TV Times

TV Times

World music & dance to Lankan rhythm
By Sunimalee Dias
A unique musical event is to hit Sri Lanka with the WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) Sri Lanka Festival of Drums happening next year in Colombo, Kandy and Galle from March 30-April 3.

This festival will combine the music and colour of one of the world’s most exciting festivals with the beauty and spirituality of this tropical island location and is tipped to take you on a spectacular journey.

Both indoor and outdoor concerts will be staged, Sri Lanka Tourist Board Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara said in Colombo recently. He noted that they hope to encourage events of international stature to the country that “deserves repositioning” towards this end.

Mr. Nanayakkara noted that this would be the ideal opportunity for the Sri Lankan artistes to “showcase the traditional drums” of the country to the international audience with support from the private sector in carrying out such events.

The line up of artistes with drumming and percussion as the concert’s main theme, will present some of the world’s finest master musicians. From the dramatic power of the legendary Drummers of Burundi to the mind-blowing artistry of Bill Cobham, this incredible festival line-up will bring to the festival an inspiring and truly memorable experience.

As for the participants: Drummers of Burundi, Burundi, Nana Vasconcelos, Brazil, Bill Cobham, USA, Joji Hirota & Taiko Drummers Japan/UK, Wicked Aura Batucada, Singapore, Chemirani Zarb Trio, Iran, Asere, Cuba, Toto La Momposina Y Sus Tambores, Cuba, Dhol Foundation, India/UK, Yelemba D’Abidhan, Ivory Coast/Burkina Faso/ Mali, Ravibandhu Vidyapathy and Ensemble, Sri Lanka and The Bays, UK among more to be confirmed.

This show will be organised by the World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) whose Artistic Director Thomas Brooman told the media that this would be a festival with a destination and a journey.

We hope to attract as many people from as many countries as possible, he said with plans still underway in this regard to ensure that tickets would be available to the international audience as well.

It would also offer the chance for the international visitors to the country for the festival to explore and experience some of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful scenery, local atmosphere and warm hospitality.

By tapping on the international visitors to the country, Mr. Brooman said that such tourists would also be encouraged to “explore the island at least a little bit.”

Meanwhile, Tourism Ministry Secretary Dr. P. Ramanujan observed that they would ensure tight security was in place and fill in all the other gaps that were seen at the last concert of Bollywood artistes.

The musical event of drums would have four indoor concerts held at the Bishop’s College Auditorium in Colombo, which will take place in a theatre style atmosphere with each day’s performance featuring a selection of two artistes drawn from the festival programme.

Provisional themes are: Welcome and Opening on Wednesday, Africa on Thursday, Latin America on Friday and Asia on Saturday. In addition, the city’s Galle Face Green would form the main outdoor area of the festival with two full evenings of performances on Saturday and Sunday. A lively and brilliantly decorated ‘festival field’ will be created beside the ocean, featuring one main stage and a second acoustic stage.

The festival will offer a Global Village of crafts, textiles, musical instruments and music; festival-goers can also experience a selection of the wonderful food of Sri Lanka and Asia.

Evening ‘club sessions’ will be held at one of Colombo’s top hotels - an informal meeting place throughout the festival period for audience and artistes, forming a unique venue for musical dialogue and exchange.

The festival will offer participatory and close-up sessions, giving opportunities to learn about the background and individual cultures of the international artistes at the festival.

Workshop sessions will feature active opportunities to take part in both drumming and dance. Two acoustic concerts will be held during the festival week, one in Kandy and the other in Galle. Both concerts will be free to the public, and each will feature two festival groups.

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