All the World’s a Drum

One thing often leads to another. . . .

While I was working on the topic of Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, I found the Global Musician Workshop, which led me to Maeve Gilchrist, which led me to Nic Gareiss. Scotland-born Gilchrist is an improvisational folk-jazz-fusion harpist. Gareiss is a Michigan-born percussive dancer.

I didn’t know there was such a thing as a percussive dancer. Not only do I like the clapping and the stepping, but I’m impressed with a harpist who can play so beautifully and push her hair off her face without missing a note.

So what other kinds of percussive dancers are there?

Well, there’s Step Africa!

There’s Riverdance, here gearing up for their 20th anniversary tour.

There’s Flamenco dancing—with Maria Pages.

And finally, I found the Egyptian group The Percussion Show.

To percussive feet, all the world’s a drum.