It was the magic hour, right before sunset, as the beat of the drums resonated through the air. People sat in two semi circles, facing each other and communicating over a language of shared rhythm. They played an assortment of percussion instruments such as djembe, tambourine, gogo, dhol and African drums.
They were enjoying just another jam session, but with a lively twist.
The Drumming Circle — a weekly feature at Kuch Khaas in Islamabad — entered another dimension of amplified sound with an electronic fusion to the organic beats on Wednesday. The second event in the month-long Colours of Life Festival featured celebrities DJ Barrister, Sparlay Rawail and Ammar Latif along with his Capoeria troupe.
Bringing his distinct flair to the session, the DJ played a mix of rhythms that were synchronised by the drummers, creating an uplifting sensation. It was a mash-up of South American culture, techno, electronic and underground music with some influences of Qawwali.
“It (fusion) is the sound of different cultures, where everyone brings in their own blend,” said DJ Barrister, who is a mongrel from the north west of the country; he was born in Lahore and educated in the United States. “I don’t know how the audience looks at this experiment, but to me, it is more enriching than your regular parties, which may lead to something,” he added.
The laidback atmosphere had children running around, parents relaxing and youngsters rejoicing in the company of friends. A little girl dressed as a princess held a tambourine, her pink dress swirling as she danced. Next to her, a boy cartwheeled to the music.
Asif Rana, a regular at the drumming circle, who was accompanied by his family, said: “It is like a get-together, everyone is chilled out, and there is no professional technique, so you think you are at par with the rest of the drummers.”
In the centre of the circle, Latif and his dance partners performed a mild version of the Brazilian dance, inspired by martial arts. They transitioned from slower moves to more intense ones, improvising the medium all along and pulling off some Salsa moves to add more variety to the performance.
“The fun part is that it is participatory,” said Evan Amezquyda, one of the dancers, who belongs to Peru. “It’s better than weapons and instills in you the idea that making mistakes is okay as long as you participate,” he added.
Latif, who was involved in initiating the activity at the venue over two years ago, reflected on the humble beginnings, he said: “It’s good to see how it’s progressed. We had all the space and the inclination. I’ve seen it grow and it’s interesting to include other elements and continue that vibe.”
Michelle-Tania Butt of Kuch Khaas explained the motivation behind hosting the festival, saying: “We are celebrating different styles of dance. I just heard somebody say they were feeling relaxed after a stressful day, which is what this is all about,” she added.
Forthcoming events include Dance for Change, featuring professional dancers Nighat Chauhdry, Amna Mawaz, Zain Sadiq, Faizaan Ahan and the KK Dance Crew.
The upcoming Marmalade Session — Salsa Night will introduce the sounds of Latin America, while the Dance Day celebrations will call on people from all walks of life to celebrate the most liberating form of expression.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2014.
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