WOMAD Balkan Rhythms accreditation course - Call for participants

Beyond Skin are happy to announce that through OFMDFM Central Good Relations Funding Programme funding a unique WOMAD workshop has been designed and will be delivered by artists based in the City of Derry. This will be the first of many WOMAD workshop programmes to be hosted in the North West.

 WOMAD (World of Music Arts & Dance) is the world’s most prestigious International Arts Festival spanning over 25 countries since 1980. WOMAD was co-founded by rock icon, Peter Gabriel.

 In January 2013 through a PEACE III Belfast City Council Creative Legacies fund, the partner organization for WOMAD in N. Ireland, Beyond Skin, launched an outreach programme of WOMAD workshops, showcase events & festivals.

To date WOMAD workshops have reached 13 council districts through the outreach programme that has included 6 showcase events and over 300 workshops, giving employment to over 50 artists & professionals along the way with over 500 people learning a creative skill.

 In partnership with Northern Ireland's Children's Enterprise & WOMAD, Beyond Skin have developed a WOMAD accreditation course that has been adapted to the music, arts & dance WOMAD workshop formats.

Participants in addition to learning a new creative skill can gain an OCN level 1 accreditation in “Understanding Diversity through the World Of Music Arts & Dance”

 The Balkan Rhythms & the Celtic Connection WOMAD workshop is open for participants over 18yrs old with some basic guitar or percussion skills.

This workshop programme will delve into the musical & cultural similarities and differences in Eastern & Western traditional music – in particular Celtic & Balkan.

The programme will also explore diversity, identity, human rights & global citizenship themes in relation to the music traditions

 The workshop will lead up to a performance at the Gypsy Folk Klub which is run by the band Balkan Alien Sound. Participants will rehearse and perform (with BAS), a selected piece of music that will demonstrate understanding of musical knowledge gained over the duration of the course.

After choosing the piece the group will be focusing on rhythm (drums/hand-drums/bouzoukis/guitars) and provide the rhythm section for Balkan Alien Sound in a concert setting.

PLEASE NOTE:

Participants must be over 18yrs and have their own instrument.

Each participant is required to pay a £30 registration OCN fee which covers the entire course.

7 x 90min workshops will be hosted at the Nerve Centre between 23rd January and 28th February and lead towards a performance Sunday 1st March.

“It’s a privilege to be working under the prestigious WOMAD banner delivering their music education programme in a true celebration of cultural diversity.” Martin Coyle (Balkan Alien Sound)

“We are delighted that as we enter 2015 the WOMAD NI programme will be expanding even further. The WOMAD NI programme is a great example of how the term legacy should be defined” Darren Ferguson (Beyond Skin)      

For more information email [email protected] or phone the Beyond Skin office on 07877756987.

Places are limited and will be booked on a first come first served basis.

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