Once upon a time,
there was a program we titled:
RHYTHM
&
RHYME
Accompanied by Grant Smith,
Tahya presented
dance & poetry recitations
with percussive soundscape.
Tahya dances & expressively gestures mudra accompanied by Grant Smith who plays Egyptian tambourine known as the riq, tabla, tar and assorted other percussion creating a lovely soundscape to accompany the poetry and dance.
Grant Smith and Tahya first met at the Glen Velez Handance Intenstive in 2001 and became fast friends. Over the years he would come down from Boston to accompany Troupe Bannat Tahya dancers at Musikfest.Once they started experimenting with Tahya reciting Rumi and Grant improvising rhythms he felt suited the mood of various Rumi poems, they felt they had a winning program.
They went on to perform these recitations of Rumi poetry, sprinkled with a bit of Hafiz and Leonard Cohen’s Dance Me to the End of Love (click here for a sampler), at various and sundry venues including Musikfest, Godfrey Daniels, and the charming Raubsville Inn and Cabaret on Canal Road in Easton, PA, owned and run by the Franklin Family. Ultimately and sadly, the Franklins had to close the business in/around 2006 due to devastating flooding of the property, located adjacent to the Delaware River.
Audiences were uplifted by the RHYTHM & RHYME program of dance and drumming interwoven with the beautiful messages in the words of poets who understand the language of the heart and the universal truths of humanity that withstand the test of time. Throughout the centuries these arts resonate across generations, regardless of racial, ethnic, religious or social boundaries.
Independently Tahya and Grant have performed throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia and Australia. Working together combining their talents, they have enjoyed successful presentations at a variety of venues throughout the Northeast U.S. This program was very well received and proved appropriate for a variety of performance venues including ~ but not limited to ~ collegiate venues, e.g., literature and/or world religion departments.
Here’s a video assembled to promote the program to community and collegiate venues throughout the tri-state area. On occasion Michael MacCubbin was invited to enhance the percussion soundscape with his talents and on occasion the duo also invited a bass player or flute player to join in…. It was all quite lovely.
Grant also came down from Boston to assist when Paulo Mattioli came to town to conduct a drum circle for her son Michael’s high school in 2005:
Tahya & Grant co-hosted a couple weekend retreats at Highlight by the Lake in Bucks County and enjoyed a very special invitation to visit the Bertoia family property in Bally, PA, home to the studios of Harry Bertoia sound art sculptor. A processional commenced with systrum, tamborine and drum amidst Bertoia’s Sonambient sound scultures and gongs.
They also co-created Tahya’s third meditation CD entitled Behind the Veils (which, btw, you can sample if you click here).
Tahya & Grant look forward to future collaborations and invite you to book RHYTHM & RHYME as a special event at your venue! Contact Tahya.
Finally, a few rave reviews:
Tahya can transform any school assembly or concert hall into another time and place with her artistry. I have performed with her and she is a true artist as well as a gifted communicator.”
Tahya and Grant Smith’s performance “Rhythm and Rhyme” combines an exquisite blend of soaring prose and grounding drumbeats that will awaken your senses, stir your heart, and move your soul. Their combined expertise into a unique presentation of culture, history, music, and words is a gift for audiences of all ages.”
I was certain I didn’t have much interest in Sufi/mystic poetry from the mid-13th and 14th Centuries, nor did I think I had much reason to care; however, after witnessing your showcase, I have to tell you I “get it” now. I found your performance engaging. Persevere!”
This is an incredibly engaging performance of the mystical poetry of Rumi, Gibran and Hafiz interwoven with a myriad of percussive elements and dance. It is a treasure to see this poetry literally come to life in a beautiful way.”
