Tempo 08

These pics are from the opening ceremony of the tempo dance festival last year. We got to lead a small parade up Queen St.

Photos from drumming last year

Official Freeze videos released

On World Environment Day, June 5, at 1pm, Zac, Johnny, Aerial and I took part in the Freeze in Vulcan lane. Aimed at raising awareness of climate change issues. In fact, we kicked off the Auckland Freeze with drumming and ended it with drumming. Check out Johnny's cool-as pose in this vid.

Mohamed Bangoura Camp: June 2009

A phenomenal weekend was had up in Dargaville with Mohamed Bangoura. Some of us made it to his kick-ass gig at Reva's in Whangarei, where he and Tamani rocked the house. It was awesome and made the weekend ahead incredibly exciting. We grew as drummers and dancers over this weekend and were truly united by our love of djembe. Mohamed was quite simply inspirational, not only for his drumming ability but for his energy and spirit too.
Apparently Mohamed doesn't like videos being on the net so let's keep this to pictures and thoughts about the weekend.

Chris Berry, Panjea and Mystery Dancer

Question: Is this Jenny who came to Mohamed's workshop at the weekend, up from Wellington but originally from San Francisco? This clip is from Blue Note in New York... please place your bets via comments!

Chris Berry Camp: Easter 2009

Over three amazing days with Chris Berry we learnt a rhythm, song and dance for each of three elements: Earth, Fire and Water. Then on the eve of the third day we put them all together in a ceremony, with Air being a free dance. The weekend was incredibly spiritual and special and challenged and fed each of us in different ways. Personally I think it was a bit of a journey as Jimi had said it would be. I felt I had moved mental blockages just through the drumming, dancing and singing. It truly is healing. After camp I felt more open and more connected to and appreciative of the people around me. It was an incredible high and I still feel the positive energy from it now. The location at Prana Retreat at Opoutere was so beautiful and really added to an unforgettable weekend. The land there has a special energy, we were blessed with amazing weather and every day I swam in the magnificent ocean and set my intention for the day: to flow with energy and love.
This video appeared on you tube and is the first of many videos and pictures I hope will be posted.