So, VEMU/Estonian Museum Canada has already “put into motion” a whole slew of events in the new year to get you all moving and grooving.
What better way to kick off this year of movement than with a combo dance workshop/concert featuring trance-dance Estonian-Canadian folk band Hypnosis Negative and local Toronto Estonian folk dance group Kungla. For those new to Hypnosis Negative, the duo is made up of flutist Katariina Tirmaste (Estonia) and fiddler/violinist Robert Alan Mackie (Canada); joining them as a special guest will be local percussionist Steven Foster. If you’re keen on brushing up on your dance steps or wanting to learn some new ones, Kungla will be putting on a pre-concert dance workshop to get those bodies twirling and feet moving. Those wanting to show off the new fancy footwork can heat up the dancefloor to the beats and melodies of Hypnosis Negative or you can cheer on friends and family while you grab a drink and enjoy the music. Come out and have a good time!
Katariina and Robert describe their musical mission as a journey to try to find the roots of dance; the raw, captivating basis and source of rhythm and movement. They define “hypnosis negative” as the sensation of being turned inside out from dancing, chasing your own feet across a creaking wooden floor, music that started before you can remember and shows no sign of stopping. Their debut album “Three Corners” features 10 tracks of traditional tunes, primarily from Estonia and the southeast United States, reimagined for modern partner dancing. Tiina Kiik writes about the duo in a recent review in WholeNote magazine: “Hypnosis Negative is creating a brilliant traditional music future here, both on and off the dance floor!”
Come check out this scintillating workshop-concert combo on Thursday, January 5th in the Tartu College hall; doors open at 6:30, start time 7:00 p.m. Tickets $20/$10 (students) are available now on Eventbrite. Cash bar, coffee and refreshments. The event is organized by VEMU/Estonian Museum Canada in partnership with Estonian Music Week. More info can be found on the VEMU site. See you there!
Want to check out the band beforehand? Scope out their shows at Drom Taberna (458 Queen St. W.) on December 30th, start time 2:30 am and at Balfolk Toronto’s dance event at The Wicket (1671 Bloor St. W.), 7-10 pm.
