South Metro Folk Musicians to Host September Program in Apple Valley

Dragonfly, South Metro folk musicians, joins with the Velvet Tones choir and Apple Valley senior writers for Tales & Tunes 2.0.  The program celebrates National Senior Center Month with original stories, folk songs and singalong favorites.  Hosted by the City of Apple Valley and funded by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, admission is free although donations to the local food shelf are welcome.  The program will be from 1-3 p.m. in the Yellowstone Room at Hayes Community and Senior Center, 14601 Hayes Road, Apple Valley.

Apple Valley Seniors have much to celebrate and share with other South Metro communities.  Approved by voters in an Apple Valley City Bond Referendum, the popular Hayes Community and Senior Center space opened in 2009 for a variety of seniors’ daytime activities and other community events at night. 

The September program includes original “tales” from a Creative Writing Class which meets at the Senior Center led by Rosemary Matos, songs by the Velvet Tones choir that rehearses at the Senior Center and performs throughout the metro area under the direction of Rich Clausen, and the south metro's seniors' folk music ensemble, Dragonfly.

The program is version 2.0 because in 2011, Dragonfly produced Tales & Tunes at the Lakeville Area Arts Center with Lakeville’s Senior Center members.  That audience, from nine south metro cities, was anxious for another event -- with 98% wanting another opportunity to hear a program created by and produced for seniors. 

This activity is funded, in part, by appropriations from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State’s general fund, and its arts and cultural heritage fund that was created by a vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

Dragonfly is a group of five seniors, ages 55-85, who spent much of their lives in careers as varied as engineering and community development.  Most met as part of the Dakota Valley Symphony Chorus, and they’ve been featured performers with that group at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center.  Now in its third year as a folk ensemble, Dragonfly finds pleasure in providing programs for senior residences, senior centers, coffee shops, etc.  They especially enjoy the Tales & Tunes format that allows weaving of the true stories of peers with the breadth of life experience captured in folk music.  For more information about this program, contact Beth Starbuck at dragonfly.gig@gmail.com or 952-461-2119.