Glen Velez’s pedagogy, recordings & performances and Layne Redmond’s book When the Drummers Were Women, her recordings, performances and ensemble The Mob of Angels ~ all inspired Troupe Bannat Tahya of the Lehigh Valley to choreograph a percussion processional, a tribute to ancient rituals When the Drummers Were Women. Attired in beautiful multi-layered dresses of rich colors, they bring together the sounds of riqq, finger cymbals, dumbek and bell in combination with movements steeped in antiquity to arise and celebrate the Divine within!
The “ritual” inspired one participant to write this poem entitled Magical Hips
by Wanda Finelli
Right foot first; hear your cue
Zills will burst, bell and riqqs, too.
Who will see
Who will feel,
Ancient ritual
Powers that heal
The seed’s been planted,
The fire burns strong.
Goddesses sway
to the joyous song.
Who will see
Who will feel,
Ancient ritual
Powers that heal
Hypnotic moves, dum-tek-tek
Inner core quivers, dum-tek-tek
Flowing waters, dum-tek-tek
Cleansing rivers, dum-tek-tek
Who will see
Who will feel,
Ancient ritual
Powers that heal
The seed’s been planted,
The fire burns strong.
Goddesses sway
to the joyous song.
Dum, dum tek-a-tek
Dum, tek-a-tek
concluding a performance of their percussion processional,
a tribute to rituals dating back to 5600 BC.
Who will see
Who will feel,
Ancient ritual
Powers that heal.
