Having inherited a unique blend of African tribal ethnicity with Sufi mysticism, the Sidi Goma drummers and dancers are joined on stage by path-breaking maestros of percussion in India, each featuring various classical drum traditions. Together this large percussion and dance ensemble will present an entirely new and mesmerizing sound, supported by modern musical arrangements and electronica.
Concept and performance
Ranjit has conceptualized this performance as a meeting of the Ancient with the Now.

Drums were the first form of communication we had. It is a primal language, as old as the heartbeat. Every ritual, every festival and major social gathering featured drums and rhythmic expression. Coupled with dance, this was a joyous union of two intertwined disciplines, one feeding off the other, fuelling each other, rising to a fever pitch and then dynamically dropping to a murmur—but never losing intensity. Drumming it self is a dance of sorts. Mimicking its sibling, it provides a syncopated bed of rhythm to which the joy of movement can be choreographed. The production has been designed to celebrate this spirit that essentially moves through every living being.

The Sidi Goma community is at the very heart of this musical and rhythmic construct. A little known tribe from Western Gujarat who trace their genealogy and unique cultural traditions directly to Africa, they arrived on our shores eight centuries ago. They are a rare gem in the myriad array of folk art forms in our great country and bring together a unique blend of ancient African ethnicity with Sufi mysticism and musical influences. Theirs is a celebration of Earth and Spirit, through dance and drums.

This segues into a large, mesmerizing percussion ensemble in which Ranjit has gathered some of the best and the brightest of India’s drummers and percussionists. isThe modern musical arrangements and electronica, will be a foil to the tribal tradition of the Sidis and the intricate rhythmic patterns of the ethnic drum masters. Featuring konnakol and Vedic chants to draw in the hearts as well as minds of the audience, this performance will pay high tribute to the humble drum.

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Performers:
1. Aman Singh – tabla/vocals
2. Noah Fernandez – violin
3. Nathan Fernandez – keyboards
4. Sylvia, Shanice an Sherize Monteiro – vocal harmony
5. Fleur Dias – vocals
6. Avina Furtado – saxophone
7. Sanger Serrao – saxophione
8. Mesha Philippine – vocals
9. Minelli Pinto – vocals
10. Rohan Singhali – harp

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Performers:
1. Aman Singh – tabla/vocals
2. Noah Fernandez – violin
3. Nathan Fernandez – keyboards
4. Sylvia, Shanice an Sherize Monteiro – vocal harmony
5. Fleur Dias – vocals
6. Avina Furtado – saxophone
7. Sanger Serrao – saxophione
8. Mesha Philippine – vocals
9. Minelli Pinto – vocals
10. Rohan Singhali – harp

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Performers:
Singers
Veeam Braganza
Verphina Dias
Queenie Fernandes
Seby Fernandes
Zezinho Fernandes

Musicians
Chrisanne Mendes – violin
Zezinho Fernandes – guitar
Allan Moraes – percussion
Jason Quadros – keyboards
Colin D’Cruz – bass
Clifford Siqueira – drums

Dancers
Sushmita Pednekar
Gaargi Bhat
Vinay Desai
Seby Gauncar

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This promises to be an irresistible confluence of cultures, with a world class Western keyboard artist providing the melodic landscape.

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The performers

Alesandra Seutin is a London-based choreographer, teacher and performer with African and European roots. She is also the artistic director of the Vocab Dance Company. Her movement-language is a hybrid of contemporary, African and urban dance styles; her choreography combines physical theatre, dance, innovative scenography, live music and text. Her work is political and speaks of social issues such as race, social inclusion and gender from a feminine perspective.

Billy Chang graduated from the prestigious Taipei National University of the Arts and has since been teaching, choreographing and performing. His contemporary choreography is rich both in traditional and modern styles.

Eugene Skeef is a South African percussionist, composer, poet and educationalist who has lived in London since 1980. He works in conflict resolution, acts as a consultant on cultural development and is a broadcaster. He has also been instrumental in developing the education programmes of some of the major classical orchestras in the UK, and has served on the board of directors of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

UK-born Subhash Viman is a promising new talent who is influenced by hip-hop, urban and contemporary dance styles. He has trained in Bharatanatyam and Kathak under acclaimed teachers in the UK and India. Currently, Subhash is developing his new show with a range of artists exploring the effect bullying has on the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of the victim, using movement vocabulary from martial arts.

Rukmini Vijayakumar has trained in Bharatanatyam, as well as in classical ballet, jazz and modern dance in the US. Her performances at many venues in India and abroad include Bharatanatyam at Khajuraho and other festivals. She founded the Raadha Kalpa Dance Company in 2009, and has conducted workshops, choreographed productions, and organized dance arts festivals. She is the director of her Art Space LshVa, in Bangalore.

Bangalore-based Praveen Rao is a versatile multi-instrumentalist with an international reputation. He has composed over 200 scores for leading theatre productions, Indian ballet, films and television across the globe. As a music arranger, he is known for his creativity in fusing Hindustani music, Carnatic music with western techniques and has arranged background scores for various films under acclaimed veteran music directors.

The post Satrangi appeared first on Serendipity.

The performers

Alesandra Seutin is a London-based choreographer, teacher and performer with African and European roots. She is also the artistic director of the Vocab Dance Company. Her movement-language is a hybrid of contemporary, African and urban dance styles; her choreography combines physical theatre, dance, innovative scenography, live music and text. Her work is political and speaks of social issues such as race, social inclusion and gender from a feminine perspective.

Billy Chang graduated from the prestigious Taipei National University of the Arts and has since been teaching, choreographing and performing. His contemporary choreography is rich both in traditional and modern styles.

Eugene Skeef is a South African percussionist, composer, poet and educationalist who has lived in London since 1980. He works in conflict resolution, acts as a consultant on cultural development and is a broadcaster. He has also been instrumental in developing the education programmes of some of the major classical orchestras in the UK, and has served on the board of directors of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

UK-born Subhash Viman is a promising new talent who is influenced by hip-hop, urban and contemporary dance styles. He has trained in Bharatanatyam and Kathak under acclaimed teachers in the UK and India. Currently, Subhash is developing his new show with a range of artists exploring the effect bullying has on the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of the victim, using movement vocabulary from martial arts.

Rukmini Vijayakumar has trained in Bharatanatyam, as well as in classical ballet, jazz and modern dance in the US. Her performances at many venues in India and abroad include Bharatanatyam at Khajuraho and other festivals. She founded the Raadha Kalpa Dance Company in 2009, and has conducted workshops, choreographed productions, and organized dance arts festivals. She is the director of her Art Space LshVa, in Bangalore.

Bangalore-based Praveen Rao is a versatile multi-instrumentalist with an international reputation. He has composed over 200 scores for leading theatre productions, Indian ballet, films and television across the globe. As a music arranger, he is known for his creativity in fusing Hindustani music, Carnatic music with western techniques and has arranged background scores for various films under acclaimed veteran music directors.

The post Satrangi appeared first on Serendipity.

The performers

Alesandra Seutin is a London-based choreographer, teacher and performer with African and European roots. She is also the artistic director of the Vocab Dance Company. Her movement-language is a hybrid of contemporary, African and urban dance styles; her choreography combines physical theatre, dance, innovative scenography, live music and text. Her work is political and speaks of social issues such as race, social inclusion and gender from a feminine perspective.

Billy Chang graduated from the prestigious Taipei National University of the Arts and has since been teaching, choreographing and performing. His contemporary choreography is rich both in traditional and modern styles.

Eugene Skeef is a South African percussionist, composer, poet and educationalist who has lived in London since 1980. He works in conflict resolution, acts as a consultant on cultural development and is a broadcaster. He has also been instrumental in developing the education programmes of some of the major classical orchestras in the UK, and has served on the board of directors of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

UK-born Subhash Viman is a promising new talent who is influenced by hip-hop, urban and contemporary dance styles. He has trained in Bharatanatyam and Kathak under acclaimed teachers in the UK and India. Currently, Subhash is developing his new show with a range of artists exploring the effect bullying has on the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of the victim, using movement vocabulary from martial arts.

Rukmini Vijayakumar has trained in Bharatanatyam, as well as in classical ballet, jazz and modern dance in the US. Her performances at many venues in India and abroad include Bharatanatyam at Khajuraho and other festivals. She founded the Raadha Kalpa Dance Company in 2009, and has conducted workshops, choreographed productions, and organized dance arts festivals. She is the director of her Art Space LshVa, in Bangalore.

Bangalore-based Praveen Rao is a versatile multi-instrumentalist with an international reputation. He has composed over 200 scores for leading theatre productions, Indian ballet, films and television across the globe. As a music arranger, he is known for his creativity in fusing Hindustani music, Carnatic music with western techniques and has arranged background scores for various films under acclaimed veteran music directors.

The post Satrangi appeared first on Serendipity.