Noted Israeli percussionist Chen Zimbalista
brings the Mideast to Detroit Public Schools.
Sylvia Kaufman of Muskegon is the
guiding
force behind the Mid
Staff Writer
East/West Fest program.
"I started it as a volunteer, and I've
e plays more than 40 per-
continued it as a volunteer," Kaufman
cussion instruments, in
said with pride. "The performers tour
styles from classical to eth-
different areas of the country, but this is
nic.
the only place [where] they primarily go
He's studied with the best teachers in
to schools. Detroit is my
Tel Aviv, New York and
baby."
Copenhagen. And, Nov.
Clockwise from top:
Along with the concerts
15-17, Chen Zimbalista
Chen Zim balista
and
workshops, the schools
shared his skills with about
demons tr ates his
involved
study a detailed
2,500 Detroit Public
drumming technique.
curriculum about the per-
School students.
Zimbalista and his
Chen Zimba lista, right, formers' countries of origin
troupe came to the schools
jams with eig hth-grader and culture.
"We had workshops
Dominic Wi lson, 13.
as the first presentation of
with the staff beginning
the 2000-2001 Mid
last January," said
Dancer D annyel
East/West Fest. A cross-cul-
Gwendolyn Jordan,
Rachoom
le
ads
a
group
tural arts program, the Fest
of
middle-
schoolers.
administrator
of the
has been serving the 11
Detroit schools' Drew
constituent schools of
Community Relations
Detroit's Northern High
Center.
School community since
Jordan, who coordinated the
1991. The area was chosen through its
Zimbalista visit for the schools, said
affiliation with the Kellogg Foundation
that by the time the students attended
Metropolitan Youth Foundation, which
the concerts and workshops they were
provides partial funding. Among the
prepared with information and ques-
other sponsors are the Detroit Youth
tions. "They'd even learned a little
Foundation and the Consulate General
Hebrew," she said.
of Israel to the Midwest.
DIANA LIEBERMAN
1.1[
The Wednesday and Friday events
took place at the schools only, while
Thursday featured workshops and a
concert at the Detroit Opera House.
The day concluded with a dinner recep-
tion for students, families, teachers and
administrators at Northern High
School. On Saturday morning,
Zimbalista performed as a soloist at a
youth concert of the Detroit Symphony
Orchestra.
The exchange started with Israeli
artists only, Kaufman said, but some
Turkish performers, including a jazz sax
trio and Turkish rap singer, will visit the
schools Feb. 20-22.
"We wanted to add another country
but we didn't want to add a Mideast
culture that wasn't friendly with Israel,"
Kaufman said.
The third and final portion of the
Fest for this school year will be Eyal
Selah and his troupe, April 25-27. The
Israeli group with a world-music
emphasis plays Balkans and Mideast
music.
As far as the Zimbalista visit, "It was
an outstanding event," Jordan said.
"They were all very charismatic. The
kids didn't want to go back to their
classrooms."
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