Music and dance from a wide spectrum of cultures will be staged in Waterperry’s new open air theatre. Art in Action would like to thank Event Power for their generous contribution to staging this event. Entrance is free.
Performances take place on all four days of the event. Highly recommended if you would like to experience a variety of music from around the world.
In the event of poor weather an alternative performance area will be announced.
Thursday
12:15 – 12:45
Kathak dancing – Amina Khayyam Amina Khayyam, dancer and choreographer, was born in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Amina’s Kathak training began with Alpana Sengupta after which she joined the internationally renowned Sushmita Ghosh in 1996. Her training included four years at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London, and she continues to study with Sushmita Ghosh between India and UK. In 2001 she performed Dwija (Twice Born) in traditional Kathak at the Purcell Room and Komedia in Brighton. Amina’s repertoire spans classical Kathak, for which she received accolades for her Abhinaya, to multi-media contemporary dance forms. Since 2002 she has been choreographing her own works. A Search For Stillness premiered in that year to critical acclaim, followed by Amad (2003),and Waterscapes at Somerset House (2004). More recently her Laal Shaari was performed at the Royal Opera House, London, as part of the FIRSTS programme. Web: http://www.aminakhayyam.com
14:20 – 14:50
West African Music – Joseph Philogene Joseph Philogene, as a young boy, played percussion until, as a teenager travelling in Nepal and India, he developed his love of the bamboo flute. He also went travelling to North and West Africa where he learned to play frame drums, Egyptian Tabla, the Moroccan three string bass lute, and in West Africa developed his love of the eight and twelve string Cam Ngoni (Hunters Harp). As well as playing solo he also plays in a band called Yiri Baa (Big Tree).
15:25 – 15:55
Indian Classical Music – Ameen Ali Khan and Yusuf Mahmoud Ameen Ali Khan is a vibrant and talented young Indian classical musician. His instrument, the sarod, traces its origin back to the folk instruments of ancient Persia and Afghanistan. He belongs to the seventh generation of a line of great classical Indian musicians, the Senia Gwalir Gharana, famous throughout India and he is devoted to keeping his family tradition alive in a new generation. Tabla player Yusuf Mahmoud was born in Kabul in 1974. He studied tabla with his father and uncle, and singing in traditional sufi services. During the civil war in 1988 he was forced to leave Afghanistan and moved to India where a scholarship allowed him to study the tabla with Bandu Khan, of the Ajrara Gharana. Mahmoud hopes to return to Afghanistan soon to pass on the tradition to a generation he feels has become disconnected from the music. Web: http://www.yusufmahmoud.bucarr.com
16:45 – 17:15
African Percussion – Bucarr Ndow and Alicia Davies Bucarr Ndow is known throughout England as one of the finest African Master Drummers. He entered the world of traditional music in Gambia, West Africa, where he grew up surrounded by music, dancing, and song. Bucarr is now based in Tunbridge Wells and leads his own traditional West African group troupe Kissi Faramaya as well as dance band Yiri Baa. He has performed at Womad and the Royal Festival Hall. Alicia (Alima) Davies, is a percussionist. Alicia, or Alima, as her African friends have christened her, was so attracted by the vitality and joy of West African music that she travelled to Senegal and Gambia to learn about its indigenous percussion techniques first-hand. Alicia is author of Finding the Voice of Your Drum. She has performed at the Royal Festival Hall, National Theatre, Purcell Room, and at Womad festival with several West African companies.
