New series brings African, India artists to Worthington

The world is coming to Worthington beginning in January, thanks to a new Cultural Connections series at McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St.

Paired presentations with multicultural music, film and dance may help visitors build connection to their culture or be immersed in new experiences, according to a release from the MAC.

The series is made possible by a PNC Foundation grant through PNC Arts Alive, a multiyear initiative of the PNC Foundation that challenges visual and performing arts organizations to put forth their best, most original thinking to expand audience participation and engagement.

“At PNC, we recognize the importance of the arts in fueling the local economy and contributing to the quality of life for which our region is known,” said Mary Auch, PNC regional president for Columbus. “As a national Main Street bank, we are committed to supporting the local arts landscape and facilitating access to it. My colleagues and I look forward to MAC’s four events, connecting with the community and celebrating the work of these amazing artists.”

The series lineup includes:

• Flamenco by Night: Dancer Griset Damas-Roche of Flamenco Co. Columbus will showcase her 20-plus years as a performer and choreographer while introducing guests to the instrumentalists and dancers’ interpretation of the music’s language, beginning at 7 p.m. Jan. 20, Jan. 24 and Jan. 31.
• All that Jazz: A screening of “A Great Day in Harlem,” a documentary that visits 1958 New York and the moment 57 of the greatest jazz musicians gathered on a stoop for a photo. Central Ohio jazz icon Bobby Floyd and his trio will honor the jazz legends following the documentary with a tribute performance. The event begins at 7 p.m. Feb. 4.
• African beat: African drumming and dance by the Thiossane West African Dance Institute begins at 7 p.m. March 18. Learn the origins of this art form, followed by a question-and-answer session led by Thiossane co-founder and artistic director Suzan Bradford Kounta.
• Immersed in India: Shankar Ramachandran, artistic director of Dhvani India Performing Arts Society of Central Ohio, will host a program on how the COVID-19 lockdown led to the making of the film “Rise” before the film is screened. The second half of the evening features a live concert introducing Indian classical instrumental music, followed by a question-and-answer session. The performance starts at 7 p.m. April 15. Families are invited to return to the arts center at 10 a.m. April 22 for an instrumental petting zoo, where young central Ohio musicians will demonstrate instruments commonly found in Indian culture.