Beginners are welcome and drums are provided in the New York Drum Festival, being held at the New York Institute of Dance and Education this weekend.
Jim Donovan of Rusted Root fame started the New York Drum Festival back in 2003 after becoming good friends with Sean McLeod, director of NYIDE. McLeod invited Donovan to add on a drumming component to his New York Dance Festival and the growing event was born.
“The drumming turned out to be such a complementary match with the dance that we decided there was ample room to cross-pollinate them. There's a saying in Africa that says, ‘Without the dance, the drumming is no good,'” Donovan said.
He added that his personal experience in teaching and directing has led him to believe that the statement is true. Donovan considers Auburn as a second home and states that he greatly admires the NYIDE. “The Night of 1000 Drums” concert will include Donovan with his dynamic new band, Drum the Ecstatic International.
The band is a drum and vocal group that is currently being hailed, according to Donovan, as a blend of the drums of early Rusted Root, the positivity of Bob Marley and the “thumping soul of an African village.”
One of the featured performers in Donovan's group is Etse Nyadedzor, who, while originally from Ghana, resides in Syracuse. Additionally, McLeod will perform “Music from a Black Man's Songbook” and traditional west and central African drum, dance and song will abound.
Concert-goers may be particularly interested in the post-show drum circle jam. The concert is $15, and all ages are welcome. There are two package options for the day. For $59, option one includes the workshops and evening concert. Saturday night features Donovan's Drum the Ecstatic International performance and much more. Option two, for $49, involves workshops only.
Participants will learn from “Drumming for Live Dance Experience” and “The Rhythm Renewal Workshop” with McLeod and Donovan. The drumming for dance workshop will be held in a room full of dancers. The experience is meant to teach ways to support, communicate with dancers and energize them with the drum.
In the rhythm renewal workshop with Donovan, participants will explore rhythms, songs, chants and concepts from west Africa, central Africa, the Caribbean and more.
The master classes and workshops are for all levels, from beginner to advanced, and are led by internationally acclaimed faculty.
The goal of the festival is for participants to learn to accompany live dance and experience energized drum circles within a creative, experienced environment. Forms of drumming available in the workshops will include west and central African drumming for relaxation and meditations, drumming for live dance and the community drum circle, which happens directly after the evening performance.
Workshops are beginner friendly and are open to anyone over 17 years of age. All drums are provided and space is limited according to first come, first serve.
If you go
What: Drum festival and concert
When: Doors open 7 p.m.
Saturday, show time at 7:30 p.m.
Where: New York Institute of Dance and Education, 93 North St., Auburn
For details: Call 252-4420 to register or visit
www.NYDrumFestival.com; online registration is also
available at www.nyide.com/PayPal_DrumFestMain.html
“The drumming turned out to be such a complementary match with the dance that we decided there was ample room to cross-pollinate them. There's a saying in Africa that says, ‘Without the dance, the drumming is no good,'” Donovan said.
He added that his personal experience in teaching and directing has led him to believe that the statement is true. Donovan considers Auburn as a second home and states that he greatly admires the NYIDE. “The Night of 1000 Drums” concert will include Donovan with his dynamic new band, Drum the Ecstatic International.
The band is a drum and vocal group that is currently being hailed, according to Donovan, as a blend of the drums of early Rusted Root, the positivity of Bob Marley and the “thumping soul of an African village.”
One of the featured performers in Donovan's group is Etse Nyadedzor, who, while originally from Ghana, resides in Syracuse. Additionally, McLeod will perform “Music from a Black Man's Songbook” and traditional west and central African drum, dance and song will abound.
Concert-goers may be particularly interested in the post-show drum circle jam. The concert is $15, and all ages are welcome. There are two package options for the day. For $59, option one includes the workshops and evening concert. Saturday night features Donovan's Drum the Ecstatic International performance and much more. Option two, for $49, involves workshops only.
Participants will learn from “Drumming for Live Dance Experience” and “The Rhythm Renewal Workshop” with McLeod and Donovan. The drumming for dance workshop will be held in a room full of dancers. The experience is meant to teach ways to support, communicate with dancers and energize them with the drum.
In the rhythm renewal workshop with Donovan, participants will explore rhythms, songs, chants and concepts from west Africa, central Africa, the Caribbean and more.
The master classes and workshops are for all levels, from beginner to advanced, and are led by internationally acclaimed faculty.
The goal of the festival is for participants to learn to accompany live dance and experience energized drum circles within a creative, experienced environment. Forms of drumming available in the workshops will include west and central African drumming for relaxation and meditations, drumming for live dance and the community drum circle, which happens directly after the evening performance.
Workshops are beginner friendly and are open to anyone over 17 years of age. All drums are provided and space is limited according to first come, first serve.
If you go
What: Drum festival and concert
When: Doors open 7 p.m.
Saturday, show time at 7:30 p.m.
Where: New York Institute of Dance and Education, 93 North St., Auburn
For details: Call 252-4420 to register or visit
www.NYDrumFestival.com; online registration is also
available at www.nyide.com/PayPal_DrumFestMain.html
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