Augusta, Ga.- The City of Augusta is preparing for a sweeping
cultural event featuring an exciting mixture of performances
and exhibits during the highly anticipated inaugural Westobou
Festival to be held September 18-27, 2008.   With showcases from
dance to theatre and music to visual arts, residents and visitors
can sample the city's emerging artistic scene during the 10 day
celebration. For additional information, including area hotels
offering special rates during the event, visit www.westoboufestival.com
or www.augustaga.org.



The Westobou Festival schedule includes 10 days of performances.
Event show dates and prices vary but range from free admission
to $45 for the grand finale, an acoustic concert featuring Lyle
Lovett and John Hiatt. 



Sure to draw attention are several unique presentations.  Making
it's debut in Georgia is the "Cirque de la Symphonie" performed
by The Augusta Symphony.  This exciting show brings the magic
of cirque, artistic performances featuring acrobats, contortionists,
dancers, jugglers, etc., and adapts it to professionally choreographed
classical masterpieces with the Symphony.   



Making it's Southeastern debut is the "Slow Dancing" Exhibit.
This amazing visual display includes an outdoor installation
of larger-than-life, hyper-slow-motion video portraits of extraordinary
dance artists and choreographers from around the world. Each
subject's movement was shot on a specially constructed set with
a high-speed, high-definition camera.  The result is approximately
10-minutes of extreme slow movement which results in a motion
portrait capturing the dancers' unique artistic expressions and
techniques.   



Also premiering in Augusta is COMPLEXIONS Contemporary Ballet,
performed by the Augusta Ballet.  COMPLEXIONS, a New York production,
celebrates excellence in dance with the goal of provoking thought
and inspiring impassioned performances with the finest dancers
from various artistic and cultural backgrounds.  



In addition to these new productions, festival-goers will enjoy
Augusta traditions such as the 28th annual Arts in the Heart
Festival, a three-day festival featuring an eclectic variety
of entertainment, cuisine and the works of more than 70 fine
artists and crafters.  Those looking for additional visual art
will want to check out the Whiskey Painters of America Annual
Exhibition at the Zimmerman Gallery or the Clay Artists of the
Southeast Native American Pottery Exhibit at Augusta State University.



Further scheduled events include: "Sweeney Todd: The Demon
Barber of Fleet Street" presented by the Augusta Opera; Sacred
Heart Cultural Center's Silent Movie Night featuring "Pandora's
Box;" poetry readings by Nikki Giovanni at Paine College; Historic
Augusta presents "An Evening with Mark Twain;" Westobou Festival
Funk with Wycliffe Gordon & Friends;The Inventions of Leonardo
Da Vinci presented by the National Science Center's Fort Discovery;
The Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown presented by the Augusta
Museum of History and much, much more.



The Westobou Festival gives travelers yet another reason to
visit the "Garden City," Georgia's second-oldest and second-largest
city.  Augusta is full of history, atmosphere, Southern charm,
and plenty of activities to engage everyone's interest.  Several
area hotels will be offering special rates for the Westobou Festival,
including the landmark Partridge Inn (www.PartridgeInn.com).
For more information on Augusta, visit www.augustaga.org.  



The Westobou Festival, designed in the footprint of Charleston's
Spoleto Festival, is a 10-day celebration of the arts encompassing
a variety of performances and presentations.  The event is funded
by the Porter Fleming Foundation/Trustees of the Academy of Richmond
County and will be administered by the Greater Augusta Arts Council.