#MIDF presents Drum Beats in Regent Park a celebration of the art of the drumming. We invite young and old alike to attend and participate in an evening of drumming and drum workshops at Daniels Spectrum in Regent Park-MDC Partners Courtyard, 585 Dundas St E Toronto, ON M5A 2B7 Friday August 16th. This event is part of the 2013 Daniels Spectrum Outdoor Arts Program and was made possible throught the generous contribution of an Anonymous Donor to the Artscape Foundation.
The evening will start with Master Drummer Muhtadi's Heart Beats workshop. Muhtadi has been performing professionally for over 30 years, both nationally and internationally, as well as devoting much time to community arts practices in schools and community centres. Trinidad-born, he came to Canada in 1974. In 2000 he founded the Muhtadi International Drumming Festival and has been the Artistic Director for fifteen years. This interactive performance/workshop introduces the drum and rhythms from around the world. The audience is invited to participate with Muhtadi and members of the World Drummers. Drums are provided. This will be followed by an Introduction to Southern African Drumming with Dread Micho.
Performances will kick off at 8 pm showcasing the #MIDF experience with T.Dot Batú. T.Dot Batú is a multicultural Batucada band from Toronto, Canada. Incomparable musical dynamics with its irresistible Afro' Brazilian Percussion Original Samba Reggae from Salvador Bahia, Brazil. A mixture of infectious rhythms that makes the atmosphere a real Dancefloor. Batucada is a substyle of samba and refers to an African influenced Brazilian percussive style, performed by an ensemble, known as a Bateria. Batucada is characterized by its fast pace.
Giving the audience a further taste of the Muhtadi International Drumming Festival will be the Community based djembe ensemble Muhtadi & The World Drummers. The ensemble is composed of members that are music lovers of various ages and ethnicities led by Muhtadi level where there exits only magic, enchantment and joy.
The organization concluded a successful program this past February; Muhtadi International Drumming Festival Presents Drum Beats which featured artists who executed performances, performance-demonstrations and workshops featuring drumming in GTA community centres, libraries, and schools. Drum Beats was held to celebrate Black History Month 2013. The annual program was sponsored by the TD Bank Group and presented in partnership with Mariposa In The Schools. Featured Program Artists include Njacko Backo, Muhtadi, Muhtadi and the World Drummers, Michael St. George, Joy Lapps and Beyond Sound Empijah. In this way, MIDF reaches communities that would not normally have access to these artists and art forms. Stay tuned, the Drum Beats program will be returning for 2014.
Each year the Muhtadi International Drumming Festival, the largest percussion-based event of its kind in Canada, presents over 40 live performances, free of charge. The 15th Annual festival will be held June 7th and 8th, 2014 in Woodbine Park, Toronto, Ontario Canada.
Location: Daniels Spectrum in Regent Park-MDC Partners Courtyard, 585 Dundas St E Toronto, ON
Time: 6p
Admission is FREE
For additional information about the Muhtadi International Drumming Festival (MIDF), please visit: http://www.muhtadidrumfest.com/ or call 416-848-3838.
