A Dhoad Gypsy Extravaganza

Rajasthani folk music and dancing paired with daring stunts kept every guest at the Buckman Fine Arts Center on the edge of thier seats last saturday. The colorful group introduced extraoridnary eastern instruments such as the Indian Castanets and the Jew's Harp, which Bharti, the group's leader, dubbed a "pocket size indian sythesizer". No bigger than a cell phone, the small piece spurtted out boinging vibrations. As the gypsies played on that night, I felt restricted by my seat and the rows of seated people around me. The gypsies continuously signaled the viewers the clap along with the indian beats as the dancer interacted with the musicians and the swayed to the music. It was clear that the American crowd was not accustomed to so much participation. On the other hand, the gypsies themselves seemed unaccustomed to such a passive audience. I realized that terms "audience" and "performer" are one entity in indian culture. By the end of the evening the viewers seemed to catch the gypsie's and their culture's uncontainable energy. The room boomed with clapping hands and dancing feet as Bharti and his group members stood chanting and banging passionate beats on their tablas and other precussive intsruments. This evening gave any guest a small taste of how rich this middle eastern culture really is. A cross-cultural experiences such as this was not only entertaining but an incredibly broadening experience as well.