Zimbabwean Drum & Dance Workshops
Featuring Rujeko Chenzira and Heidi Alina.
Click poster for a printable version.
January 12th & 13th
Memorial Hall, 1st & Main, Hotchkiss
Saturday– Drum 2–3:30
Dance 4–5:30
Sunday– Drum 11–12:30
Dance 1–2:30
$18 a class
$15 before Jan 5th
For more info call 970-872-6004
Chris will be in Hotchkiss, Colorado offering workshops in mbira, singing, drumming and dance.
Saturday classes will be held at the Yurt at Round Earth farm at 34830 Powell Mesa Rd.
11 am mixed level mbira (everyone welcome!)
1:30 pm mbira singing (everyone welcome!)
2:30 pm intermediate/advanced mbira -
4 pm advanced drumming – (limited spots available)
Sunday classes will be held at Memorial Hall, at 1st & Main one block North of the Hotchkiss post office.
12 noon – mixed level drum class (everyone welcome!)
2pm – mixed level dance class (everyone welcome!)
All classes are $15. Call 970-872-4413 for more information.
Announcing a Special Appearance in Paonia by Zimbabwean Master Musicians
Click the poster at left for a full size printable PDF download!
Zimbabwean mbira masters Cosmas Magaya and Ambuya Beauler Dyoko will be visiting Paonia for a rare appearance at the Blue Sage Center on Friday September 14th. During their appearance they will discuss Zimbabwean Culture and Music, as well as perform and demonstrate traditional Shona music. The will offer introductory workshops the following day. The appearance is part of their US tour, and is organized by ZimbabweInTheNorthFork.com, a local group promoting cultural exchange with Zimbabwe.
Mr. Magaya is an internationally recognized master of the “Mbira dzaVadzimu“, the traditional thumb piano played in Zimbabwe. He is a performer, highly acclaimed teacher and group leader of traditional Zimbabwean music. In addition to performing with his group, Mhuri yekwa Magaya, in Zimbabwe, he has completed several international tours with mbira ensembles in Europe and the United States. 
His performances are featured on a number of critically acclaimed CDs and he has been invited to teach master classes at top universities in the United States including Stanford, Northwestern and Duke University. In addition to performing and teaching, Cosmas has, since 1971, collaborated with ethnomusicologist Dr. Paul Berliner, doing field research on Shona traditional music that has resulted in a scholarly and well known book, The Soul of Mbira.
Ambuya Beauler Dyoko represents a pure expression of traditional Shona mbira and culture. Also known as the Queen of Zimbabwean Mbira, Beauler is a stunning vocalist and for many years was asked to perform a song to open the Zimbabwean Parliament. She has a unique and sweetly forceful mbira style which has influenced many in the U.S. and Zimbabwe. She is leader and featured singer with the popular contemporary mbira ensemble The Black Souls and has also performed with Mhuri yekwa Rwizi for many years in Zimbabwe and throughout the world.
From 22 to 28 strips of forged metal of varying lengths are affixed to a hardwood soundboard and the whole piece is usually placed inside a large resonator made of a calabash (called the deze) to amplify the sound. In effect, there are two levels of sound amplification: first the soundboard and then the gourd. The metal keys on the instruments are curved upward at the loose ends, and are stroked with the two thumbs plucking down and the right forefinger plucking up. The sound is somewhat like a marimba, but with an almost harp-like effect The deze, or gourd, is strung with bottle caps or shells that shake in sympathy with the vibrations of plucked keys, producing a buzzing sound. Beyond the music itself, the mbira represents the spiritual values of the Shona, their culture, religion and aspirations as a people. (*mbira description content from wikipedia.com)
The upcoming presentation and workshops will feature the traditional singing, hosho and mbira music of Zimbabwe. Times for the workshops and more details will be available at www.ZimbabweInTheNorthFork.com. The appearance at the Blue Sage in Paonia takes place at 7pm on Friday September 14th. Admission is $12 and kids under 12 are free. Call 872-4413 for more information.
The amazing Trillium Marimba Ensemble will appear in concert on Saturday August 4th at the Blue Sage Center for the Arts in Paonia.
Check out the poster (click image for larger view) – or click here to download the poster pdf – suitable for posting on your fridge or at a local coffee shop or book store.
Here are the details:
Get ready to dance – Saturday August 4 th – Trillium Marimba Band, from Santa Fe, NM, blends traditional Zimbabwean music with folk, classical and ragtime to create an infectious, high energy dance sound. Take a workshop Sunday August 5th with Trillium members Peter & Makaela Swing.
Trillium Marimba – Blue Sage Center, Paonia — August 4th & 5th
**Saturday August 4th – Marimba Dance Party @ 8pm – $10-$15 (sliding scale), kids under 12 free!
** Sunday August 5th – Marimba & Singing Workshops @ 11am – $15
* For more information call 970-872-4413
After the last gathering, I decided to create this mailing list. Sign up here for occasional emails with information about upcoming workshops, performances and musical gatherings.
Announcing Zimbabwean Drum, Dance & Song workshops with Jennifer Kyker in Hotchkiss, Saturday July 21st and Sunday July 22nd 12pm-4pm, Hotchkiss Memorial Hall. Click the poster at right for a larger version, or click here to download the printable PDF version of the poster (suitable for printing and posting on your refrigerator or at a nearby cafe or bookshop). For more information, call Adam at 970-872-4413.
Jennifer Kyker began to play marimba in 1990 and mbira in 1992. She has lived and studied in Zimbabwe for over three years. Jennifer has performed with various artists in Zimbabwe and the US, including Kudana Marimba Ensemble, the Chigamba family’s group Mhembero, Wagogo, and Chris Berry and Panjea. With Musekiwa Chingodza, she released the CD “Tsunga,” and also performed on Musekiwa’s solo album, “Chingodza Budai Pachena.” Jennifer has been teaching at Zimfest since 1995.
She is currently working on a PhD dissertation in ethnomusicology at the University of Pennsylvania.
Jennifer will be offering a weekend long Dinhe intensive:
Come and learn dinhe, a harvest rhythm from the northern, Korekore speaking region of Zimbabwe. This series of intensive workshops will introduce drumming, singing, and dance for the dinhe rhythm. Workshops are open to all levels of drummers, dancers, and singers.
Saturday, 12 noon: Dinhe drumming: 1.5 hours
In this workshop, we will learn two supporting parts and one lead part for dinhe, a rhythm which involves challenging cross-rhythms and syncopation. Please bring a drum. As some drumming parts for dinhe are played with both sticks and hands, a dunun or other drum which can be hit with a stick is ideal, although djembe and conga drums will also work for some of the parts for dinhe.
Saturday AND Sunday, 2 pm: Dinhe dance: 1.5 hours
Dinhe dance involves stylized movements that represent activities related to the harvest, and can include props such as baskets and hoes.
Sunday, 12 Noon: Dinhe song & Hosho: 1.5 hour
This workshop will introduce a song commonly sung to the dinhe rhythm. This workshop will also cover basic hosho technique for the tsaba, muchongoyo, and mbira hosho patterns, with special emphasis on mbira hosho. We will learn how to produce the desired sound quality for hosho playing, and how to hold a steady rhythm to accompany mbira or marimba music, with an emphasis on fitting together the hosho pattern with various mbira parts.
All classes will be held at Hotchkiss Memorial Hall, 1st Street, Hotchkiss. (Noon – 4pm Sat & Sunday)
Price is $55 for all classes, or $15 for each class in advance, $18 for each class at the door.
Mbira classes also offered, please inquire. Camping available, call for details.
More Information, Questions: Call Adam @ 970-872-4413.
To pay in advance, send chacks made out to Jennifer Kyker to Adam, PO Box 969, Hotchkiss CO 81419;
Great drumming, dancing, mbira, marimba… trees and mountain air.
Chris Berry will be visiting Western Colorado on May 4th, 5th & 6th. Please join us for a weekend of performance, storytelling, drumming, dance and mbira classes.
On Friday May 4th, Chris will appear on KVNF’s friday noon music program “talkin’ music”. Later that evening Chris will tell stories, and perform on the mbira at the Blue Sage Center in Paonia.
On Saturday and Sunday, May 5th & Sunday 6th, Chris will be offering Drum, Dance classes at Memorial Hall (1st & Main) in Hotchkiss. Chris is well known for his masterful drum classes, and those who have had a chance to dance with Chris know his style and energy are exceptional. Mbira classes will also be offered each day, please call for details if you are interested in attending the mbira classes.
Click the poster at right for a larger version, or download the printable PDF version of the poster, or call Adam at 970-872-4413.
In the last few days, Zimbabwe has plunged further into crisis, with key democratic activists beaten by their government. Click below to sign the petition calling for stronger, targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe’s leaders:
http://www.Avaaz.org/en/zimbabwe
On Sunday, while boarding a plane to an international meeting, Zimbabwe’s democratic opposition spokesman was beaten so severely that he lost an eye. Last week, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was arrested and beaten for attending a protest prayer vigil. Other democratic activists in Zimbabwe are under a terrible threat, with many still held in prison.
We can’t let this moment of international attention pass without pressing for effective action. We intend to deliver our petition by the end of the week. If Europe and neighbouring South Africa (Zimbabwe’s largest trading partners) threaten tougher sanctions, Mugabe will be forced to stop his attacks. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize winner from South Africa, is already calling on his country and others to take action. Click below to join him in calling for a response:
Rujeko Chenzira & Heidi Alina
Hotchkiss Memorial Hall
March 17 & 18 2007
Click to download a printable PDF of the event poster, suitable for posting on your fridge.
Drum & Dance classes will be offered both days. Price before March 10th is $15/class, after March 10th the price is $18/class. Preregistration requested – space is limited. Please call 970-872-6004 for more information.
Rujeko Chenzira belongs to a family of musicians and healers from the Shona tribe of Zimbabwe. Her unique background and knowledge of both Western and African dance, music and culture provide the perfect platform for Rujeko to act as a bridge between the two cultures.
Heidi Alina, a native of Boulder CO, earned her degree in piano performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1990, winning top scholarships and graduating with honors/Heidi’s primary mentor and teacher in African music has been Chris Berry. Chris’ unique fusion of Zimbabwean and West African styles has been highly influential and is evident in Heidi’s own music.