Roberta Kulik will teach a tambourine dance workshop at 11 a.m., Thursday, April 3, at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.
The tambourine, also known as a timbrel, is a small drum consisting of a circular frame with a skin stretched over it and several pairs of metal jingles attached to the frame. The tambourine is played by either striking it with the knuckles or palm, or shaking it.
The tambourine can be used as a percussion instrument while dancing to emphasize the rhythms. Each series of movement and tapping of beats of a particular routine or choreography is called a “pattern.”
Simple dance patterns using the tambourine will be put together in user-friendly choreography. In addition, participants will learn some history of tambourines, such as when they were first found.
This instrument originated in Rome, Greece, Mesopotamia, the Middle East and India and was often used in religious context. It is a Jewish symbol of victory and jubilee. Today it is found in many forms of music including Turkish, Greek and Italian folk music, classical music, Persian and gospel music and even pop and rock music.
Oak Park Arms Senior Living is a rental retirement community which provides senior housing in the form of independent living. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.
The workshop is free and open to the public. For more information call 708-386-4040.
