The 13th Annual Muhtadi International Drumming Festival presents el ¡Tambor! @ Woodbine Park, Toronto,ON - Sat Jun 9th & Sun Jun 10th!

It’s official: The 13th Annual Muhtadi International Drumming Festival presents el ¡Tambor! will occupy the grounds of Woodbine Park Lakeshore Ave and Coxwell Blvd Toronto, ON M4G2V5 on June 9th and 10th.

MIDF 2012 PERFORMERS

Main Stage Saturday June 9th

1:00 pm Northern China's Waist Drum and Dance
1:30 pm TBA
2:00 pm SamulNori Canada (Korea Traditional)
2:30 pm Hanulim Drum Circle (Korean)
3:00 pm Joy Lapps Trio (Pan)
3:30 pm Cuban Percussion Ensemble
4:00 pm Bass’ment Sound Crew
4:30 pm Michel Dequeved
5:00 pm Muhtadi & the World Drummers (West African)
5:30 pm Beyond Sound Empijah
6:00 pm Baque de Bamba led by Aline Morales (Afro Brazilian)
6:30 pm Hummingbird Tassa Group (Trinidad)
7:00 pm Joaquin Hidalgo (Cuban Rhumba Workshop)
7:30 pm Umurisho (Burundi Drummers)

Main Stage Sunday June 10th

10:00 am Amara Kante (Hand Drum Workshop)
12:00 Blue Raven
12:30 pm Parkview Public School
1:00 pm Gahu Ensemble - J.R. Wilcox Public School
1:30 pm Northern China's Waist Drum and Dance
2:00 pm Alexander Muir Public School
2:30 pm Mexicree (Aztec)
3:00 pm Isshin Diako (Japan Traditional)
3:30 Dhol Circle (African, Brazilian and Indian)
4:00 pm Samba Squad (Brazilian rhythms)
4:30 pm Toronto All Stars ()
5:00 pm Muhtadi & the World Drummers (West African)
5:30 pm Hummingbird Tassa Group (Trinidad)
6:00 pm Baro Dununba (Traditional West African and Diasporic rhythms)
6:30 Maracatu Mar Aberto (Afro Brazilian)
7:00 pm Iyá Iré (Cuba)


Archie Alleyne Stage Saturday June 9th

3:00 pm Archie Alleyne Evolution of Jazz Ensemble (Jazz)
3:30 pm Njacko Backo & Toumkak Drummers (Cameroon Contemporary African)
4:00 pm Alpha Rhythm Roots Students (Guinea, West Africa)
4:30 pm FND Drummers (African)
5:00 pm CU (Casineros Unidos) Productions Dance Lessons, Exhibition & Workshop (Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton)
6:00 pm Norman Marshall Villeneuve (Jazz)

Archie Alleyne Stage Sunday June 10th

1:00 pm CU (Casineros Unidos) Productions Dance Lessons, Exhibition & Workshop (Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton)
2:00 pm Samba Elégua (Brazil)
3:00 pm Archie Alleyne Evolution of Jazz Ensemble (Jazz)
4:00 pm FND Drummers (African)

Roaming

Northern Legs Southern Fists (Kung Fu, Dragon and Lion Dance Team)

Workshops

Free Hand Drum Workshop with Master Drummer Amara Kante, Sunday June 10th at Woodbine Park Main

The Muhtadi International Drumming Festival (MIDF) celebrates the drum, its universality as an art form, and its presence in all cultures around the world. MIDF is the only annual festival in North America celebrating the drum. It is a free festival that is gaining additional recognition year after year. The event promises to be a 2 day family-friendly celebration full of multicultural performances and passionate, artistic people.

Adding to the experience, MIDF hosts a wide variety of vendors with an array of cultural garbs, jewelry, and ethnic foods. It is a festival where all cultures come together, drumming and dancing to one beat!


Muhtadi International Drumming Festival presents el ¡Tambor! Includes a Children’s Play Area, ethnic cuisine, exotic arts and crafts, workshop programs and for the adults in the crowd a strategically placed refreshment area.

In previous years, the festival has taken place outdoors at Queen’s Park North, featuring over 30 drumming groups that display the diverse cultural traditions and drumming styles from various countries. This year the festival moves east to Woodbine Park, right across the street from Ashbridges Bay.

Woodbine Park is a part of the larger Beaches area in Toronto; a community known for its vibrancy, natural surroundings and great outdoor sound stage – a perfect location for this year’s MIDF because it mirrors the festival’s characteristics.

The park is situated at the corner of Northern Dancer Boulevard and Lake Shore Boulevard East (Northern Dancer is between Coxwell and Woodbine Avenues). It is known to play host to various other summer festivals including the Beaches International Jazz Festival and the Beach BBQ and Brew Fest. Muhtadi International Drumming, the not-for-profit organization behind MIDF is excited to bring live music and dance to the versatile Woodbine Park because it’s well suited for their growing and energetic festival.

TAO JAPANESE DRUMMERS @ Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, ON - Fri Mar 30th!

Sony Centre For The Performing Arts presents

TAO JAPANESE DRUMMERS

Friday, March 30, 2012

Exclusive Behind The Scenes Workshop Announced!

On Friday, March 30, 2012 TAO JAPANESE DRUMMERS will hit the Sony Centre For The Performing Arts with their explosive show featuring a fusion of Japanese drumming and martial arts. TAO JAPANESE DRUMMERS has been seen by five million people in 17 countries and were invited to perform at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

The Sony Centre For The Performing Arts recently announced an exclusive opportunity for audiences to experience the art of Taiko Drumming with an intimate workshop and lecture demonstration, for a $20 add-on to the original ticket price, by local Japanese drumming group Nagata Shachu. Prior to the TAO performance, Nagata Shachu will provide insight to the art of Taiko drumming, its historical relevance and perform their own unique Taiko rhythms at 6:15pm on the Lower Lobby Stage.

TAO JAPANESE DRUMMERS is a company of 16 highly disciplined male and female martial arts drummers trained in traditional Japanese percussion. Throughout their combative performances, TAO fuse martial arts and music with their skillful drumming and intricate choreography based on the traditions and culture of the Samurai. TAO uses a series of instruments from drums to harps including massive Wadaiko Drums weighing 400kg with a circumference of 1.70 metres.

TAO performers each bring contemporary flair to the group by drawing on their diverse backgrounds such as punk rock and gymnastics.  They offer a young and vibrantly modern take on a traditional art form with their athletic bodies and contemporary costumes creating explosive Taiko drumming and innovative choreography with extraordinary precision, energy and stamina.

SONY CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, Toronto’s first performing arts centre, has played a defining role in the cultural life of Toronto for more than 50 years. Today, the newly renovated Sony Centre is home to a roster of national and international artists that reflect the diversity and sophistication of 21st century Toronto. In addition, the Sony Centre is dedicated to developing Toronto’s younger audiences through family programming, workshops targeted towards school-aged audiences, an under-30 membership program, and other community initiatives including an international culinary experience. www.sonycentre.ca 

Sony Centre For The Performing Arts presents

TAO JAPANESE DRUMMERS

Friday, March 30, 2012 @ 8pm

Sony Centre For The Performing Arts, 1 Front Street East, Toronto

Tickets: $35-$85 plus applicable taxes and service charges

*TAO: EXCLUSIVE BEHIND THE SCENES Tickets: $20

* for ticket holders only

Tickets can be purchased in person at the Sony Centre box office,

over the phone at 1-855-872-SONY (7669) or online at www.sonycentre.ca

Discounts are available for groups of 8 or more. Call THE Group Tix Company 647-438-5559 or 
Toll Free 1-866-447-7849 http://www.thegrouptixcompany.com/