India and Peru Folk mixed in Helsinki
The World Music School makes monthly events mixing two local minorities of Helsinki through their music and dance. This time, India and Peru.
Dance is not only the best of means to engage with music but is is also the primordial consensus maker within our differences. Different views of the world are brought into one beat for a short evening, cooling down disputes and making room for agreements.
As the chairman of The World Music School Helsinki, some months ago, I contacted the International School of Music Finland (ISM). Both of us are young and international Associations. After a very warm and friendly chat, we decided to start a deeper collaboration by doing a joint event. This came true by using the ongoing monthly folk dance events of the World Music School, and handing one of the sides to the ISM. We bring in India, ISM brings in Peru.
In India, I saw the first ultrasound of my daughter in a Hospital of Bengaluru, designed luxurious apartments as an architect in the midst of slums, and played bagpipes at an Hindu wedding of a former Bauhaus Dessau Researcher colleague. In my band, Homebound, we play with Indian tablas and we are very used to play Indian repertoire. From this background of interests, I have recently met several musicians here in Helsinki playing Indian music.
Finland has displayed great sense of respect and admiration in knowing the Indian culture through its Classical and Folk music and dances. Also, the popular Bollywood music and dance culture has left an impression and interest in the young and old Finnish enthusiasts. Peali Juva and Kiureli Sammallahti have been together entertaining the Finnish and international audience with their Indian Classical / Semi-Classical, Bhangra ( Punjabi Folk ), Bollywood music for more than a decade now. Indian Music has an unique quality of taking the audience to the state of meditative bliss as well as raising high dancing to its scintillating rhythms and melodies. The whole world is in love with Indian Music and dance now, and it is our joy and pride to be able to transpire this art to our audience.
Peru, I have never visited but I do know, like India, it is a country with extremely rich biodiversity and home to ancient civilizations. The program of the Peruvian section consists of folk dances from the three main regions of Peru: the coastal region, the highlands (Andes), and the jungle. We are going to perform dances such as Lando, Creole waltz, Huayno, Santiago, Pandilla, among others. The leading people are Silvo Vatanen (flutes, charango), Juha Matti Varvikko (percussion), Camilo Pajuelo (guitar) and Nieves Vuoristo (dances).
This event coincided with the recent tragedy in Peru. So we agreed to use this event, to call for humanitarian aid. Please support us through donations to the bank account below or show up at our first joint event on the 23rd of April: India + Peruvian Folk Dances with Live Music, where we will also be collecting donations.
Account name: EMBAJADA PERU DAMNIFICADOS 2017 Bank: Nordea Account number: FI53 1820 3000 0460 60 BIC: NDEAFIHH
Music is a language, and this is best learned as if in a mother tongue, mixing experts with novices, repetition and with a social purpose. In India, I used to spend my mornings reading John Keay's "A history of India" while living in Bangalore. Mixing the learning from others and living one's own experiences brings the best out of our Music!
This event is designed for anyone interested in music or dancing. You can learn how to play traditional dance songs and how to perform music for the dances. If you are interested in dancing you will learn the steps and form of the dances by performing it together with live music.
Everybody and all kinds of music instruments are welcome, previous experience is not required.
Just bring your instrument, voice and body!
Program:
17:45 doors open: registration of guests
18:15 opening speech
18:30 Indian folk music/dances at the main room
19:30 Cajon kids workshops at room 2
19:45 Peruvian folk music/dances at the main room
21:00 lottery announcement
FREE ENTRANCE!
Kaffila Bokvillan.
Hämeentie 125, 00560
Helsinki
Event supported by:
Part of the Finland 100 program
Tickets here