The first AfricAids benefit concert will be hosted by Union Avenue Christian Church on Saturday, May 5, from 1 - 9:30 p.m. Featured are a power packed list of St. Louis-area performers: Elliot Ranney of Panacea, Pat Joyce, Tom Byrne Trio, Todd Mosby Group, Bernie and Barbara McDonald, The Erin Bode Trio and The Flying Mules.
As this event has evolved, it has blossomed into a grass roots movement. Some people read an article in the February 12 issue of Time Magazine about the AIDS epidemic in Africa and felt there must be something they could do to help. A local musician began exploring the idea of a benefit concert and found that many of the areas finest folk and jazz musicians were willing to set aside a Saturday to perform. Union Avenue Christian Church agreed to host the event. Local media personalities such as Bernie McDonald of KDHX and Don Wolff of KMOX offered to promote the event on their shows. Organizers were not sure where staff could be found to prepare enough food for this day/night long event, but after two phone calls, they were in touch with a group called The Upper Room, who do barbecue as a ministry. When asked what they would do if they ended up with a few hundred pounds of meat left over, they answered quietly "That is not a problem - we would give what's left to Larry Rice".
This kind of thing kept happening as more and more people joined together and now the first AfricAids benefit concert will take place Saturday, May 5, from 1 - 9:30 p.m. at Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union. Admission is $5. Under 12 free. Indoor & outdoor venues. Refreshments & on-site parking available. For additional information and updates, visit www.union-avenue.org or call (314) 361-8844 or e-mail uaccstl@swbell.net.
Thanks to the incredible performers who are giving their time and talents to make this concert happen, to Folk Fire for coverage and to Music Folk for their financial contributions.
Treat yourself to a Sunrise in Bulgaria with Orchestra Izgrev, from Chicago, at the St. Louis Brewery and Tap Room, Friday, May 18, 2001, 7-12 p.m. Orchestra Izgrev was founded in 1998. Composed of native Bulgarians, this wedding band plays the modern as well as the traditional music of Bulgaria and its neighboring countries. The accomplished musicians of Orchestra Izgrev are Malina (Mali) Grozdanova, vocalist; Marin Hristov, trumpet player and vocalist; Stefan Yordanov, alto, midi sax player and vocalist; Velizar (Villie) Shumanov, accordionist and Tzanko Tzvetkov, drummer. Orchestra Izgrev has produced a new CD that will be available at the Tap Room.
Mensur Hatiæ and his Musicians will add the golden touch of Bosnia to the evening. Mensur is a gifted musician who graduated from the Conservatory of Music in Tuzla, Bosnia. He plays accordion, keyboard and performs vocals He taught music in Bosnia before arriving in the United States. He toured the former Yugoslavia as a concert performer and has been featured on 13 studio recordings. Mensur owns and is the instructor of a music school. He has been a featured teacher at the Balkan Camp in Maryland. Mensur has just released a new CD titled: Last Stop, Brcko. For more information about the CD or the Mensur Music School, e-mail: Mhatic @aol.com
The Bulgarian Bosnian Ball will be held upstairs at the Tap Room located at 2100 Locust Street. Admission is $8.00 per person. For more information, call Marvin at 314-452-0255
Estella and Randy are once again honored to present Nito and Elba, world acclaimed performers and teachers from Mar del Plata, Argentina for a Tango Weekend in St. Louis. Nito and Elba are known for their authenticity and passion, which is reflected in their elegant and seductive style of performing and teaching the Tango. They have continuously performed and taught tango together throughout Argentina since 1975. In 1990, they began to include performance and teaching tours in the United States, Mexico, Europe and Japan. As master dancers and teachers, Nito and Elba perform and instruct for: Tango at Sea cruises, Tango Week, International Tango Festivals, Tango Congresses. They have continued to teach and perform in various cities throughout the United States and the countries of Germany, Japan, and Cancun Mexico, on their summer tour of 200l. Nito has won an extensive number of competitions for Tango and has performed as the principal dancer in several major international productions.
Tango masters Nito and Elba will be in St. Louis for the second annual Tango Weekend May 25-27, 200l, sponsored by Estella & Randy. Tango workshops will be held at Focal Point, Fri. 7-10 p.m., Sat. 1-4 p.m., and Sun. noon-3 p.m. Cost $35 each or $90 for three. To reserve, call Estella 3l4-849-3007.
Nito and Elba will also perform at the second annual Tango Ball held at the Sheldon in the Ballroom, Sunday, May 27, 8pm-12 midnight. Dress will be elegant attire. Tickets are $10 per person. Performance time is 10:00 p.m. Tango Ball sponsored by Estella & Randy, the Missouri Arts Council and the Hispanic Arts Council of St. Louis. For information, call Virginia at 3l4-863-0570.
The Hermann Arts Council, in an effort to encourage and sponsor a variety of musical, dramatic and other arts programs and to promote cultural awareness, is excited to host Sahara Sand Productions, Tolkin Isakov and Magdy Marzouk for an evening of ethnic dance. Sahara Sand Productions, a St. Louis-based Middle Eastern Belly and Hawaiian/Tahitian Dance Company has as its motto, "If it's worth doing, it's worth making it a production." Best known for elaborate stage shows with candles, canes, veils and swords, Sahara Sand has taken dance art forms to new levels with their trademark of high-energy choreography and captivating stage presence. Their dances mimic what you would see in a typical Egyptian or Lebanese nightclub today
Yasmin, founder and director of Sahara Sand, is a performer, choreographer, booking agent and instructor. Her studies began in Middle Eastern dance eight years ago with a focus on Egyptian cabaret style. She studied with nationally and internationally known performers and instructors: Mahmoud Reda, Suhaila Salimpour, Vashti, Karen Barebee, and Sahra. Known for her slow, slinky dance movements, Yasmin's performance is often compared to that of a Middle Eastern dancer. She performs regularly in St. Louis at various clubs, festivals, private events and for national seminars. She also studies Hawaiian Dance and travels often to Hawaii to further her knowledge.
Mona, principal performer, choreographer and instructor was first introduced to Middle Eastern dance eight years ago. Since then she has developed her own unique style that many describe as "explosive." She spent a year in the Middle East where she taught Middle Eastern Dance at the University of Jerusalem. She has also performed in clubs and festivals throughout St. Louis as well as seminars across the United States. Mona often pushes the limits of traditional Middle Eastern Dance by combining her own choreography with props to music with complicated rhythms. Her professionalism and dedication to the art has won her the praise of many.
Wardah, principal performer and instructor, began her training at the age of eight with jazz, tap, ballet, and gymnastics. As captain of her cheer leading squad, she performed with the St. Louis Steam Heat Dancers. Wardah studied with internationally renowned performers: Suhaila Salimpour, Conchi, Vashti, Karen Barbee, Mahmoud Reda, among others. Her fluid, dynamic, style and stage presence is an unmatched-combination of professional with the approachability. Those who see her dance are often amazed by her flexibility and strong, powerful hip work. A fun, flirty style has won her a large fan base in St. Louis, as well as the attention of national instructors and performers.
Tolkin Isakov, gifted artist extrordinare and new immigrant to the United States from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is currently residing in St. Louis. He brings to his new home an outstanding record of accomplishments. He has been a percussionist with the National Symphonic Orchestra of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the senior teacher of percussion and the Dean of the orchestral faculty at Tashkent State Conservatory in Uzbekistan. As senior teacher of percussion, soloist for orchestra and concert performer,
Tolkin's performance skills and pedagogical practices are of the highest level. He has been a solo percussion performer for international concerts and festivals, an ensemble soloist for international concerts and competitions and a teacher of music clinics and workshops at universities and colleges throughout the Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Turkey, Russia, the Central Asian Countries, Austria, France Germany, Switzerland, Greece and the United States.
Tolkin is the founder of the Central Asian Arts Association, a not for profit organization dedicated to sharing the culture of the people of Central Asia through educational presentations. These presentations include demonstrations of the rhythms, music, costumes and the culture of Central Asia. He is currently hard at work forming a percussion ensemble called "Rhythms of the World." If you are a percussionist and interested in playing in an ensemble with world rythms as a focus, please contact Tolkin. For further information on available programs, recordings, or Central Asian instruments contact Tolkin at 314-846-7954.
Sahara Sand Productions is committed to performing wholesome shows all audiences can appreciate, children to senior citizens, Middle Eastern to American. See one of their exciting productions on Friday, May 11, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. at the new Herman High School auditorium located on Highway 100 West. Tickets are $5.00 for adults and $2.00 children under twelve. For ticket or Bed & Breakfast information, call the Hermann Visitor Information Center at 573-486-2744.
If you can't make it to Hermann, the dancers perform every other Sunday at 9 p.m. at the Red Sea Restaurant in University City 6511 Delmar Blvd. Cover charge $3. For more details about performances or class information, contact Yasmin at 314-504-4867 or visit the web at www.SaharaSandProductions.com
See Sahara Sands regular listing
You are welcome to tour La Charrette Fur Trading Post museum and village. My historic village is on the south Missouri River bluff, 2 miles east of Washington, Mo., off Old Highway 100, 6 1/2 miles from I-44 and 29 miles from I-270. Notice that a tour is by appointment only, so a phone call is necessary. There is no charge for a tour. I only accept donations as the visitors see fit. Having restored this village over a 25 year period, it is 100 percent authentic, including the furnishings and musical instruments. I began this restoration in 1971, after being Chief of the Missouri State Historic and Archeological Sites in the 1960's. Please come and enjoy!
Greetings to FolkFire from K.L.Y. Sasidharan, Madurai, INDIA. This letter is to introduce your many readers who have an interest in dance to Natyangali, India's only visually handicapped professional dance group.
Natyangali is the first school of its kind in the world to have trained 30 blind dancers who have become professional performers. Founded by Ashok in 1986, more than 80 dance students are presently being trained.
Blind dancers are trained in choreography, ballet, traditional dances of India, save the forests and wild life dances and rhythms of India. The method of touch training used requires a lot of patience and perseverance from both the dancers and the teachers. With time and diligence, their footwork neat and steps assertive, change with rhythmic patterns as their faces dance with expression. The dancers move across the stage, their bare feet thumping the boards and their ankle balls ringing. The sounds they make are not merely for effect, they use sound to coordinate their movements and signal their positions on stage. As they perform their flawless interaction, their sightlessness does not detract from the elegance of the dance, which they have perfected. They move in their sightless world creating the movements and gestures that bring joy and pleasure to their spell bound seeing audience who respond with thunderous applause.
The Natyangali troupe has toured throughout India giving more than 800 performances at dance festivals televised nationally and internationally. They have also toured Great Britain, the U.K. Malaysia, Singapore and Australia.
For more information e-mail sasidharan@maduraibazaar.com