 What's Happening 2004 Archive |
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YEAR-END HIGHLIGHTS
THE TRIO FINDS A NAME! It's about time and we thank everyone who sent us suggestions, they were all great! We have settled on MARAFANYI PERCUSSIONE. Marafanyi means "Love or Charitable" in the sou-sou, one of the tribal languages spoken in Guinea. We hope you like it! We'll have a new CD for you ready in 2005 featuring this incarnation of our music, details to come . . . AUTUMN '04 HIGHLIGHTS Yael, Lara and Jennifer Starr had the pleasure of setting the evening tone for a lecture with Ram Dass in early September at the First Church of Religious Science in Morristown, NJ. Many thanks to Rev. Frankie Timmers for the invite!
November '04 FULA FEVER! This month we had the honor and pleasure of opening for Fula Flute Ensemble at the Underground Concert Series! The group is comprised of some of our favorite master artists from Guinea, Mali, Canada and the U.S. They have a beautiful new video here http://www.biznasty.com/movies/FulaFlute_1103.mov We also had a successful fundraiser for our artists and friends in Guinea and the debute of the "Guinea Hens" (our student ladies drum & dance ensemble) at this show! Our heartfelt thanks to all who helped out and supporter the event! CLICK HERE to see the flyer. October '04 WONGAI! LET'S GO! It is with relish that we share this very exciting news! In January Yael & Lara will be collaborating with artists in Guinea, West Africa to host a drum/dance program! WOOHOO! Our co-host will be Sekou Sano, artistic director of Wamali Percussione de Guinee, and son of Kemoko Sano, longtime choreographer of Les Ballets Africains. Our journey will commence on January 18 - February 4, 2005. If you are interested in making this trip with us please visit http://www.rootsheartpulse.com/guinee_program.html for program details. We are happy to answer any questions you may have! We thank all of those who have supported our dreams to make this kind of venture possible! September '04 BE HERE NOW Wow the fall looks to be a whirlwind of exciting opportunities already! We were recently given the gift of setting the tone of the evening for a lecture by Ram Dass! We also stepped in at the last minute for a Free World show with our old friend and sax/flute master Erik Lawrence at the Jam Nation Festival in VT. Here we got to improvise with some truly fantastic players including Joe Salins on bass, Tony Vacca on percussion and Abi Robles on drum set - makin' magic in moose-country. Speaking of mooses, Yael saw her first one on Mt Greylock in the Berkshires this month! The ladies are gearing up for a busy Fall and working on a new demo. They have some very exciting Guinee related projects in the works, details to come! We've got some wonderful things on the horizon including a show with Fula Flute Ensemble, workshops Grounds for Sculpture in NJ at the fabulous Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires, and more. Check out our Events Schedule for details . . . SUMMER '04 HIGHLIGHTS Yael and Lara had the pleasure of re-connecting with their teachers, Nima Camara & Mito Camara from Les Ballets Africains, and other artists from Guinea, at shows in Central Park and Queens, NY - t'was divine!
Ballet, Ballet, Ballet! The highlight of this month for the Duo was definitely the return of Les Ballets Africains to the States for a mini-tour. We had the pleasure of re-connecting with our teachers, Nima Camara, Mito Camara and other artists from Guinea at shows in Central Park and Queens - t'was divine! The company's arrival was complicated due to problems with visas, so our longtime teacher, M'Bemba Bangoura, along with some other Stateside artists, gallantly stepped in as a replacements for a few shows. Visit the Duo page for highlight pictures. Lara just completed her 6th year of training as an NJPAC Early Learning Through the Arts© Wolftrap teaching artist. This is a program provides 3 to 5-year-old children with a foundation for future learning by teaching basic academic and life skills through the performing arts. In addition it is designed as a teacher training model which enables classroom teachers to continue the activities after the residency has concluded. Perhaps you will consider suggesting this program to your local school and request Lara as the teaching artist! To learn more about this and other wonderful residency programs offered visit the NJPAC website. July '04 Liberté! In honor of our independence we will make no political statements except - you gotta vote this time around, PLEASE! Yael & Lara had the pleasure of leading the Williamstown, MA 4th of July Parade with some new percussion friends (thank you Mieke!) and the American Legion. We also had a fabulous time performing with Jennifer Starr at the NJ Independent Music Festival in Princeton (thank you Annick!), plenty of photos of the festivities here http://njindependentmusicfestival.com We are expecting a shipment of artist instruments from Conakry, Guinee over the next month that will include djembes, krins, a balafon, gongomas and more! Yael and Lara will sell these on behalf of artists from Wamali Percussione de Guinee, Groupe de Sorel and L'Etoiles de Boulbinet. Details to come, deposits are being accepting now. SPRING '04 HIGHLIGHTS
Spring has Sprung! Lara has finally found her landing gear since returning from her extended, and then extended again, stay in Guinee. She's got forthcoming tales to tell and there seems to be a growing number of folks who are encouraging her to write a book about her adventures! A shipment of high-end pro instruments from artists in Guinee is set to arrive in July, the duo will sell these treasures to help their friends with finances over there. The Duo/Trio w/ Jennifer Starr is back in action and making great strides - Lara, Yael & Jennifer Starr were recently featured in the Princeton Packet in NJ. Read this article written by Susan Van Dongen trio press online click here March '04 Guinea bound! By the skin of her teeth Lara will head back to Africa at the end of March to take care of some very personal business! In additon she will be doing small outreach and diving more deeply into the culture, music and dance she and Yael have fallen so in love with! The duo will be collecting supplies and donations for artists, friends and teachers in Guinea, click here for details - Guinea Artist Aid. The ladies will also be importing drums and other items, if you are interested please email rootsheartpulse@ureach.com for an order form. Feb '04 HAPPY TABASKI! This month marks a year since Yael and Lara journeyed to Guinea, West Africa together. With tears and hugs they sent gifts and donations with courier friends who will spend February studying drum and dance on M'Bemba Bangoura's program again. Another courier will be journeying there in April so we happily extend our fundraising for artists, friends and teachers in Guinea through the month of March. The Duo has partnered with a wonderful and progressive pre-school - The Schoolhouse in Pottersville, NJ - for childrens drum/dance and adult West African dance residencies amongst other things. They have also begun their first residency for Creative Heartwork whose vision is to provide an exemplary model to help children and adolecents reframe painful life experiences and losses through the healing power of creative arts. More to come . . . Jan '04 Bonne Année! We are happy to be opening for Odetta at the end of this month, check our schedule for details. Also in January, fundraising for artists, friends and teachers in Guinea. More to come . . . |
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