Whenever a warrior enters the battleground, he comes prepared. Me, having explored the festival ground earlier yesterday, finding my way around is a little easier and better planned. It was really very difficult to decide which workshop to go to by giving up another workshop, but a decision had to be made.
Kalakan members Thierry Biscary and Jean-Michael demonstrating how to play the txalaparta
For one, at 2 pm, there was an interactive dance workshop called Foot Stomp at Dewan Lagenda, and Knock on Wood, an exploration of the txalaparta of the Basque country by the members of Kalakan (a personal favourite, I might add). There's also Chehera Chitra, a face painting ritual and tribal handicraft making of Karala demonstrated by members of the Karinthalakoottam group at the Iban Longhouse while the Ding Yi Music Company played chamber concert pieces in the Theatre Stage. I weighed my options and decided against my personal favourite to join Foot Stomp - I like to dance as much as I like listening to music as well.
Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys leading the Foot Stomp workshop
The Foot Stomp workshop was an interactive demonstration on Clogging. I would personally associate it with tap-dancing cuz I'm simplistic that way and for something as enjoyable as dancing, lets not get too much into the technical details (Might I add there's Google and Wikipedia and all sorts of creditable information available in the internet). Gordie Mackeeman and his Rhythm Boys led the workshop and it was honestly no wonder why he was nicknamed crazy legs - I mean they move like crazy! The good kind of crazy, of course. He also did this while playing the fiddle!
Blessed with sunny weather and breezy afternoon, I exited Dewan Lagenda to make way to the Malay House where I plan to catch The Voice workshop at 4. Although it was an hour's wait, I decided to make way anyways knowing the Malay House has very limited capacity. That was when I passed by the Iban House just as the crowd dispersed after Chehera Chitra facepainting workshop looking incredibly wicked! Owh I missed it! Were you there? Did you get your face painted? Is this your photo? Let me know in the comments!
Photo courtesy of STB
I arrived early to the Malay House to the sound of Kamarul's voice of the Geng Wak Long group from Kelantan. The workshop's name is Awok Awok - refering to the chorus in a dikir barat performance. Again, being local, I grew up listening to it's melody and even performed it a couple of time back when I was studying. However, from the perspective of a visitor, this is something totally new - and for them to not only just see but also be part of the crew, I guess it was an amazing experience. I mean, just look at their faces!
Highlights from Awok-Awok workshop
I'd like to again thank STB and all the organizing teams and sponsors of the Rainforest World Music Festival, the media team, the volunteers, and the amazing visitors for being such a good sport especially in the Geng Wak Long's Awok Awok workshop! Y'all literally rocked the house (yeah, the Malay house was built on stilts and wooden planks for floor it was really shaking in tune to the dikir barat). erm... I would also like to apologize to fellow blogger Aliey (read Aliey's blog here) for taking up her spot in the workshop. Story goes that she arrived a few minutes after I went up - which by then was already a full house - and the gatekeeper stopped her because I was already upstairs. Moushiwake arimasen!
After the exhilarating Awok Awok workshop was the workshop I've been meaning to attend since the first day of the festival! The Voice - featuring beautiful and unique vocals from around the world like Stuart Giddens from Blackbeard's Tea Party, our own local girl Opah from Nading Rhapsody, Shigeri Kitsu and Kazuki Kunihiro from Ryuz, Maria Mazotta from Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino and from Dhaka Brakha the enigmatic Nina Garenetska. Unfortunately, for fear of karma coming back to bite me in the behind, I decided to let my fellow blogger Lindy (read Lindy's blog here) up the house instead. (yeah, I'm nice that way >.<) She was nice enough to record and share a video!
Shigeri Kitsu & Kazuki Kunihiro of Ryuz
And here are the ladies of DhakaBrakha
When all the workshops ended, most of the crowds gathered in front of the Jungle Stage to join in the fun of the Drum Circle. Here's a snippet courtesy of Lindy! Thanks gurl, you're the best!
After 5 years working in the information and communications technology divisions for various industries, I'm very excited to follow my own path in the social media environment. A self-proclaimed social media specialist, I am enthusiastic about the proliferation of social media around the world. In my spare time I enjoy travelling, socialising, going to festivals, frequenting the local eateries and watering hole and attempting the gym.
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