The Mayo Performing Arts Center and Morris Arts present their fourth annual Music Beyond Borders free summer outdoor lunchtime concert series on the Morristown Green, featuring music and dance from West Africa, Japan, Argentina and the Australian outback. The series begins June 25 and runs every other Tuesday through August 6. Concerts start at 12:30 pm. Each Music Beyond Borders program will feature a performance of world music and/or dance reflecting the diverse culture and population of the area. Brown bag a meal, stop by while walking your dog, or bring friends to experience a world music and dance celebration while getting to know your neighbors. The world is literally at your doorstep! (Our special thanks to Morristown United Methodist Church for graciously providing the rainsite for the series).
Left: Féraba blending West African dance, drumming and tap dancing.
“We hope that people will enjoy our wonderful free lunchtime outdoor concerts that celebrate the rich cultural diversity of the area,” said Allison Larena, President and CEO of the Mayo Performing Arts Center. Tom Werder, Executive Director of Morris Arts, adds, “It’s exciting to collaborate with the Mayo Center on this special series and to literally bring the world to the center of Morristown.”
Music Beyond Borders schedule:
June 25: West African Dance, Drumming and Tap dancing by Féraba (see above photo)
West African drumming and dance meet tap dancing. This unique, award-winning multicultural and multiethnic performance group fuses the traditional sounds and movements of West Africa with the American artistic forms of tap dance and jazz in unique and exciting ways. With performances at Lincoln Center, Town Hall and throughout the world, Feraba explores the universal language of rhythm and its ability to promote tolerance and cultural understanding. www.feraba.com/
July 9: Japanese taiko drumming, folk dance and flute music by Taikoza
Roughly translated, Taiko means big drums–and that’s exactly what Taikoza brings: big drums, powerful rhythms and electrifying, room-thumping energy that draws from Japan’s rich music tradition. This internationally acclaimed, NYC-based ensemble has performed at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Symphony Space and Lincoln Center as well as to sold-out houses in Russia, Japan and Europe. The powerful rhythms of their large taiko drums mesmerize audiences with their pulse-pounding sounds. www.taikoza.com/
July 23: Argentine Tango Dancers
With a style that’s high speed, musically precise, and exploding with energy, incredibly fast foot work and jaw-dropping lifts, skilled Argentine dancers, led by Daniel Herrera, showcase the dynamic, sensual and unique styles of tango. The Argentine tango, developed in the late 19thc. working class neighborhoods of Argentina’s Buenos Aires and continuously evolving today, is a dance of passion and intensity which has inspired works by composers such as Astor Piazzolla and been featured prominently in films such as Scent of a Woman and True Lies. Bring your dancing shoes!
August 6: Music of the Australian Aborigine didgeridoo with The Didge Project
Get set for some good vibrations – Australian style. The Didge Project is where world rhythms and tribal beats meet modern jazz and hip-hop, blending the sound of the didgeridoo, an aboriginal wind instrument used for ritual and ceremony, with modern instruments to blaze new sonic territory. More than a band, The Didge Project is a collective of musicians who believe in the power of sound and who promote awareness of the didgeridoo through performances and workshops. www.didgeproject.com/
Music Beyond Borders is sponsored by Novartis.