Demonstration Stage

Our smaller "acoustic" demonstration stage offers a glimpse into some of the wonderful musical and cultural diversity that can be found right here in New Mexico! Thanks to Natalie Kreutzer for searching out these entertaining and educational performances.

Friday

Time	Session	Name	Description
6:00 PM	Albuquerque Accordion Club	Albuquerque Accordion Club	A variety of folk, multicultural and fun tunes. The Albuquerque Accordion Club provides a regular forum where accordion players of all skill levels, beginners to advanced, have a place to play for and with like-minded other people in a supportive, non-competitive atmosphere.

Saturday

Time	Session	Name	Description
10:00 AM	Afro Gypsy Fusion	Shona Slovakia	ShonaSlovakia fuses high energy Shona/Zimbabwe music with Reggae, rock and roll combining Ranchera, New Orleans style, Ska, Latin, Gypsy, R&B and global poly rhythms. ShonaSlovakia enjoys incorporating the "voice" of each musician in the ensemble. Improvisation and fusion music is our core experience. We have been called "Superior entertainment..." and "a foremost dance band." "One of the best new bands in Santa Fe!" Randy Forrester, GOTTA DANCE, KSFR. Our primary driving force is having fun playing together! Sally Blakemore, accordion, extended African marimba, steel drums, bongo and kick block, Rusty Storbeck, soprano African marimba and ho sho, Nicolas Gadbois, lead vocals and guitar, composer of many of our songs, Gerald Rodriguez, percussion and trap set, harmony vocals and Dave Smith, bass guitarist, tuba, bells and harmony vocals. Contact Sally Blakemore for bookings artyprojects@cybermesa.com
11:00 AM	Songs and Harmonic Singing	Timothy Hill	Harmonic singing, originating with Tuvan throat singing, is a way of singing and listening with acute attention to the overtone spectrum of the voice, producing a sound at once otherworldly and deeply human. Harmonic singing deepens and enhances the natural voice, giving singers a direct experience of the physical laws of sound, powerful insight into the nature of harmony and a glimpse at the roots of human language and song. Timothy Hill grew up listening to Alan Lomax and The Clancy Brothers, who were friends of his parents. Coming of age in the golden era of the singer-songwriter, he showed early promise, but being inquisitive about the wider world of music, soon branched out to other idioms. Soon he would perform under the direction of experimental composer John Cage, study with jazz legend Keith Jarrett, immerse himself in Indian Classical Vocal music and, after joining David Hykes and the Harmonic Choir, become a pioneer in the art of harmonic (overtone) singing. The New York Times called him "a virtuoso of the Tibetan chanting technique." Finally he came full circle, re-dedicating himself to original and traditional song repertoire, creating a homespun and intimate tapestry of sound woven with strands from his remarkable musical journey.
12:00 PM	Tan y Ddraig Welsh Choir	Tan y Ddraig Welsh Choir	Traditional songs from Wales sung in Welsh by Tan y Ddraig or Dragon's Breath, a small local acappella mixed voice choir. Tan y Ddraig is currently an eight member acappella mixied voice choir sponsored by the Welsh Society of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico. We have been in existence since the early 1980's when Rhiawen Gerard, founding member and President at that time, of the Welsh Society of New Mexico, began a Welsh language class. Several of us, including Rhiawen, enjoyed singing, so she began using songs to help us with pronunciation. When the class ended, the singers formed a small choir. Since then we have had several people come and go, We are an informally organized amateur group, and are always interested in having new singers see if they would like to join us. We sing in Welsh primarily, with a couple of songs in "foreign" languages: English and Welsh Romany (Gypsy). We have been fortunate to have an number of native Welsh speakers in our group, and in the Society, who help us with accurate pronunciation, as well as with authentic folk style. We sing folk songs and hymns, many of which are the most well know of Welsh songs. If you would like to join us in singing, please contact Patsy Gregory at (505)243-3174 or by email at chilton@unm.edu. We could particularly use tenors and sopranos at this time, but any voice is welcome.
1:00 PM	Indian Odyssey: Classic and Bhangra Indian Dance		Part One: Artists from the Family YMCA in Los Alamos will perform a variety of items demonstrating the Indian classical dance forms of Kathak and Bharatanatyam that include technical and light contemporary pieces. The main dancers, Kavita Nandakishore and Alina Deshpande have been trained under able teachers in India. Kavita has been performing the classical dance style of Bharatanatyam professionally for about 10 years now. She has learnt Bharatanatyam under Guru Ashwini Ekbote and Guru Parimal Phadke, two senior disciples of Dr. Sucheta Chapekar in Pune, India. She has performed for various organizations in India and has been actively involved with shows in New Mexico since 2007. Kavita also teaches Bharatanatyam at the Family YMCA, and can be reached at (505) 661 4007. Alina Deshpande learnt Kathak under Guru Smt. Maneesha Sathe in Pune, India. She has been teaching in Los Alamos, New Mexico since 2004 and has been performing since 1996. The accompanying artists include Ashvini Vaidya, Nileena Velappan, Yasmeen Lookman and Kelly Shea who have been learning Kathak under Alina Deshpande. The following items will be presented: 1) Ganesh Vandana - An invocation to Lord Ganesha performed in the Indian Classical dance styles of Kathak and Bharatnatyam by Alina Deshpande and Kavita Nandakishore. 2) Parvati Stuti - An invocation in praise of Goddess Parvati. The devotee describes the virtues of Goddess Parvati and seeks her blessings. This is a solo performance performed by Kavita Nandakishore in the Bharatanatyam dance style and features intricate hand gestures and foot movements. 3) Taraana - A group dance set to contemporary Indian classical music, performed in the Kathak dance style. 4) Shiva-Tandav Stotra - A duet, performed in the Kathak and Bharatanatyam dance styles by Alina Deshpande and Kavita Nandakishore, describing the virtues of Lord Shiva, the God of dance, and his persona. Part Two of this presentation will feature Bhangra dance and music, with an opportunity for the audience to rock out to some Blazin' Bhangra Beats. Jennifer Woods formed the Punjabiquerque Bhangra Dance Team in 2008, and performs in different venues around Albuquerque. For this festival, she is collaborating with a singer and local percussionists. She teaches weekly classes at a local dance studio. For more information, you may e-mail her at wooddancer@gmail.com, or call 291-8746.
2:00 PM	Thai Dancing		Variety of Thai Classical Dances and Thai Classical Music of Thai Hammer Dulcimer.
3:00 PM	Rumelia	Rumelia	We are a 3 women band blending our voices with Accordion, Clarinet, Percussion and Violin creating a new upbeat spin on music from Eastern Europe. Nicolle Jensen, voice and percussion Deborah Ungar, accordion and clarinet Sitara Schauer, voice and strings
4:00 PM	Special Orchestra	Special Orchestra	Since 1999, the award winning ensemble has been helping children and adults with developmental disabilities, world-wide, to share in the joy of making music. From being featured performers at the global Special Olympics in Ireland, to performing for dedications of the New Mexico Rail Runner train, the group has delighted audiences using adaptive techniques developed here in the Land of Enchantment. Founder and artistic director Gair Linhart leads the group in original compositions such as Perfect Heaven and the New Mexico Waltz. Choreographer Azita Creighton leads the colorful and accomplished Special Orchestra Dance Troupe. Experience it all and access special music techniques at: http://www.specialorchestra.org .
5:00 PM	Traditional Mexican and Latin-American Music	Mezcla Latina	Mezcla Latina combines three part harmonies with a melodic mix of ballads and folk songs with a variety of dance tunes, including rancheras, cha-chas, and cumbias.

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Last updated Monday, February 13, 2012