A poderosa voz de Joni NehRita, cantora e compositora jamaicana-canadense, se apresenta pela primeira vez no Brasil, com seu show sobre pertencimento. Suas composições em estilo R&B afro-caribenho encontram as canções brasileiras, celebrando sua identificação com nossa cultura. Em busca por sua origem jamaicana e sua ancestralidade, NehRita encontrou na cultura brasileira uma semelhança, trazida pela diáspora africana. Os ritmos pulsantes, a alegria contagiante de um povo que festeja para resistir culturalmente são características que contrastam com a cultura canadense, onde ela cresceu e vive até hoje. Sua música é um retrato desta trajetória, mesclando o Jazz e o R&B, que foram suas escolas, com o calor do caribe e da música brasileira, traduzido em melodias e ritmos dançantes.

In this 2 part workshop I'll lead participants through creative exercises to help uncover: what is really important? what does your voice long to say? where do our wishes and offerings differ and where do they overlap?

Through circle practices, music improvisation games, and free writing with prompts, I will help guide you to writing your own revolutionary song. Even if you don’t complete the song during our time together, I hope that you will leave feeling more connected to your creativity and to harnessing hope through music.

Visit: https://artnotshame.org to register

I'll be doing a free concert in a very cool building- Fleming College in beautiful Haliburton ON. Original songs old and new, including some performed with body percussion & Brazilian percussion instruments.

Every Fourth Friday of the month enjoy free admission to the Civic Museum from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and a free concert starting at 7 p.m. If weather permits, enjoy music on the patio!

This Fourth Friday we celebrate Culture Days, the opening of new feature exhibitions – “Art as We Are: Creative Community Care” presented in collaboration with Art Not Shame, and “Weaving Cultural Identities: Celebrating Heritage and Textile Traditions,” and the unveiling of a display of works created through the “Alchemy Embroidery–Collaboratively Altering Paper with Needle and Thread” project.

Jamaican-Canadian artist Joni NehRita’s performance will touch on themes of universal love and social justice. Her jazz-tinged brand of soul is drenched in Afro-Latin and Caribbean rhythms. The multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and arranger has a gift for writing infectious songs that make you move as well as think. A seasoned performer, she has played on stages in North America, Europe, Brazil and Australia.

For the second half of her performance NehRita will lead the audience in an immersive community experience through a Música do Círculo (Music of the Circle) style “flow.” Música do Círculo originates in São Paulo, Brazil and is a collective music-making experience featuring games and activities that help uncover spontaneous and joyful music while fostering collaboration, creativity and community.

Música do Círculo involves improvisation, body music, non-verbal communication, movement, singing, and play. It’s a no-tech, embodied, and super fun way of making music with others. Since it is all improvised, each session is uniquely special. No musical experience necessary. It’s a judgement free zone

Join Joni for a 60 minute Body Grooves workshop that is rooted in the Brazilian Música do Círculo methodology. We will use body percussion, movement, play, singing and improvisation to uncover spontaneous and joyful music. No musical experience necessary!

From Art Not Shame: The upcoming Open House & Block Party celebration of the opening of our new space is coming up quickly. We have an amazing schedule of events that day! There will be ASL interpretation for all speaking portions of the event.

**Please note, I requested July 13th initially, but I have a conflict on that day, so my request is for July 20th instead. Please disregard the other one.

This workshop will introduce a practice/methodology called Música do Círculo aka MdC (translation: Music of the Circle) originating in São Paulo Brazil. This is a collective music-making experience that uses elements including body percussion, improvisation, singing, movement and play to uncover spontaneous and joyful music. MdC explores how music affects human relations and is a wonderful tool for embodying music, community building, cultivating creativity and connection. Joni has been to Brazil three times and has been studying with MdC for 2.5 years.

We will also explore Collective Vocal Improvisation using Circlesongs, in Bobby McFerrin's style as well as through methods Joni has developed over the years as a vocalist, songwriter, music educator and choir director.

This workshop is open to anyone who is ready to make collective music with others. It may be especially beneficial for singers, musical theatre performers, musicians, etc. But really, anyone who is interested in exploring improvised music through singing, body percussion and learning about Música do Círculo is welcome.

Fee: $35 (Please email info@luvsum-music.com to register and or request lower pricing)