Bay Area Archives - Page 21 of 43 - Alliance for California Traditional Arts

The mrudangam is a double-headed drum. It is said to be the “king of percussion” and dates back to 4 or 5 century BCE, with references found in the great Indian epics Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Srimad Bhagavatham. Today it is featured in all South Indian classical music (Carnatic) concerts as…

As a grantee of ACTA’s Living Cultures Grants Program in 2015, DelinaDreamProductions will receive support for the documentary Bare Soles Bare Soul. Bare Soles Bare Soul will explore the sociocultural experience of eight African American women who have studied and practiced various traditional African dance styles…

SUKAY, which means to open the earth and prepare it for planting, is an internationally touring musical group that for four decades has performed the music of the Andean regions of Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. Founded in 1975 by executive director Quentin Howard (pan-pipes, flutes, and…

Oaxacan arts and culture

Puerto Rican Bomba

Hindustani or North Indian classical music, a tradition that originated in the Vedic ritual chants, has been evolving since the 12th century. The sarod (or sarode) is a 25-stringed fretless instrument, used mainly in Indian classical music. Along with the sitar, it is among the most popular and prominent instruments…

The skakuhachi is a bamboo flute whose origin is in China but migrated to Japan around the sixth century. It was primarily played by Buddhist monks, who used it as a spiritual medium in order to master breathing techniques. The primary genres of shakuhachi are honkyoku (solo), sonkyoku (ensemble), and…

Hawaiian rich and ancient culture depends on plants, and still depends on them today. Native plants played a vital role in all aspects of life related to ancient Hawaiian culture. Learning about native Hawaiian plants and their medicinal and cultural uses has the capacity to connect Hawaii’s cultural past with…

Japanese Koto Music

Theatre of Yugen is an experimental ensemble dedicated to the pursuit of the intanglible essence of yugen (yu: deep, quiet, otherworldly; gen: subtle, profound, dark). With a foundation in Japanese noh drama and kyogen comedy, Theatre of Yugen creates works of world theater by crafting original…