson presented by Providence Swings

8:00pm - Midnight - Band: Roger Ceresi and The Allstarz

9:00pm to 10:00pm - Demo: Providence Swings

DeeJay: TBD

Hosts this evening are the radio talent stars of our sponsor WPRO 630

The Ballroom is just one short block away from WaterFire beneath the famous Turk’s Head building at the intersection of Westminster and Weybosset Streets in the downtown financial district. A stunning venue designed by Barnaby Evans with superb live music and a 65’ polished black dance floor, the dancing flows from 8:00 to midnight. There are free lessons by master instuctors each evening at 7:00 and fun demonstrations during the evening.

To get there from WaterFire: Near Memorial Park cross either of the two pedestrian bridges at College Street and cross Memorial Blvd. The Ballroom is just beyond. College Street becomes Westminster Street.

Near-by attractions: A few blocks west down Westminster Street is the thriving new Downcity District with stores, restaurants, entertainment, and theaters.

The Sovereign Plaza Ballroom is free and open to the public, courtesy of Sovereign Bank featuring music and dancing at the intersection of Westminster and Weybosset Streets in the heart of Providence’s Financial District from 8:00PM to 12AM. Located downtown on the cobblestone circle beneath the famed Turk’s Head Building on Westminster Street directly in front of the Rhode Island Headquarters of Sovereign Bank. The polished black dance floor, stretching sixty-five feet across, hovers just above the cobblestones while hundreds of dancers enjoy the night air, the beautiful music and the breathtaking architecture.

The Sovereign Plaza Ballroom returns with our 8th annual Swing Night Extravaganza featuring Roger Ceresi and the All Starz Band.

7:00 pm - Free Swing lessons for all

You won’t want to miss this opportunity as the evening starts off with Swing dance lessons by the wonderful Providence Swings team.

The Sovereign Plaza Ballroom is presented each year for free courtesy of the generous support of Sovereign Bank.

Also at the Sovereign Plaza Ballroom is the grilled specialties, beer and wine of Trinity Brewhouse.

tango y mas

The Latino Unity Festival at the WaterFire Steeple Street Stage:

WaterFire is proud to join Centro Cultural Andino in presenting our 12th annual Latino Unity Festival at WaterFire featuring the music, food, dance, and culture of the Andean nations.  The Latino Unity Festival is presented for free on the Steeple Street Stage (between North Main Street and the river) from 5:00 to 11:00 pm. 

5:00 pm  - 8:00 pm Celebration of Andean Cultures

• Peruvian Cooking Demonstration and Sampling

• Wine Tasting from Argentine and Chilean Wineries  ($10)

This entire festival of Andean cultures, dance and music is free and open to the public.  A Special reception tent near the stage offers tastings of Andean food and two flights of wine to the public from 5:00 to 8:00 (adjacent to Steeple Street) for a $10 per person donation. Please join us in the food and wine tent, or simply gather with us at the free concert to enjoy the music and energy of the live performers this evening. 

7:30 pm  Parade

• Parade celebrating the cultures of the Andes from Memorial Park to Steeple Street

8:00 - 11:00 pm Andean Music and Dancing

Great performances on the Steeple Street Stage celebrating the heritage and pride of the Andean nations.  Presented for free.  Please follow the links below to learn more about these wonderful performers:

     INKAS WASI - Peru   

     TANGO Y MAS - Argentina

     YARINA - Ecuador

     FRATERNIDAD FOLDORICA BOLIVIANA OF RHODE ISLAND - Bolvia

     BAJUCOL - Columbia

     MI SON GAITERO - Venezuela

 

WaterFire welcomes Andary Dance:

Andary Dance and WaterFire come together for a second year presenting "Moving Images" performed by Emily Beattie, Rosemary Candelario, Ellen Godena with composer/musician Max Lord, and Alicia Monaco with instrumentalist Kenny Corrigan.  "Moving Images" abstracts real life emotions, occurrences, interactions, and barriers through the art of dance, music, and performance. 

This collection of avant-garde theatre and experimental dance explores a wide range of genres and approaches to the evocative expressive power of the human body in motion.  This is a rare opportunity to see a wide range of contemporary approaches to dance.  The material is intended for a thoughtful, inquisitive, adult audience in terms of the seriousness of the issues explored, but the performances are not graphic.  See this compelling display of dance and theatre scattered between Citizens Plaza and Memorial park from 9:00 to 10:00 pm.  

9:00 - 9:15 Emily Beattie - performed at The Confluence (between Steeple St. and Washington St.)

9:00 - 9:20 Rosemary Candelario - performed at the Tunnel side of Waterplace Basin

9:25 - 9:35 Alicia Monaco with live percussion by Kenny Corrigan - performed at Citizens Plaza (between the bridges North of Steeple St.)

9:45 - 9:55 Alicia Monaco with live percussion by Kenny Corrigan - performed at Citizens Plaza (between the bridges North of Steeple St.)

9:40 - 10:00 Ellen Godena with live percussion by Max Lord - performed at Memorial Park (just sound of WWI monument)

For information on the individual performers, please click here.  

 

The Danger Danger Birds at WaterFire:

WaterFire is pleased to welcome The Danger Danger Birds, "Performing Artists from the Renaissance City" as part of this evening’s entertainment.  

The Danger Danger Birds are: Keri King (Director), Abby Rhodes (Choreographer), Connie Thunders, Camille LaTeau, Lindsay Loo (Costuming)     

9:25   - performance at the Sovereign Plaza Ballroom

9:40   - performance at the Sovereign Plaza Ballroom

10:37 - performance at the WaterPlace Basin Stage

 

The Low Anthem’s new CD featured:

Providence-based band, The Low Anthem released its second CD "Oh My God, Charlie Darwin" on September 5th at Providence’s Firehouse 13.   Hear featured at WaterFire the gorgeous haunting first track of the new CD, "Charlie Darwin" (played at 9:46pm) and "To Ohio" (played at 10:34).  The Low Anthem features Ben Knox Miller, Jeffrey Prystowsky, and Jocie Adams in the new Americana folk indie tradition, The New Folk Movement.  We wish them well on their current national tour.  "Charlie Darwin" can be heard by clicking here.  

 

Presenting Cafe Vivace! For your dining and drinking pleasure:

WaterFire is pleased to feature beer and wine at Cafe Vivace on College Street, just off the river between the bridge and North Main Street.

Presented in partnership with Parkside Grille and Rotisserie on South Main Street, this venue is on College Street near the historic Market House building. Cold beer in the park, hard lemonade beneath the trees, and fine wines by the glass, along with Parkside’s famous Neopolitan-style grilled Margarita pizza and other specialties, including their famous all-beef Hot Diggity Dogs and Ozzie’s grilled steak burgers.  Also on College Street are hand-made French desert crepes, spicy Indian food from Taste of India, ocean fresh seafood at the Raw Bar, exquisite, award-winnng hand-made pastries from Pastry Gourmet of the East Side, and more!

WaterFire brochure & music program:

WaterFire prints a wonderful 48-page program that is full of photographs, and essays and information about WaterFire, the artists, and upcoming events.  It is available for a donation from the Ribbons of Light stations marked by the illuminated blue columns of light.  Please see the volunteers at the stations for a printed program.  The program also has a complete listing of all the music featured for this evening.

The music at WaterFire:

WaterFire offers a new and unusual program of music each night  that is curated by Barnaby Evans from sources all around the world.  The music programs vary each night and we always offer something entirely new.  The music is likely not something you have heard before and we hope you discover something new and wonderful. 

WaterFire prints a detailed music program for all full lightings (and often for partial lightings too).  The program lists all the music including the  artists’ names, the CD titles, and the exact start time of each piece.  We urge you to support these artists by buying their work and sharing your interest in them with others. 

Please pick up a complete music program from a WaterFire volunteer at the Ribbons of Light stations illuminated by blue balloon sculptures. (Please make a donation to Keep the Fires Burning!  The programs cost us about $3 to print.)

Barnaby is always interested in hearing new music or in getting suggestions and you can email him about the music at music@waterfire.org.  Artists are always welcome to send new material to WaterFire for consideration at WaterFire Providence, 101 Regent Avenue #12, Providence, RI 02908.  Please realize that we cannot afford to return the material to you and it may be some time before we get to it. 

The WaterFire cranes!

Earlier this season we introduced this year’s 2008 origami crane design.  Nearly 7000 hand-folded origami cranes were given away as gifts in partnership with our sponsor Fidelity Investments.  A few will be available tonight for those who missed them from the volunteers at the Ribbons of Light stations. The origami crane is a symbol of peace and fidelity and are folded by the employees of Fidelity Investments in partnership with WaterFire as a gift to the entire community.

In commemoration of this annual event we are once again offering WaterFire’s special collectable porcelain origami cranes for sale.  The cranes are hand-made of traditional green celadon porcelain and each come in a fun special gift package with an explanatory booklet about WaterFire.  The cranes are available for $10 each at the WaterFire sales table in front of the RISD Auditorium (between Washington and College Street along the river).  They may also be ordered from WaterFire at (401) 273-1155, ext 141. The proceeds all go to support WaterFire.

Light Luminaria Candle Lanterns for Good Luck

Light your own luminaria candle lantern and participate in WaterFire by adding your light to the Renassiance City!

WaterFire invites you to dedicate your Luminaria paper lantern with a commemoration, a dedication, a wish, a rememberance, your name, or the reason for your visit to WaterFire. You will light your candle lantern and be led into the park where you will place it in a special spot. All the dedication cards are saved and preserved in a book at WaterFire.

The candle lanterns are available for a donation to WaterFire.  Please give what you can.  We suggest a donation of $10 per candle.

By lighting a lantern you will become directly involved in the event in a memorable and special way and you will join the ranks of those who support WaterFire.

WaterFire walking tours of Historical Providence:

5:30PM - 6:30PM Walking Tour of Historical Providence presented by the RI Historical Society. Tour starts at the John Brown House at 52 Power Street. Tickets are $10/person. Reservations are strongly encouraged at 401.273.7507 x62 or bbarnes@rihs.org

WaterFire merchandise:

7:00PM - 10:30PM WaterFire Merchandise Sales Table opens at the RISD auditorium for the night. Purchase WaterFire merchandise such as posters, t-shirts, commemorative hats, and tote bags and help keep the fires burning! A new addition tonight are the special porcelain origami cranes!

WaterFire Gargoyles!

8:40PM-11:00PM Discover the Gargoyles at the WWI monument near College Street and South Main Street. The Gargoyles are the creation of Ten31 Productions in Providence.

Michael Grando portrays Pierrot!

8:30PM - 11:00PM Michael Grando, the noted master mime, will portray Pierrot (Pedrolino) from the Commedia del’arte, in his naive and everlasting quest to win the heart of the beautiful girl. Pierrot will be tossing hundreds of long-stem carnations to the crowd from a boat during the evening. Each flower is accompanied by a different quote that illuminates the connections between life and art.

Spogga spins fire!

8:30PM - 11:00PM Spogga, the WaterFire Fire Dancer, will be performing throughout the park. Spogga has recently released his new DVD featuring his music and his fire performances at WaterFire.

Fyregod Zor:

Fyregod Zor will be performing at Market Square throughout the evening with special presentations at the Confluence at 7:50pm, 8:20pm and 9:40pm.