Saturday, April 21

women's DRUM CIRCLE to support YWDEP!

Women's DRUM CIRCLE to support YWDEP's 2007 Summer
Enrichment Program!

candles - incense - refreshments - rhythms
DRUMS

$30 - ALL PROCEEDS SUPPORT YWDEP (see description
below)
this fee automatically qualifies individuals as a
MEMBER of the organization

7-8:30 p.m.
St. Stephens Church
1525 Newton St NW
Washington, DC 20010

Please bring a drum if you have one (we will supply
the rest)

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!

IN RHYTHM-
kristen arant
www.drumladydc.com
202-213-7810

About YWDEP:
The Young Women's Drumming Empowerment Project (YWDEP)
is a youth arts empowerment organization that strives
to create a safe environment free of fear and
intimidation in order to assist young women in the
examination of their own experiences, emotions and
opinions, and to aid in their development of
leadership, self-confidence and self-awareness. YWDEP
offers a free Summer Enrichment Program for DC young
women ages 13-18, bringing in area female artists to
teach West African hand drumming, poetry/spoken word,
song writing/singing and performance/stage technique
while supporting a core group of young women in the
process of creating their own set list of original
works for an end of the summer community performance.
This performance serves as a graduation or “rite of
passage” for its new members each year. YWDEP seeks to
sustain its programs during the school year as well.
Through its Mentorship Program, YWDEP builds young
women’s leadership skills by training graduates of the
summer program to mentor new girls entering the
program each year. In addition, YWDEP offers
school-year drumming workshops throughout DC schools
and youth centers, and offers performances for area
events throughout the year.

Thursday, March 29

YWDEP Features at Teen Dating Violence Conference

WHO:Young Women's Drumming Empowerment Project

WHAT:PERFORMANCE at the ACT NOW, CHOOSE RESPECT Teen Dating Violence Conference

WHERE:The HRC Building, 1640 Rhode Island Ave NW, in the Equality Center

WHEN:Saturday, March 31st, 9:30 a.m.

Directions/Otherwww.breakthecycle.org

Act Now, Choose Respect Teen Conference
March 30-31, Washington DC.

Break the Cycle, The DC Rape Crisis Center, My
Sister’s Place and Women Empowered Against Violence
present the 4th Annual City-Wide Teen Dating Violence
Conference, "Act Now. Choose Respect” in Washington,
DC. The mission of the conference is to inform teens
about dating violence and provide resources so that
teens could make more empowered decisions about their
relationships.

YWDEP will be featured as the OPENING ACT at this
important conference. We'll be performing at 9:30 a.m.
on Saturday, March 31st at the Equality Center in the
Human Rights Campaign Building, 1640 Rhode Island Ave
NW (near 16th and M intersection).

PeAcE and thanks for your support -

Kristen Arant
YWDEP Founding Director
www.youngwomendrum.org

Wednesday, March 28

UPCOMING DC-AREA DRUMMING EVENTS!!!

Friends!
I'm writing to let you know about several upcoming
events of interest! FYI all of these are available on
my blog: www.drumlady.blogspot.com should you choose
to skip over this email for now.

A. This Saturday: Amazones: Women Master Drummers of
Guinea at the Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre in Arlington,
VA

B. Spring women's drumming class at Circle Yoga!
Sign up!

C. Afro-Latin Rhythm Circle at Art-o-Matic - May
5th!

D. New drumlady.com website launching on my b-day
(April 4)!

E. BUMBADA women's drumming conference April 27-29: HELP A YOUNG WOMAN FROM YWDEP ATTEND THE CONFERENCE THROUGH OUR SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM!

F. SUPPORT RENEE BOWSER! Event at Blair Mansion Inn
TOMORROW!(featuring myself and henry on drums!)

Please see below for brief descriptions of all of the
above - thank you for your time and attention!

in RHYTHM!!
Kristen Arant
www.drumlady.com
www.youngwomendrum.org

A - AMAZONES!
These women are miraculous. Check their website:
http://www.amazoneswomandrummers.com/ - the photos are
incredible.
Amazones: Woman Master Drummers of Guinea
Saturday, March 31, 2007, 8 p.m.
Rosslyn Spectrum
1611 N. Kent Street
Free Parking in the building garage, access from
Arlington Ridge Road
Directions/Map to Rosslyn Spectrum
Tickets $20 through Ticketmaster (703-573-SEAT or
www.Ticketmaster.com)
General Seating
Information: 703-228-1850
TTY: 703-228-1855


B - SPRING WOMEN'S DRUM CLASS!
see www.circleyoga.com under "spring schedule." The
class starts on Sunday April 15 and runs through June
10. It's every Sunday from 12-1:15 p.m. Drop-in for
$18 per class or sign up for the semester and pay
less. The class is averaging around 10 women per
session now - very exciting, FUN and educational!

Hand Drumming for Women
In this class students will explore West African drums
and rhythms with djembe artist Kristen Arant, learning
basic notes of the djembe, parts to traditional West
African polyrhythms. Students will build confidence,
strength, and joy by playing improvisationally through
listening and bonding with one another.


C - ART-O-MATIC AFRO-LATIN RHYTHM CIRCLE! MAY 5, 8-10
p.m. Art-o-Matic is taking two floors of an unused
office space in Crystal City, VA this year, with huge
windows overlooking the metro, train tracks and the
airport. One floor will feature walls full of local
artists' work; another is devoted to sculpture and
live art forms. Bars and live music are on the
schedule for the weekends. I'll be hostng an
Afro-Latin rhythm circle there on May 5 - i'll have
drums but feel free to bring your own. More at
www.artomatic.org.


D - WEBSITE LAUNCH ON APRIL 4TH!
I am celebrating my 32nd birthday, and will be
launching a new website, built in collaboration with
Alexandra Silverthorne. Please
remember to check it out! www.drumlady.com


E - The BUMBADA all-women's drumming weekend is
FANTASTC. All levels come and experience workshops
ranging from djembe technique to drum circle
facilitation to shekere building and african dance.
April 27-29 - sign up by April 1st for the discounted
rate. The infamous UBAKA HILL will be presenting there
this year! It's a no-miss:
http://www.bumbadawomenweekend.myevent.com/

P.S. if you are interested in helping to SPONSOR A
YOUNG WOMAN FROM YWDEP to attend the BUMBADA
CONFERENCE this year, please call me: 202-213-7810 or
email me: kristen@youngwomendrum.org.


F - SUPPORT RENEE BOWSER!
I don't usually pass along information about political
events - but Renee is a friend and a Young Women's
Drumming Empowerment Project member-supporter. She's a
Washingtonian by choice, a part of the DC community
for nearly 24 years, served two terms as a
Commissioner on the DC Commission on Human Rights,
tutored homeless children for seven years and raised
scholarship money for college-bound DC youth. She's
also a Union lawyer who has fought to advance the
rights of working people, building on her experience
as a civil rights investigator. She's now in her 5th
year as an ANC Commissioner and her goals are all
about bringing consistent, effective ward-wide
constituent services to Ward 4.

FYI - My drumming partner Henry and I will be
performing at this event

SUPPORT RENEE BOWSER:
Spring Bash for Renee
Thursday March 29, 2007
Time: 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Blair Manison Inn, 7711 Eastern Ave. (near Georgia
Ave. & Kalmia Sts. NW)
Join Renée and friends for an evening of live
entertainment at this magical and historical DC
location. Tasty appetizers will be served. Cash bar.

Voluntary donations for Renée's Ward 4 Campaign will
be accepted.
RSVP requested at 202-291-3080