Zumba, Jazz Piano, at Watchung Arts Center This Weekend

The Watchung Arts Center, at 18 Stirling Road in Watchung, has an active weekend coming up, to include a free Zumba dance session on Saturday morning and a performance by jazz piano player Rio Clemente to wrap up the center's "Jazz in the Gallery" series.

Clemente, a Morristown native will present the ImpresaRIO Concert at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 16.

When Clemente hits the stage, he brings fire and passion and with him talented musicians to tantalize jazz enthusiasts and music lovers alike, according to his fans. As a master pianist, educator, composer, arranger and recording artist, Clemente mixes a strong classical background with a rich knowledge of jazz history, then adds a sense of creativity and interpretation.

Clemente has played jazz piano on concert stages, in clubs and restaurants, in churches, supermarkets and even the historic 1938 Steinway piano in the East Room of the White House. He has recorded with bassist Milt Hinton, performed Dave Brubeck’s mass (To Hope! A Celebration) and prepared a feature CD on Richard Rodgers that led Linda Rodgers to say, “Rio plays my father’s music better than anyone I ever heard — with unremitting style and sensitivity, and always with a technique that is elegant.”

American Composer and Pianist Regan Ryzuk is scheduled to join Clemente on stage. Ryzuk is the son of renowned painter, Onufry Ryzuk and published author and playwright, Mary S. Ryzuk, PhD. He attended Manhattan School of Music and The Julliard School of Music and began his musical career touring with various ballet companies traveling through Europe and Latin America. This experience improved his improvisational techniques and laid the groundwork for one of his greatest piano compositional works, "48 Preludes and Fugues," in the style of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Tickets are $18 in advance, $22 ($20 for WAC members, $10 for students) at the door.

Advanced price tickets can be purchased though the website at wathungartscenter.eventbrite.com using a credit card or by check made payable to the Watchung Arts Center, 18 Stirling Road, Watchung, NJ 07069. Advanced sale price will be given prior to the event only. 

Sample free Zumba class and burn up to 1,000 calories

The Watchung Arts Center is pleased to offer the latest workshops for our members and patrons. A Zumba fitness program that marries music and dance for a fun and energizing workout begins with a free trial one-hour class — a complete cardio work-out which burns up to 1,000 calories and relieves stress leaving you feeling better and exhilarated.

All are invited to attend the open house for the program from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 18. The trial class will feature twenty-minute sessions catering to adults and children. The open house will provide a chance to meet the instructor and enjoy light refreshments while registering for the upcoming sessions beginning May 22 and 25.

The method is simple: working out one hour doing Zumba will burn close to 1,000 calories. Every class feels like a party! No dance experience required — just move your body, wiggle your hips and follow the instructor’s lead.

The cost is $80 per session, or both for $140. Walk-ins will be charged $15 per class.

Sessions are:

Wednesdays, 6 to 7 p.m. (eight weeks)
5/22, 5/29, 6/5, 6/12, 6/19, 6/26, 7/3 and 7/10

Saturdays, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (eight weeks)
5/25, 6/1, 6/15, 6/29, 7/6, 7/13, 7/20, 7/27

To obtain more information about upcoming performances, classes and workshops or monthly art exhibitions please visit the Watchung Arts Center website.