Special Happenings

CAPE COD OPERA
Friday Night Event

Cape Cod Opera
The Night Before the Night:

Chatham’s First Night Celebration actually begins the day before New Year’s Eve on Friday, December 30th with a delightful performance by Cape Cod Opera.  This year’s performance at the Methodist Church on Main Street in downtown Chatham begins at 7:30pm.  Start your New Year’s celebrations early by enjoying a concert of arias, ensembles and duets from opera, operettas, and musical theatre.

The evening event includes excerpts in French and Italian, arias and waltzes from Romeo & Juliet, and songs dreaming of dances.  The young professional Boston-based quartet of Desire Maira, Jonathan Nussman, Aliana de la Guardia and Ben Robinson along with Lucy Banner at the Piano, will sing popular operettas by Strauss, Puccini, Sondheim and Bizet.
(On Friday, December 30. Methodist Church at 7:30 p.m.)

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SATURDAY EVENTS
December 31, 2011 / New Year’s Eve

Carnival Caper – Costumed Road Race
Sponsored by the Chatham Squire, this event is fun for our athletes, runners and walkers. Register outside the Squire at 2 pm ($10). Judging is at 2:30; the race is at 3 pm. T-shorts and Beef stew are served at the Squire after the race. fun, Fun, FUN!

Special Showing of “Swing Time”
The Atwood House Museum will show the movie, Swing Time (1936) is often named as the best or most popular musical/romance of dancing duo Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. Directed by George Stevens, this is one of his earliest films. They dance to the charming and exuberant “Pick Yourself Up,” the instrumental “Waltz in Swing Time,” and their final eloquent, anguished dance duet, “Never Gonna Dance” – one of the peak examples of their entire dance partnership.  Read this review by Filmsite Movie Review. (The bus leaves from Rockland Bank at 2:10 to view movie at Atwood House at 2:30. The bus will return when the movie has ended.)

Bonnie Brenner
Bonnie became a year round resident of Chatham in 2010 after spending summers here since 1982. She has been a music educator for over 30 years and has specialized in leading group singing . Come to the community sing along for this intergenerational opportunity for coming together as family and friends.  (Elementary School Gym 5 pm)

Miniature Golf (9 hole)
Each hole is sponsored by a business operating in Chatham. It was constructed in the Woodworking Class by Chatham High School students and will provide a fun and lively activity for the whole family.   (Middle School gym 1-5 pm)

Town Photo
Come to the Chatham Lighthouse on Shore Road to be part of the town photo on New Years Eve at Noon. (12 noon, be prompt) The 2012 Official Town Photo will be available for purchase at CVS.  Be a part of history! A panorama photo will also be taken and posted on the website. You can zoom in on your own presence, check out friends and neighbors, and see all the wonderful dogs who come to have their photos taken for New Year’s!
Click on this zoomable panorama 2011 photo of the 2011 photo and scroll and zoom to individual faces. (You can use arrows, plus and minus keys, or the wheel of your mouse to navigate through the photo.)

Top Hat (resolution facsimile)
Toss your troubles (bad report card, speeding ticket, pink slip, dear john letter) in a top hat at headquarters and we will fling your worries on the bonfire and watch them go up in smoke.

Noise Parade
This year the noise parade will be lead by Siobhan Magnus. The Parade starts at 6 PM at the Methodist Church (at Cross Street) and goes around the rotary on to the Oyster Pond for all to enjoy the Bonfire. Bring your choice of noise maker – pots and pans, whistles, castanets or your booming voice . . .  use your imagination.  Everyone will make their way down to Oyster Pond to enjoy the bonfire and a singalong.
(Gather at Main Street and Cross Street  6 pm – in front of Methodist Church)

 

Countdown Cod Drop
Countdown to the New Year at Oyster Pond.  Our spectacular Count Down Clock and Cod will again perform to welcome in the New Year.

Fireworks at Oyster Pond
A fantastic fireworks finale will begin at 12:00 midnight sharp! Pictures describe it best.

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A very special THANK YOU to the dancer instructors who donated their time teaching us how to dance:

Naomi Turner – Swing
Lou diFinizio – Rhumba
Doug and Kimberly McHugh – Ballroom and Foxtrot

Now that you have learned to Dance – join in on the DANCE CONTEST New Year’s Eve Night with
Freddie and the Maybellines at the Chatham Community Center 10:00 pm

Some of the entertainers listed below will demonstrate their dance while others will invite audience participation:

Anahita

An audience favorite, Anahita brings her many years of classical training in ballet, jazz, & modern dance, together with her years of training in Turkish and Egyptian style “Raks Sharki”, to bring elegance and polish to her performance of the ancient and earthy art of bellydance. She is also artistic director of the Harwich-based bellydance troupe “Ay Isigi Kizlari” (“Daughters of Moonlight”). (Eldredge Library 10 pm)

Atwater-Donnelly 

A husband-wife duo who blend gorgeous vocals with an array of instruments. They perform traditional American and Celtic folk songs, a capella pieces, old-time gospel songs, dance tunes, and original works. Aubrey Atwater will demonstrate clog dancing to the delight of the audience… she will explain as she dances. (Community Center meeting room 3 and 7 pm). : : VIDEO : : .

Maureen Haley
Maureen Haley teaches Irish Step Dance in the Boston area. She will be showing us how to Irish step dancing. (Drama Guild 3 pm)

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
Mashpee Native American tribal dancing (High School Auditorium 1 pm)

Sean Murphy
This New Years Eve come and spend some time with a group of Irish Set Dancers from Cape Cod. Set Dancing is danced in pairs, made up of a man and woman or two women/men. In this class we will demonstrate how to do an easy dance and then show you how to do it. The class is open to everyone – beginners, experienced dancers and those who just want to watch and enjoy the fun. Wear comfortable loose clothing, appropriate footwear, if you can, and bring a bottle of water. The main thing to bring is your sense of humor and enthusiasm. (Elementary Gym 3 pm)

Tara Murphy
African dance and drum a spirited and invigorating experience (High School Auditorium 3 pm)

The Nau-sets
Will perform Square dancing during which time they will invite folks to join them for a few sets. Four couples form a “Square” and dance a pattern of figures as directed by a caller. Music ranges from classic country, contemporary to rock. Movements are rhythmic, smooth, graceful and easy to learn. The old time barn dance has been modernized. (Middle School gym 8 pm)

Ooch
Brett Ouchcunis will entertain and instruct about Stomp form of dance. He will invite those who would like to learn, to participate…fun for the whole family. (Middle School Gym 7 pm)

Khadija Valenzuela
Belly Dancer. (Drama Guild 9:30)