Events & Workshops

Rhythm Workshop at Ma*Shuqa's Dance Studio

January 29, 2012, Sunday,  11:00 am – 4:30 pm
Ma*Shuqa’s Dance Studio, 15651 Camino Del Cerro, Los Gatos, CA 95032

Dancers: This workshop is designed to be informative and useful for dancers and dance students of all levels. Well-notated handouts will be provided for all of the rhythms presented at the workshop.  Bring finger cymbals (finger cymbals available for sale – arrive early to purchase and affix elastic).

Drummers: Well-notated handouts will be provided for all of the rhythms presented at the workshop. This is not for rank beginners – bring your doumbeq (Some drums available to use in class).

1. “Walking” maqsoum with variations.
2. Nawwari (gypsy) family of rhythms: nawwari, three-doum saidi and filled-in baladi.
3. Moroccan twelve eight rhythm with a variety of overlay patterns introducing the concept of polyrhythms.
4. Cymbal technique including the sometimes elusive muted technique.
5. Exercises to strengthen the hands, facilitate transitions between basic patterns, and connect dance steps with cymbals.
6. Thorough treatment of maqsoum and “walking” maqsoum rhythms, a major rhythm in belly dance, with common overlay patterns.
7. Differentiating among three related rhythms: baladi, saidi and maqsoum.
8. Bolero and wahida rhythms with variations – good for slower sections of dance performances.
   
   
   Pre-registration Fees: $35 per workshop in advance, $55 in advance for both workshops
   At the door registration: $40. single workshop, $60. both workshops
   Send check payable to: Reel Sound and Light Productions, 15651 Camino Del Cerro, Los Gatos, CA 95032. To pay by credit card call Ma*Shuqa at (408) 356-9473.

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Mary Ellen Donald presents

Mary Ellen and the Quartz Crystals perform at the Le Bateau Ivre Restaurant in Berkeley

Wednesday evening, January 18 from 7:00 to 9:00pm

Jazz Standards such as: Midnight Sun, The Way You Look Tonight, East of the Sun, Skylark, Besame Mucho and The Very Thought of You. . . .

Musicians:

Mary Ellen Donald: jazz vocals and Middle Eastern percussion
Marco Casasola: keyboard
Ryan Lukas: bass
Address: 2629 Telegraph in Berkeley
Phone: (510) 849-1100
French cuisine, delicious
Note: The restaurant does not take reservations for this event. Just come early so you can be there to cheer us on when we begin performing at 7:00pm. Dinners will be served from 6:00 until 9:00pm.

p.s. The way we get paid for bringing our heart felt music to you is by your tips. We thank you in advance for your generocity.

Please pass this info onto your friends to help us pack the place.

Children's Library Series

Educational Children's Concert featuring Mary Ellen demonstrating Middle Eastern Percussion instruments. Highly interactive and adaptable for children of all ages. Rhythms experienced through chanting, clapping and body percussion.

Call for more information 510-654-DRUM (3786).
Click here for flyer.

New Beginner Doumbec Class in Oakland
Time: 2:30pm to 4:00pm every other Saturday
Location: close to West Oakland BART station and five minutes
off of 880 freeway, with ample parking

Fee: $20.00 per class paid at the first class of the month. Students pay for missed classes and are eligible to attend group generic make up classes when needed.

Class size: 5 - 8 students

Required instructional materials, produced by Mary Ellen and available for purchase at first class. a. Doumbec Delight book: $20.00
b. Middle Eastern Rhythms for Beginners . . contains two CD’s with 5 minutes each of 28 rhythms played on Doumbec and Tambourine by Mary Ellen plus 2 booklets with musical notation for all the rhythms for doumbec, tambourine and finger cymbals: $35.00

Sample pages of the book and sound bites from the CD’s can be found at www.maryellendonald.com

Note: Drums will be available for purchase if you don’t already have one.

Make this your year to keep your promise to yourself to learn something new! Hope to see you in class.

p.s. I have been teaching for over 35 years. I know How to Teach.

Hello Mary Ellen,

WOW!   Your Birthday Bash at Humanist Hall was the most amazing musical feast EVER!  I do not want to forget to thank you ever so much for celebrating your birthday at Humanist Hall!

It was such a fantastic, spectacular, world class, music and dance phenomenon.  The music was so gorgeous.  Your medley, your song about summertime, was the best tribute to summer I've EVER heard.  It was so beautiful and haunting, it gave me goose bumps.  And the belly dancer was out of this world, pure liquid, pure magic.  Your music and song, and her dancing, were all so wonderfully creative and eclectic and captivating -- it was impossibly enjoyable -- hard to describe -- completely fulfilling!

Thank you again!  I have the deepest appreciation for your music!

~ Fellowship of Humanity

Booking

Sittat al Qalb (Women of the Heart)
Mary Ellen Donald: Cymbals, Doumbec, Tambourine and Tar &
Nanna Candelaria: Belly Dance
In an educational and entertaining drum and dance duo! Available for performances in schools K-12 through out the San Francisco Bay Area. Call Young Audiences of California at 415-974-5554 to learn how to book this uplifting presentation for schools in your area!

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Hot Arabic Band For Hire!

Nazir Latouf, from Syria: oud and voice; Mary Ellen Donald: doumbec; and a first rate tambourinist, either Terry Holgate or Susie Goldenstein. A perfect Arabic band for any occasion: private parties, belly dance recitals, world music concerts, Arab weddings and Arabic cultural events. Nazir's extraordinarily rich repertoire spanning the entire Arab world, Mary Ellen's mastery of Arabic drumming and the charismatic, passionate playing of the two of them together make sparks fly and audiences beg for more.

Call Mary Ellen to hire the band that aims to please and does: 510-654-DRUM (3786) Check out sound bites from Nazir's CD "Arabian Passion", elsewhere on this site and video clips from "the Silk Road Experience" DVD also on this site to see for yourself.

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Mary Ellen Donald is available for out of town workshops and shows.  For more information, call Mary Ellen at (510) 654-DRUM (3786) or send e-mail to: me@maryellendonald.com

Listen to a live performance of Nazir Latouf and Mary Ellen Donald.

To hear a song sample, click on Listen
Ahla Tarik (The Sweetest Path) - Egyptian Melody	Listen	Listen
Oud Taqsim by Nazir Latouf	Listen	Listen
Allah Allah Ya Baba	Listen	Listen