Dance Free!

25 June, 2008 | 10 comments | Category: I.dentity, book snip, musiqa

Dancing is pure freedom! It is…completely releasing all inhibitions in an act that seizes the moment. In a

moment …you set free all nagging thoughts and nuances to sway, step, slide, twist …to pulsate! A pulse navigating out of the speakers to fuse in sync with your beat, your inner rhythm.

I love to dance… Could probably literally dance the night away, most days!

…So I thought I’ll drop 3 things on dancing into the senduQ:

~Minyeshu

Minyeshu is an Ethiopian traditional music vocalist residing in the Netherlands. I stumbled upon her when I found a flickr picture of hers looking like the lady on the senduQ header.

She just released an album ‘Dire Dawa’ this past April and has a previous album ‘Meba’ released 2002.

I love the ^ fashion, and stage energy… She exudes joy when on stage, in dancing; a free-spiritedness that doesn’t need an entourage. Simply put: Tishekeshikewalech on stage. I like how her fashion seems deliberate. The yellow dress does not come across as stereotypical, but does a great fusion of many styles from different cultures while keeping the flare of a traditional touch.

More than the music, which to me isn’t incredibly, incredibly original. Though her music uses notable full-on acoustics and makes a great and enjoyable attempt at fusion (of sounds from within and beyond Ethiopia) just like her attire…I like that she expresses a different take on the diversity that is Ethiopia …and that she pays homage to the best treasure jewel in the harur valley -- Dire.

Joy of African Music and Minyeshu’s Website (I like ‘Dire Dawa’ from the music snips on her site.)

~ I am reading ‘Tuesday’s with Morrie‘, a story about a vibrant old man who is dying and the life lessons he teaches his old student in the last course he taught -- through his own death. The opening of the story was so endearing:

“He had always been a dancer, my old professor. The music didn’t matter. rock and roll, big band, the blues. He loved them all. He would close his eyes and with a blissful smile begin to move to his own sense of rhythm. It wasn’t always pretty. But then, he didn’t worry about a partner. Morrie danced by himself.

He used to go to this church in Harvard Square every Wednesday night for something called “Dance Free” They had flashing lights and booming speakers and Morrie would wander in among the mostly student crowd wearing a white T-shirt and black sweatpants and a towel around his neck, and whatever music was playing, that’s the music to which he danced. He’d do the lindy to Jimmy Hendrix. He twisted and twirled, he waved his arms like a conductor on amphetamines, until sweat was dripping down the middle of his back. No one knew he was a prominent doctor of sociology, with years of experience as a college professor and several well-respected books. They just thought he was some old nut.

Once, he brought a tango tape and got them to play it over the speakers. Then he commandeered the floor, shooting back and forth like some hot Latin lover. When he finished, everyone applauded. He could have stayed in that moment forever.”

~ I came across two new fun oldies videos. love the costumes…

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10 comments to “Dance Free!”

embrt, June 26th, 2008 at 10:26 am:

• i came across this lady a few times but she never really struck me. and now i see her on your blog so i’m like, lemme look her up. went to site and listened to her samples and–WOW. i love what she’s doing. so innovative.

  searched up and down for her CD, the few that are on sale cost an arm and leg, the cheapest one being about $23. so i bought it, felt she was worth it.

  wish she could come out to the states. *sighs*

tpeace, June 27th, 2008 at 11:45 am:

• yea she’s pretty good! let me know what u think about the album…

Alpha, July 1st, 2008 at 10:17 am:

• I love to dance too!! I go to clubs and I’m like, okay i’m gonna act all grown and mature like the rest of the people, especially my friends, but that promise is always kept for just few seconds. I intentionally wear high heels (uncomfortable shoes) so it can prevent me from wilding out, but before i know it my shoes are off tucked in some corner or under a table and I am at it. I come out with my hair messed up and a wet shirt…….so now i decided to stop fighting it and I just let it flow. I’ll be the one of the first to the stage and the last to leave.

  Anywho, enough about my dancing……I might have to read Tuesdays with Morrie……..

  Good read though.

Juru, July 8th, 2008 at 1:04 pm:

• tpeace,
  Thank you so much for the book recommendation. I heard the author Mitch Albom before when “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” book came out and i never got to it. Thanks to you now i already read 3 of his books this week. I loved it and i cried. No particular reasons, though just because of the power of love. Thank You again!

  I don’t consider myself a good dancer. I love dancing. I thought dance is a natural thing but i guess not for many people. When i tell stories to my habesha friends the music i danced with my husband, i get a surprise look and they say “you guys dancing home alone” or they see me at the club dancing, having too much fun, they think i’m “drunk and crazy”.

  Minyeshu sounds good, but why her cd is so expensive? Is it b/s imported? Well, she’ll be on my birthday or x-mas list

tpeace, July 9th, 2008 at 9:41 am:

• LOL alphyee u are just hilarious eko! you make it sound like you loose complete control and the music takes over, takes off your heels and all wildness breaks loose! lol
  well i feel ya!
  I usually wanna get to the party right when it starts too but my friends be wanting to make ‘entrance’ or whatnot (some nonsense beyond me! lol) and I’d be hyper till the very end too…

  Juru, I’m so glad you are reading Mitch Albom’s books. I have to say Tuesdays with Moorie is the most powerful book I’ve read. I am sending copies of the DVD and book to my parents!

  lol…Juru I hear you…sometimes people tend to be a little too self-conscious. The secret is to not mind them! life’s too short…

atim, July 9th, 2008 at 8:26 pm:

• Heya!

  I’ve read Tuesday’s With Morie. And I do not mind reading it tooActually, I got it as a present. So I keep it in my treasure box to date. I am actually trying to translate it into Amharic. And am just in the first few pages. Let me know if u re interested in translating too. hehe

  Meao

atim, July 9th, 2008 at 8:28 pm:

• *correction: do not mind reading to many times. Actually….”

embrt, July 10th, 2008 at 3:12 pm:

• okay so i got the album and lovin it so far.

  the whole album is pure genius. as my brother simply put it; “dess tilalech”. the compositions are brilliant and fresh and unpredictable. she does an excellent job of melding together several different styles of music to create a new genre. fantastic ethiopian music…the wave of the future.

  if you want this album, holla @ me.

tpeace, July 11th, 2008 at 3:32 pm:

• Meao
  …that’s a great project. How far have you gotten? I’m def interested in hearing more about it…I might be able to help out! email me: tsepeaces@gmail.com

  embrt,
  Thank YOU! everyone else… visit abesha.com music boards if u want some of what we got

embrt, July 16th, 2008 at 11:59 pm:

• man, ya’ll her vocals are really weak just a forewarning. she sounds better in slower songs, IMO.

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