International Day Performance at the Library

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

I’ve just walked out of the art exhibit and into the main hall of the new library downtown. The distinctive sound of a jenbe drum reverberates through the main hall. Another drum answers the call from the opposite end of the hall. The two drummers “call” back and forth as they move toward each other. They’ve definitely got everyone’s attention in this space where quiet is usually enforced. When they finally come together in the center of the hall, they furiously beat out a song. When they stop, the sound still reverberates, then the crowd claps. My thought was Wow! But then I wondered where the rest of the ensemble was. My friend and I continued on our way exploring the booths that were set up for International Day. At the Korean table we had the woman spell out Welcome on paper with a brush and hand-mixed ink so we could hang the banners in our classrooms. After we’d checked out all the tables we continued exploring the new library. I was surprised to run into Akin hurrying out of a room with a young ensemble member who needed a bathroom. That was when I realized the performance twenty minutes earlier in the main hall was a call to the main performance in this room that seemed hidden away. There had been no announcement; we didn’t see any signs that would’ve directed us here to enjoy the performance. The day before my sons had come to see the Colombian dancers but had reported “there wasn’t anything going on”. Obviously, the dancing and music were taking place away from the main hall, in this room. Maybe next year this can be made clearer so that more people can enjoy them.