African Dance, Drum, and Music workshop with Chris Berry March 27 and 28, 2010
Come learn the healing rhythms, songs, and dances with drums and mbira and storytelling taught by Chris Berry
After 23 years of study, initiation & immersion in African music, Chris Berry has been Given the name Gwenyambira “one whose music calls the spirit”. A distinction reserved only for those who have mastered both the complexity & magic of the music. Now Based in New York & touring regularly with his incredible world fusion dance band PANJEA, Chris, advised by many of Zimbabwe spirit mediums has embarked on an international journey to share the ancient knowledge of Njinji using storytelling music, drum, and dance. It is the hope that people around the globe will become practitioners of this powerful healing art form & use it as a means of strengthening ourselves, our communities & ultimately restoring balance & joy back into our societies
Music, drumming, dance, craft and knowledge will be taught at the Workshop that will be used in the final ceremony on the Sunday evening. The ceremony will be one of cleansing, healing and re-connecting with our deeper selves. The structure of the ceremony will be based around the four elements and directions whose sacredness is shared by many cultures around the world. The emphasis will move from acquiring more dances and rhythms to using music and dance as a catalyst to the sacred.
The people of Zimbabwe use the M’Bira as a way of calling the Ancestral Spirits and Chris uses it as a powerful tool in his storytelling to immerse the listener in the deeply meaningful journey that these stories can take you on.
Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm Yaldhurst Memorial Hall, corner of Yaldhurst and Pound Rd, Christchurch,
Map here for Saturday venue
Sunday, 10 am – 10 pm at North New Brighton War Memorial and Community Centre, 93 Marine Parade, New Brighton
Map here for Sunday venue
COST: $170 Earlybird rate ( $200 After March1st)
Deposit: $80 (non refundable, to confirm your place)
Further information: Ra Mc Rostie 03 434 8224 or mob 021 1154884
or Jeff Duyndam 03 357 2217 or mob 021 02737514
Email: ra@korudance.com jeffduyndam@xtra.co.nz
Website: www.drumtalk.co.nz
Chris is going to lead a choir workshop at the Muse, inside the School of Music on Barbadoes Street in Christchurch.
Here are the details,
Chris has worked with over 42 different choirs in the USA and Canada. Songs are accompanied by live drumming, Mbira (Thumb piano) or Marimba. The material is drawn from the ancient choral traditions of the Shona people whose favourite proverb is, ‘if you can talk you can sing.’ The uplifting songs include five part harmonies and lots of counter point indicative of most African choral music.
After 23 years of study, initiation & immersion in African music, Chris Berry has been Given the name Gwenyambira “one whose music calls the spirit”. A distinction reserved only for those who have mastered both the complexity & magic of the music. Now based in New York & touring regularly with his incredible world fusion dance band PANJEA,Chris advised by many of Zimbabwe’s spirit mediums has embarked on an international journey to share the ancient knowledge of Njinji using storytelling music, drum and dance. It is the hope that people around the globe will become practitioners of this powerful healing art form & use it as a means of strengthening ourselves, our communities & ultimately restoring balance & joy back into our societies.
THURSDAY MARCH 25th Venue- Muse Community Trust 140 Barbadoes Street, Level 3, inside the School of Music
6PM TO 9PM COST $30 Booking Essential
Further information:
Ra McRostie 03 434 8224 or mob 021 1154884
Jeff Duyndam 03 357 22217 mob 0210 273 7514
by jeff on December 10, 2009
Thanks to all who have participated in the African drum and dance classes during 2009. It has been an awesome push forward in the growth our African drum and dance community here in Christchurch.
Chris Berry will be teaching an African dance and drum workshop in Christchurch the last weekend in March 2010.
Also, Mohamed Bangoura will be returning in June.
The new year looks good for more fun classes and more performances for us.
This Tuesday, December 15th is the last drum class before our Christmas break.
African drum class will start up again Tuesday January 5th.
Happy Holidays and happy drumming!
by jeff on November 12, 2009
Saturday the 28th of November, Ra is teaching an African dance class at Centennial Hall from 12 am to 2 pm. We are lucky to have Ra come to Christchurch again so soon after our Halloween performance. Her dance classes are for all levels of dancers. She starts the class with a warm up, then shows each dance move by breaking down the steps. It is easy to follow along. Ra finishes with a cool down and stretching. Wear comfortable clothes. Here is the poster with details for the African dance class,
