Beyond the Borders is
fun, musical, rhythmic, entertaining
By Hugh McMillan
KP News
Thanks largely to the persistence of those who
attended last year’s outstandingly entertaining
performance of Beyond the Borders, its organizer,
Mark Runions, again put together a splendid assembly
of top musical groups for last month’s audiences,
many of whom were repeats from last year. All ages
and persuasions were there and had a ball.
Leif Totusek and Lora Chiorah mesmerize their
sun-bathed audience with
songs and dances from Zimbabwe and induce a
large number of them to
participate in Zimbabwean dance led by Chiora.
Photo by Hugh McMillan |
As
with last year, it was a joint endeavor of the
Longbranch Improvement Club and the Two Waters Arts
Alliance.
Performances by the Mooncoyne provided traditional
Irish music. Leif Totusek and Lora Chiora’s
Zimbabwean rhythms, song, and dance lured scores of
attendees to dance on the grass led by Chiora.
Ancient Sounds’ exquisite renditions of tunes from
Native American to Brazilian to African kept an
audience swaying.
Returned by popular demand from its 2007 performance
at Beyond the Borders, the group Abrace, which means
“Embrace” in Portuguese and Spanish, lured its large
audience into swaying with its rhythms for an hour
of inspiring vocal and instrumental performances.
At breaks between these outdoor presentations,
inside the Longbranch Improvement Club, the
Percussion Intermission group led by Dale Loy poured
out a smooth demanding beat that had the floor
bouncing with appreciative rhythm lovers.
Ancient Sounds’ captivating musical renditions
of
tunes from Native American to Brazilian to
African
keep an enthralled audience swaying to the
rhythms of
Danick Jawrer vocals, Larry Jones on drums,
Ken Curtiss on keyboard and bass, Rob Pastorok
on
keyboard, and Margo and Gary Leatham on
digeridoo,
some 20 flutes from around the world, and
vocals.
Photo by Hugh McMillan |
Two Waters Arts Alliance sponsored displays of
judged art from water colors and acrylics to oils,
charcoal and pencil portraiture, to photography. All
entries were open to “People’s Choice” voting and,
as with last year’s competition, Key Peninsula’s
Beverly Pedersen walked off with the honor.
A fenced-off beer garden made it possible for adults
to enjoy a cool one to accompany whatever food they
gathered from the repeat delicious offerings of
Ali’I and Sumo’s Hawaiian Grill.
Many said, “We can’t wait until next year.”
Zimbabwe song and dance by Leif Totusek and
Lora Chiorah (l to r).
Photo
by Danna Webster |
