Cues & Tattoos: truly a labor of love

This past weekend on the Seattle Center campus was the Cues & Tattoos festival, hosted by Troupe Hipnotica, and is the braindchild of Adriene Rice and Julia Demarest. It focuses on stylistic variations which are rooted in the original American Tribal Style concept of group improvisational dance. With the mass proliferation of all things being called "tribal" these days, the beautiful and dynamic art of group improv was being buried and misunderstood. Adriene and Julia saw a need and they have met it beautifully for three years in a row--much to my delight, right here in my own back yard in Seattle--with Cues & Tattoos.

The time and organization it takes to host a festival is enormous--take a local hafla and explode it about a thousandfold! These ladies, with the help of their fellow troupe-mates and other volunteer staff, have turned this labor of love into a festival to rival many more established festivals in the community. And it promises to just keep getting better.

More live music + improv!

Saltana Band at Navya Lounge
Sunday, March 21, 2010
7:00-9:00pm
All Ages
$7 cover, Children Free
Navya Lounge
1333 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
Located inside the Rainier Center behind the Rock Bottom Brewery at 5th and Union

We had such fun last time, we're doing it again! Improvisational dance and music collide as inFusion Tribal and Saltana Band join forces for another night of entertainment at Navya Lounge. Saltana Band has even been working on some tribal infused music, inspired by inFusion's last appearance at the event. As before, the dancers will have no idea what music will be played, and the musicians won't know what the dancers might concoct--it's all a grand adventure in pure improv. Join us and see how it unfolds!

Powerful Percussion - Special Skills n' Drills session!

Powerful Percussion
with guest instructors Helene Eriksen and Erik Brown
Thursdays 8:30-9:30pm

Helene Eriksen - Finger Cymbals: July 23 & 30, August 6
Erik Brown - Middle Eastern Drums: August 13, 20, 27

Helene Eriksen and Erik Brown will be sharing their talents with us as guest instructors in the next session of Skills n' Drills. This special session will be open to all levels and all styles--there is no minimum experience requirement on this session. You need not be a current student of mine to enjoy these incredibly fun classes!


The first three weeks will be an exploration of finger cymbals theory and practice, followed by three weeks of Middle Eastern drum rhythms and drills. Students will come away with new skills in integration of your left and right brain and body, some history of percussion around the world, recognizing common Middle Eastern rhythms in music, and of course lots of time to play play play!

A key to becoming a better dancer is to familiarize yourself with the intricacies of the rhythms we are driven by. So these classes will teach you not only some great new skills in zills and drumming, but will also enrich your dance!

Again, classes are open to all levels, all styles!

Registration is at http://www.mandalatribal.com/classes/register. The class is listed as "Thursdays Level 2b - Powerful Percussion" in the drop-down if registering through Paypal.