Monday, September 13, 2010
Photos of JVF-organized collaboration at Kawa Cultural Center
Last week JVF staff were hard at work at the Kawa Cultural Center as musicians from all over Rajasthan–Gopal Geela's Chang troupe, Manphula Ram's Derun brigade, and many more singers, flutists, harmonium-players, and dancers–collaborated with UK percussionist Pete Lockett. JVF first met with Pete in February, taking him to Shekhawati and other parts of Rajasthan to meet his future collaborators.
Last week was just another part of the artists' amazing year-long collaboration. Pete Lockett will lead this orchestra of pounding Rajasthani rhythm at this year's RIFF festival (click for tickets and more information). Check out pics from last week's recital below.
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| Devuram and Pete jam on the Maante in Shekhawati in February |
Last week was just another part of the artists' amazing year-long collaboration. Pete Lockett will lead this orchestra of pounding Rajasthani rhythm at this year's RIFF festival (click for tickets and more information). Check out pics from last week's recital below.
Read more »
Labels: pete lockett, photos, riff
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Balotra, Jasol, and Kanana
Last month, JVF artistic director Divya Bhatia, community director Vinod Joshi, regional coordinator Naveen Mathur and intern James Boyd headed out to Balotra, Jasol and Kanana to meet some friends of the organization, see a festival JVF sponsors and check out the Ger festival in Kanana.
Read on for photos and more.
Our first stop was Jasol to see Nahar Singh ji Jasol, the former curator of the Mehrangarh museum. We saw his new book and chatted for a while about politics, music and recent events around Jasol.
Divya, Nahar Singh Ji Jasol, Naveen and Vinod (L-R)
Later that night, we headed off to Jasol proper to see a small Ger concert in the town square.
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Ger dancers in the Jasol Square
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Paras Mali, head of the Ger troupe, with Vinod
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Shri Mula Ram Ji shows us a beautiful old-fashioned Ger costume.
The Ger dancing and revelry did not end until 1 a.m., and the JVF crew was thoroughly tired and wired after the exciting concert. The next day, we set off for Kanana to see the Ger festival there, which was extraordinary:
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That evening we headed to the site of the Balotra festival, which was already packed when we arrived.
Jumma Khan was there in full form.
As you can see from the pictures above, the Balotra concert was very successful, having many sponsors from Balotra and across India. JVF has been sponsoring this concert for the past 4-5 years and now that it's reached self-sufficiency we will actively look for other festivals in the area to support.
Labels: balotra, jasol, photos
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
our trip to Shekhawati
The chang is a large drum, performed by men at the time of Holi – the festival of colour where brightly coloured powder is applied to the face, or thrown about in raucous colourful fights. The festival says goodbye to the winter and greets the oncoming hot season.
It is not a professional or structured dance, and villages perform different variations. The songs address similar themes, however: Ram and the great epics, the relationship between a man’s wife and his brother (the Devar/Bhabhi or younger-brother-in-law relationship/wife-of-elder-brother) – a playful, teasing relationship which receives special attention during Holi. Performers also sing about the way Holi was ‘played’ in the court of King Dashrath.
Traditionally, chang were played only for Holi, and then destroyed to commemorate the new season.
It is not a professional or structured dance, and villages perform different variations. The songs address similar themes, however: Ram and the great epics, the relationship between a man’s wife and his brother (the Devar/Bhabhi or younger-brother-in-law relationship/wife-of-elder-brother) – a playful, teasing relationship which receives special attention during Holi. Performers also sing about the way Holi was ‘played’ in the court of King Dashrath.
Traditionally, chang were played only for Holi, and then destroyed to commemorate the new season.
on Wednesday 17th March, JVF went on a trip to consolidate links with the artists of Pabusar, and once again see the Chang players play, dance, and sing:
(photos - James Boyd)
Labels: photos
