Blue Turban Drumming Workshop
Blue Turban Percussion have facilitated many workshops in West African drum, dance and song. Brendan's humour and teaching style ensure that the participants have fun while attaining a level of competence in drumming, singing and body percussion. Traditional West African instruments used include: djembe, shekere, kpanlogo, gome, doun doun, tama (talking drum), and other light percussion such as bells and shakers. Drums supplied but please BYO if you can!
Bio: Brendan Hollcroft
Trained by King Marong, Ray Pereira and various other African master percussionists, Brendan Hollcroft has travelled and lived in West Africa for over two years, including 7 months training in Ghana with Nee Odi of the Kusun and Wala traditional ensembles. In between flights to Africa, Brendan has also toured Australia, learning with Ghanaian band Nil Tetteh Tetteh and the Kusun Ensemble, performed with Brahim Benim and his Moroccan ensemble and recently performed in Japan with Iconfusion. But just as African percussion has a global history, Brendan's travels to over 40 countries world-wide have fired a passion for rhythm which also extends to the energetic polyrhythms of Morocco and the crisp soulful Latin beats of Cuba.
Chanting for Inner peace and World Happiness
Find out what chanting is, the different sorts of chants, and learn to chant. Chanting is not only a wonderfully rewarding experience to the chanter, but for the listener it can be just as liberating. First time participants are often blown away by the powerful sense of calm and feeling of new possibility that they receive from their experience of chanting, and the experience also has a wonderful sense of bringing a group of people together in a comfortable loving, non judgemental environment. This experience is not just a powerful tool for the individual but also serves the purpose of encompassing the group to increase the overall positive experience of those at Rainbow.
Biography: Kylie Cooke
Kylie a qualified yoga and meditation teacher combining colour therapy and reiki techniques. She's trained courses in Australia and also various training throughout India, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. She works at Windy Hill Fitness Centre, home of the Essendon Football Players and Brimbank City Council where she works on programs for those suffering from anxiety, stress or depression, and at various other clubs/gyms or with individuals throughout Melbourne.
Laughter Yoga
Laughter workshop is a series of non strenuous exercises that induce laughter. People connect with each other and create a group energy that lasts throughout the festival. Laughter causes the brain to release natural endorphins, antibodies, stops the release of Cortisol which causes stress related illnesses and has many more benefits which the participants will learn about. There are no limits to the amount of people that can join in, standing or sitting.
Biography: Kim O'Meara
Kim is a holistic councillor of five years experience and a laughter facilitator of 2 ½ years, trained by Perth Laughter club. This year Kim was a WA rep at the Australasian laughter conference in Melbourne as a keynote speaker. She holds laughter workshops twice a week for all ages, has appeared on WA morning programs, Ten News and has her own laughter therapy CD.