Seattle Rhythm Festival

Festival Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Festival State: Washington Festivals

Festival Type(s): Varied Music Festivals, World Music Festivals

Seattle Rhythm Festival Media:

Rhythm and Rainlessness Up in the Corner

By: © Deollo Johnson 2009

What a beautiful day. A vivacious sun on a vivid blue backdrop, 80-something pleasant degrees, verdant green grass and big, cotton-ball clouds drifting lazily across the sky. This isn't the rainy-cloudy-all-the-time Seattle I had heard about whenever this city in the upper left-hand corner of the map of the States was tossed about in conversation. (An acquaintance joked with me that residents there perpetuate that image of Seattle to keep people away!)

A great day to lounge outside, run around in a fountain, dance to African drums, or take percussion classes...and all of the above were happening here at the Seattle Center. This is the first ever Seattle Rhythm Festival, a one-day bonanza of drumming, dancing and performing sponsored by the Seattle World Percussion Society (SWPS). Promoting unity and collaboration between local artists and also serving as a "bridge" between the 2005 and 2007 World Rhythm Festivals, the Seattle Rhythm Festival was birthed by dedicated artists in the Seattle area.

There were a great variety of dance styles offered-West African, Afro-Cuban, African-Brazilian, and bellydance; and fusion styles like Bollywood Hip-Hop Arabic and yoga that used movement from other disciplines, such as martial arts and modern dance, to change from one traditional Hatha yoga posture to another. A few of the dance classes were held in the center of the main floor of the Seattle Center, and so felt more like performances with the many onlookers encircling the dance space. Other dance classes were held in packed-to-capacity rooms on the upper levels of the Center.

The drumming and music workshops spanned widely through styles as well: some reflected the dance class styles- West African and Afro-Cuban drumming rhythm classes, tabla (doumbek) workshops for bellydance; others were uniquely independent, such as didgeridoo (as known as the Yidaki) and drum set.

Throw in an evening dance party, warmed up by a late afternoon Brazilian drum and dance stage show, then set to burning by Afro-Cuban drumming, dancing and singing, and finally taken to an inferno by some West African rhythms...and THAT is full, complete day at the Seattle Rhythm Festival.

by Deollo Johnson

Seattle Rhythm Festival Photos:

Seattle Rhythm Festival Dates and Location

The annual World Rhythm Festival is held in April at the Seattle Center in Seattle, Washington, USA. For more information check out Seattle World Percusion Society web site for more info.