Thursday, October 17, 2013

Season 4 wrap up







WHEW! What a very impactful, challenging,  and transformational Season 4 we had. We had called it the season of the rune Jera.....of "change".....we were not wrong in that ...oy!

Thank you everyone for all the support and love you have shared with The Idisi this last season. We are very grateful. We ended our 4th year on with a bang at the One Million Women’s Drum event on Sunday Oct 13th …which was marvelous….and Tuesday of last week was our wrap up meeting. 

We are going to be taking a hiatus from performing for the next 8-12 months as we work on some recordings, research, organizational housekeeping, and getting some much needed rest and healing. 

I will be doing a post in the next week talking about our participation in the One Million Women's Drum -Minnesota event so be sure to check back for that.

We hope you will stay tuned to our blog and we will be posting out here as things progress in some exciting creative endeavors we have cooking and gestating…be in Joy and have a blessed Fall.   

~ Dayna Jean
Director of The Idisi

 

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Into the Stillness


Fall approaches- wood smoke and apple cider on her crisp breath.  She calms the excitement and activity of Summer and soothes us and woos us into a state of warm acceptance.  We feather our nests with fluffy blankets and colorful leaves.  We gather with our loved ones, sharing great meals and stories by the fire’s glowing light.  Yet we know that soon they will go back to their warm snuggly places and we will settle in for the long cold night- Alone.  We journey into the dark.

The slowing rhythm of Autumn  prepares us to encounter the great mystery of stillness.  Many of us are fearful of prolonged periods of silence and inertness.  Maybe we interpret it as isolation and make every attempt to avoid the dreadful feeling of loneliness or we fear it is simply sloth whispering seductively in our ear. 

 For many years of my life I feared being alone and still and quiet more than any shadowy nightmare.  I had no concrete explanation as to why it caused me such terror. Of course, now I know that it is in these moments of nothingness that the real work begins. 

First I will have to make the room comfortable, as to stop my body’s complaints of too cold or too hot.  I will have to find a restful spot and position to sit in that does not lead my bones to complain of aching or my muscles to rebel with spasms and knots.  There must be quiet and absolute stillness.  My undisciplined mind will seek out every sound and every shift in light and movement in an attempt to derail me from reaching a state of absolute stillness.  

 The complaints and caterwauling seem endless.   They go something like this:

Do not go quietly into that good night! Rage!  Rage against the dying of the light!”    I turn to a mantra I learned from a Sci-Fi Classic and remind myself:  “I shall not fear.   Fear is the mind killer.”

“The darkness is the realm of shadowmen and sharp-clawed monsters, that’s why you’re afraid of the dark- remember?”   “I am more powerful than can be imagined.”

“Don’t go in there, it’s no good.  You’ll have to face all the lies and bad things you’ve ever heard or said or thought!”   “Shhh, there’s nothing in the darkness but me.”

“Fine, go in there.  I warned you.  It’s going to be ugly.”  

Eventually, I accept that I am going there, straight into the heart of darkness.  I accept that every creep and creature that lives therein is merely a part of me.  I’ve crafted them from the odds and ends and bits and pieces of memories, anxieties, unspoken desires, and long forgotten dreams.   Disfigured and twisted, vile and horrific as they may be, they are parts of me.  I meet them and greet them as old friends.  As we walk along, I begin to peel off the layers of darkness.  It is slow, dirty and disturbing work.   Somewhere, deep in the bowels of every one of these monsters, there is hidden something as dear and sweet as a newly sprouted peapod.  

This is the truth that has been hidden away, this is the pristine, unblemished moment before ego or other outside influences tried to crush it.  Swaddled in the middle of monsters are the last seconds of absolute certainty, unshakable belief, and direct conscious connection to the Source.  These are the treasures in the darkness.  To me they are cocoons bursting open into brilliant luminescent butterflies.  They lead me back to knowing.  This is my path to spiritual peace- nursing beasties and birthing butterflies.

It’s autumn.  Bundle up in wooly sweaters and knee high socks.   Sip cider and eat warm candied nuts.  Stir the fire.  

And please, light a candle in the window- a beacon for a lost monster, looking for its way back home.    

~ a wyld woman called Tangee 


Monday, September 23, 2013

Rhythm Of The Trees Festival~ A Million Women Drummers Global Initiative



Sunday,  October 13, 2013 

1:00pm- 6:00pm

"Rhythms For The Trees Festival " 

~ A Million Women Drummers Global Initiative Project event



@ Ramada Hotel - Bloomington/ Mall of America 
2300 E American Blvd, Bloomington MN

Free/At Will Donation Event

The Idisi is honored to be participating in this event and will be performing selected repertoire on the Mains Stage through out the day at this fabulous event in co creation with The Women's Drum Center, of St Paul MN

This is the last performance of The Idisi's 2012-2013 Season. Hope to see you there!

For more information go to the Women's Drum Center website linked below

Click here for event details

For more details about Ubaka Hill's Million Women Drummers Global Initiative see the link below

Click here for Million Women Drummers Global Initiative Project

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Dayna Jean of The Idisi interviewed on St Cloud Pagan Radio~ 8/27/2013

Hey there folks,

Dayna Jean, Founder and Director of The Idisi was interviewed Tues Aug 27th 2013 for St Cloud Pagan Radio on the Illuminati Network Radio.

Check her out blabbing about sound healing, The Idisi, and Pirates of Dreamtime
out here..

http://theilluminatinetwork.com/2013/08/informative-voice-of-paganism/






The Idisi is very excited to be performing at the Twin Cities Pagan Pride Festival again on Saturday
September 7th 2013

http://tcpaganpride.org/

We will be the first act on the Musical Stage at the Minnehaha Falls Park Pavillion in Minneapolis, MN


 Welcome and Blessing 10AM

The Idisi perform approx 10:15AM-11:00AM

Come share the day at this FREE event and enjoy the rituals, vendors, and musical performers all day long in the park.

This will be one of our last performances for our 4th season. Hope to see you there!!




Monday, April 29, 2013

The Idisi are special musical guests -Saturday May 18th 2013...please join us!



2013 Annual Benefit Concert
Voices of The Woods - Honoring Trees - a Vital Resource
 
The Women’s Drum Center is proud to announce that they will be hosting their Annual Benefit Concert titled “Voices of the Woods” on Saturday May 18, 2013 at Augsburg College, Sateren Auditorium from 7 to 9 pm.
 
This annual concert benefits the nonprofit parent organization. The event includes a silent auction and concert. The silent auction starts at 6:00 pm and the concert runs from 7:00-9:00 pm.
 
This concert will celebrate trees and express the need to sustain trees to ensure the health of people and the world. The performances will include songs, stories, drums, percussion, marimba and more instruments that connect with the concert title: Voices of The Woods.
 
Performers from the Women’s Drum Center will include Drumheart the Center’s performing ensemble, Center instructor’s and a selection of class participants from the Center. Special guest performers will be the Mu Diako community Taiko Group and The Idisi .
 
Mu Daiko and its student group, Mu Community Taiko Group, form one wing of Mu Performing Arts, the Midwest's premier Asian American performing arts company. Founded in 1997, Mu Daiko continues to celebrate and connect its powerful, dramatic and lyrical drumming style with audiences across Minnesota and surrounding states.
 
Idisi Choir is a gathering of women intent on singing and opening the world up to the sonic healing, especially that of the Divine Feminine. They come together with great love, respect, and honor among themselves as artists. The choir is on a powerful journey of Joy, Love, and Light that they want to share with their audiences.
 
Tickets for the concert are available at BrownPaperTickets, and the day of the concert. Ticket Prices in advance: Adults: $15. Ticket Prices at the door: Adults: $20, Seniors/Students: $12, Family: $30 ( 2 adults / 3 children) Children 5 and under: Free.
 
The mission of the Women’s Drum Center is to provide opportunities for women and girls to learn, teach, and play percussion together and to energize the community at large through our performing. World music is emphasized at the center.
 

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Mother's Day show "Devi: Songs of the Mother" canceled

Due to unforeseen circumstances we regret that the May 11th,  2013 "Devi: Songs of the Mother"  concert has been canceled. 

The Idisi anticipate that we will host a Mother's Day show next year. 

Thank you for your support of our work and we encourage you to go see out special guests, Lojo Russo and Atomic Lotus, at their upcoming events.

Brown Paper Tickets will be refunding your credit card for the tickets you pre-purchased.

Have a wonderful Mother's Day! The Idisi

Friday, April 5, 2013

A show in honor of Mother's Day: Devi: Songs of The Mother- Saturday May 11 2013







The Idisi invite you to their premiere concert series they present in honor of Mother’s Day featuring special guest, singer songwriter Lojo Russo:

“Devi: Songs of The Mother”

Saturday, May 11 2013
@ 7:30pm

Jeanne D'Arc Auditorium
2004 Randolph Ave
St. Catherine University
St Paul MN

Tickets: $20.00 

For tickets Click here for tickets

The Idisi and special musical guest, Lojo Russo
celebrate the Divine Mother in all Her forms through music, storytelling, and movement in sacred space. Along with members of Atomic Lotus Dance, the Fred Astaire Dance Studio, and musicians Dylan Hatch and Joel Burks.

Join us as we honor and celebrate the beauty of Mother, and all Her blessings.

We will also be hosting a Bake Goods table with yummy single servings, and gluten-free options.... as well multiple serving sizes baked goods available for suggested donation.


Come celebrate Mother’s Day with The Idisi, our talented artist friends...and your mothers, aunts, grandmothers and all lovers of Moms!

It will be an event not to be missed.

www.theidisi.com
www.lojorusso.com
www.fredastairemn.com


Photo Credit: Terry Bebertz www.phototell.net

Monday, February 25, 2013

from a sister of Idisi- Mary Elizabeth


Feb 24 2013

Last night, I caught the show, Nexus: Transitions of the Heart on the Centennial Show Boat down on the River. Dayna Wolter and The Idisi collaborated with other local artists to create a showcase in part Spiritual Cabaret, part Performance Ritual, all orchestrated to move the spirit of the audience as a whole and the individual soul of each audience member. It was truly a sonic journey into the collective unconscious, through the beautiful imperfections of live human performance, designed to release the adhesions of your spiritual fascia by shifting the internal perspective from grief to hope.

These women, these glorious and brave women, came together to raise their voices for you, for me, for all the beings of this planet, and for the earth, herself. They called to them those who can speak without words to join them; the drummers, the dancers, the strummers and the plinkers, all to share in the subatomic shifting of each being by subtly rearranging our frequencies to resonate with The Song of the Universe.

They reminded us all : You are here to bring forth from within yourself all the wild and raging beauty of your soul and leave your creative mark in this life. Every single one of us is here to share the glittering brilliance of our vision of life, of our voice, with one another. May you be willing to be even a quarter as fierce as these women and trust that you are here to more than a cog in the machine of modern life.

With voices strong, they unbound our societal and self-induced constrictions.

With voices strong, they bound us to the Oran Mor.

These Brave Women.

These Fiercely Loving Women.

The Idisi.

-reprinted with permission of Mary Elizabeth-

Monday, February 18, 2013

From Dayna Jean

Well…we came through the much hyped “End of the World in 2012” business as intact as we could be, some more than others, some less.  I hope this finds you regrouping and making the most out of each day…that is what we are charged to do.

As some of you may or may not know, I have had a very rough time of the transitions between the Worlds, as it were. Much grief and loss as well as reaching an age where all the desires, plans, dreams etc… I have been making since I was 8 are thrust in my face and I am asked to look at “what do you REALLY want your life to Be?” Some of that is very hard, hard deep “stuff”to dig through… and I am fighting a lot of it daily…hoping I can be brave enough to surrender where I need to and be in ease about it all.. I look around and see many of my dearhearts/circles fighting the same battle…so how to help?

Create something, of course.So…. I invite you to join The Idisi for “Nexus: Transitions of the Heart”

I have had the privilege of creating The Idisi with an enormously brave and powerful collection of souls. We have been hard at work the last 3.5 years learning about ourselves as women, singers, and humans; about the power of the voice as a healing tool; and the amazing results of holding space for the community at large.
 
As with last year’s production, much of our work is culminating in our 2nd Annual premiere concert to be held
Saturday, February, 23th 2013 on the Minnesota Centennial Showboat.

We are elated to be holding this even on the Showboat with its rich history of theater and art, and most excited because we will be performing ON the Mississippi River, which is such a vital source of water for the United States at large, and its far reaching effects.

Our show brings attention to Transitions, a time of Critical Juncture for us all as individuals, and as a global community, We can all bear witness that a change is no longer coming, it is here…and it is now time to choose…are we remaining in the comfortable zone, or are we embracing our fears and taking a leap toward what we desire to Be, no matter how terrified we are of Change?

Joining us on the stage again members of Atomic Lotus Dance Company, dancers Derek Phillips and Adrienne Ebun, musicians: Joel Burks, Scott Keever, Jenny Klukken, Thomas Nuendel,  as well as several members of the Women's Drum Center.

For more
information about some of our collaborative guests:

DrumHeart
http://www.womensdrumcenter.org/wdc/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88&Itemid=79

Scott Keever and Pirates of Dreamtime
http://www.reverbnation.com/scottkeever

https://soundcloud.com/pirates-of-dreamtime

The theater holds 220 seats and we have about 140  seats remaining, so be sure to book your tickets asap. There is not a bad seat in the house, and the space itself is gorgeous! Here is the ticket link
http://www.riverrides.com/pages/public/idisinexus.html

 
I am so grateful for the support many of you have giving to me and my musical endeavors over the years. I have been blessed to work with so many talented artists, and they enriched my life in infinite ways. And I know now that all of that experience was to prepare me to teach these women, to learn from these sisters- of -my- heart, and for us to make a joyful noise, and yes, even terrible noises..lol..but in essence, if you could count yourselves among the souls we are singing for on the 23th, I would be so very grateful. I know some of you are out of town, and I promise it will be a journey worth taking.

These women have worked through so much of their own journey to present this program...and I know it will be something you will walk away from transformed, and at the very least, with an open -heart about your life and what is possible.

And those of you not in the Twin Cities, MN area...if you could think of us on the niight of our show...and lend us your energy for creating sacred space to do this work, we would be so grateful....


Be well and in Joy, Namaste'

Dayna Jean Wolter
www.theidisi.com

Monday, February 4, 2013

Tickets available for The Idisi on the Showboat Show Feb 23 2013!

Tickets for The Idisi show....Nexus:Transitions of the Heart -Feb 23, 2013

Weaving the sonic vibrations of Life into a community ceremony that explores the transitions of the individual and the collective, The Idisi will engage your spirit, challenge your comfort zones, and rally your soul to take action in your world.

At this critical juncture in Time, come and transform your fears into joys, your dreams into realities
...all in one beautiful evening of sound, movement, and sharing.


Special appearances by members of the Women’s Drum Center, Scott Keever, Joel Burks, many dancers, sprinkles of beauty-makers, and a lot of wyld folk.

Join The Idisi and friends on a journey through a tipping point of human consciousness.

An experience not to be missed!

Seating is limited, so get your tickets now.

~A Cerulean River Productions and The Idisi Event~