La Bomba De Tiempo

For the most part, after I visit a tourist site once or do an activity in BsAs, I'm done and I have no desire to go back and do it again. I mean, there's only so many times that one can stand in front of Evita's grave and ooh and ahh while taking photos. However, every so often there is an event that left its mark on you and leaves you coming back for more. Experiences like "La Bomba de Tiempo" at the Konex Cultural Centre every monday rain or shine.


La Bomba de Tiempo - Monday Night Drumfest at Konex

The Circle of Life

Image by DazzlingDigital via Flickr

The Lion King - Circle Of Life Lyrics

[MS: Male Singer]
[BS: Background Singer]
[FS: Female Singer (lead)]

[MS:] Nants ingonyama bagithi baba [There comes a lion]
[BS:] Sithi uhhmm ingonyama [Oh yes, it's a lion]
[MS:] Nants ingonyama bagithi baba [There comes a lion]
[BS:] Sithi uhhmm ingonyama [Oh yes, it's a lion]
Ingonyama
[MS:] Siyo Nqoba [We're going to conquer]
[BS:] Ingonyama
Ingonyama nengw' enamabaal [It's a lion and a tiger]
[repeats 5]
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (Se-to-kwa!)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (Asana)
[repeats 1]
[FS:] From the day we arrive on the planet
And, blinking, step into the sun
There's more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round
It's the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life
[FS:] It's The Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life
 
 
You know, sometimes inspirations for a blog come out of the funniest time and places. Tonight I was simply looking for another song to add to the playlist that is on the website. I had a few ideas in my head for song choices, one of them being "Circle of Life" from "The Lion King". So I went to check out a few videos and...........BOOM! There was my inspiration for my very next blog. Not only did I find what I wanted, but I also found a couple of amazing performances of "The Circle of Life". As well, watching the performances brought me back to one of my favorite childhood memories of being able to go see "The Lion King" on stage in London.  I was brought up on musicals and there is no doubt in my mind that "The Lion King" live on stage in London was my favorite.

If you ever get a chance to, you have to see this musical at least once in your life. They have a stage that actually moves where stuff can come out from the floor. And the costumes are spectacular, I've never seen anything like it.  The opening number "The Circle of Life" is one of the high points in the musical and it is something that stays in your mind for a long time.  I hope that I sometime in my life, I get to see the musical again.





But while I was searching through performances of "The Circle of Life", there was one performance that caught my eye.  Remember how I wrote a blog earlier about Jennifer Hudson's life. Well I discovered a video of her performing "Circle of Life" on American Idol so many years ago.  How did she do?  Well how about you be the judge of that?  I've put the video of the performance right here so you can decide for yourself. All I can say is that I have no doubt that anyone who can belt out a performance like that is destined for greatness.  And although she didn't win American Idol, Jennifer Hudson would not disappoint us in the days and years to come after that awesome performance.

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• Phillyist Reviews... The Lion King (phillyist.com)

Good Things Come in Threes

It's not often that you get a week where you get to celebrate several launches, successes and public recognition of more than one project at the same time. I hope all of you have been calling in and requesting Santa Clara's new single "Save Me" that hit radio waves April 12th. Here at "Making the Same Difference" we are all about celebrating launches, success, and recognition in the lives of hardworking individuals. And today, I'm having a celebration of my own.

I mentioned earlier that I came across a website called Lexiophiles It is a website dedicated to love of words, languages, and cultures. On their website, they were requesting guest writers to contribute pieces. So I sent two articles that I have written. Both articles can be found on the very top of the blogsite. One article I sent was called "Language Learning Lab" and the other was called "Cultural Quirks". Someone got back to me and said they loved both articles and they want to publish both of them at one point. Seeing as they could only publish one at a time, they would like to start by publishing "Cultural Quirks" on their website for April 15th.

I was simply delighted and gave them the go ahead. So as of today, you should be able to go onto Lexiophiles and check out the publication of my article. Or you could always click onto the link to the article at the top of this blogsite. Either way, I think you'll find it an interesting read. And I will certainly be sure to let you know when they've decided to publish the other article "Language Learning Lab".

But good things come in threes so while I am on the note of celebrating the projects people have done, I would like to highlight to you a cool project done by one of my tango teachers down in Buenos Aires. I wrote a blog awhile back about Carlos & Alison, a tango couple that I took private lessons from. Tango is just one of the many talents that this couple has and they are successful in many different ways both as an individual and as a couple. Alison is actually a filmmaker and while I was on Youtube looking for a good example of a video to post on this site, I stumbled across the trailer of a documentary that Alison made entitled "The Caprichosos de San Telmo". It's about the ghetto communities of Buenos Aires and something called "Murga" a dance started by African slaves that is done to the rhythm of colonial drums. They beat of the music together with the dancers brings people together in unity and ignites the heart and soul of the community.



www.carlosyalisontango.com

www.thehellhound.com

Arts + Acrobatics = Argentina

When it comes to shows, the good news is that there is an abundant supply of them in Buenos Aires. Argentina has made amazing strides in rebuilding the country and the economy since the 2001 economic crisis. And they are fast becoming a force to be reckoned with when it comes to performing arts. You can still see regular dinner shows with live tango. Traditionally, that's the most publicized kind of show down in BA. But in your quest for a good evening of entertaiment, don't forsake trying some modern and off the well worn path. Let Buenos Aires dazzle you with a little taste of the other forms of incredible artistic talent that lies deep within the heart and soul of the city :)

Photo from fOTOGLIF

Dancers perform on a watery stage suspended above the audience during the Fuerza Bruta (Brute Force) show in Buenos Aires, March 23, 2010

Live at La Bomba de Tiempo

We all know that there are just some things in life that words, pictures or even video cannot justify the experience of being there live in person. One of them would definitely be Iguazú falls. Months later, I still hear the haunting sound of waterfalls in my head deep into the night as they crash against the rocks again and again and again.....

There are other noteworthy experiences and things to try out while you are in the country. La Bomba de Tiempo at the Konex every monday night rain or shine. I've already written a detailed blog on my nite at La Bomba de Tiempo so I'm not going to sit here repeating what I've already written. Instead, if you would like to know the description of the event, I'll defer you to a link here that will take you to the post of the blog I had written earlier. I'm sure you'll find it quite amusing, especially the fact that it was the first and only night during that trip that I can officially say I that I lost my sobriety :)
And for your viewing pleasure, I've included some Youtube videos to give you just a little taste of the event.

Making the Same Difference: La Bomba a Tiempo

The Secret in their Eyes

"Eyes are the window to your soul"

That has got to be one of the most talked about quotes ever invented. I believe that statement contains a profound revelation of one of the most mysterious parts of the human body.....the eyes.  It's funny that after all the advances in science and technology, we are nowhere close to unraveling the complexity or significance of the eyes and they role that they play in relationships, spirituality, and health both physically and emotionally.

The Immigrant’s Tango

Sitting amongst refrains of nostalgia
rooted in past shadows
A walled flower
waiting

Eyes meet,
in trespass or invitation?
Her vined legs unwind
from the seat of familiar
Uprooted

Facing,
With one arm they embrace,
their other stop-sign hands clasp
marking a joined border
of resistance

Transplanted onto this dance floor
soiled with memories,
they negotiate the boundary
of their new, shared space
With each haunting call of the bandoneon,
compelling their circling steps
into now

The insinuating rhythm
unites them with one pulse
and yet
the eternal push, pull
hiding, enfolding
Clinging to the music’s strains
drawing them together, apart
this tensile arrival, separation
never quite pausing
in past or future

Just a timeless heartbeat
of sinewed silence
before the music propels them on
Moving as one,
the dancers seek freedom
through their locked embrace,
escape without departure
Echoing the bandoneon’s pull, push
Leaving, returning
Mourning, uniting

Into a finale flourish.
Then the tango begins anew.
(dimly remembered past seasons
litter their feet)
yet they dance on
singing for freedom
calling for home


(this poem was written by writer, tango dancer, and author of "The Chief Factor's Daughter" Vanessa Winn)

Breast Cancer Tribute

So I'm really having fun adding fun learning to add videos onto my blog posts. And as usual, I make sure that my site has nothing but the brightest and the best for you all. This is the third video that I've added and it is nothing less than breathtaking. One of my favorite shows is So You Think You Can Dance. A dance competition that showcases the very best. There were many memorable dance pieces but there has been one that has been the most talked about of all the pieces. In the history of SYTYCD, there has never been a more powerful or moving piece. It's a tribute to breast cancer and it is truly magnificent. Here is Melissa & Adye performing their stunning piece on "Ellen"

Miriam Larici & Leonardo Barrionuevo

So it looks like my new skill for the day is learning how to add YouTube Videos directly onto my blogsite. I've already posted a spectacular nature video of Dolphins making bubble rings to play with. But I'm going to add another spectacular video to this site. World reknown Tango dancers Miriam Larici & Leonardo Barrionuevo participated in a televised dance competition called "Superstars of Dance" last year. The video I am posting here is their performance in week 2 of the semi-finals. All I can say is that it is absolute "eye candy" and simply one of the most breathe taking performances I have ever witnessed. As well I think this video is an awesome representation of Argentine tango at it's finest. Enjoy!