Bloco Sŵn – Carnival Band

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Bloco swn logoBloco Sŵn is a flexible Brazilian-style Carnival band. The band was created by an experienced group of percussionists in 2012 and has been storming the streets and stages ever since.

Bookings range from intimate walkabout performances, Massed Band Street Sounds, Sporting Events and Stage/Club gigs.

Live footage “Move it” @trax 2015

Live clip “Olodum” @trax 2015

Please like our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Blocoswn.

We can add Singers, Dancers, Capoeiristas and a Brass Section to our core percussion set.

 

Cwtch

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The Children of Ysgol Bodfeurig and Ysgol Tregarth spent 8 days each working on a variety of artistic skills: Writing poetry and raps, making and moving puppets, painting and sculpting, drumming and dancing, filming and recording.
See a short documentary video of the project and a photo-stream from Ysgol Bodfeurig.
Together we have funnelled the creative process into creating an origin myth of the “Cwtch” Character, the world in which he lives, his friends and his favourite past times.

The core artistic team of Colin Daimond, Ed Holden and Pete Powell were further supported by poet Rhys Trimble and maker Enya Koster and the wonderful staff at both schools.

Tregarth Rap

This launch project has been funded by the Arts Council of Wales through their “Creative Collaborations” scheme. The project Manager – Colin Daimond –  is working in partnership with Learning Links International CIC, who have provided the organisational structure needed to deliver the project. 

We hope, with further development, Cwtch will go on to other schools to develop stories, performances and other education products.

Legend:

A magical egg fell from the heavens,

A flash of light comes out from the egg and Cwtch is born,

Hatching from the egg with wings,

but, he falls into the rainbow river.

An old man finds him, feeds him

And carries him to Ysgol Bodfeurig.

The children of Bodfeurig name Cwtch “Cwtch”.

With love and cuddles from Bodfeurig his wings grew bigger,

and he grew up into a strong, friendly, brave and caring dragon.

He flew off to the island of imagination

and visits Ysgol Bodfeurig/Tregarth every year on the 17th of March.

Cwtch Ysgol Bodfeurig show
Cwtch Balans Balance
Dreigiau Bodfeurig DragonsCwtch Dychymyg Imagination

 

 

 

 

Workshops in Schools

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With the Olympic Games being held in Rio this Summer, what better way to create some excitement than some Rio-Style Samba?

Workshops in schools

Workshops in schools

Colin Daimond, leads the North Wales Carnival band “Bloco Sŵn” and has been involved in the delivery of Samba workshops for over 20 years. DBS Certification available.

All instruments provided up to a group size of 40, workshops can be tailored for all year groups and can involve a short sharing/performance at the end of the day.

Bigger groups can be catered for by including an assistant.

Email: colin@capoeiramocambo.co.uk Phone: 07773798199

North Wales Drum Workshops

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I run a variety of drum workshops in Samba and other styles across the North Wales area.

Coming up are beginners Conga (Hand Drumming) and Samba workshops on Sundays 15th and 22nd May at TOGY, Treborth, Bangor. 11:30 – 1:30 and 2-4pm respectively.

The most up to date information can be found at https://www.facebook.com/projectcubabangor.

During the summer when I am busier performing at weekends, people tend to come to me for individual or group lessons. Give me a call or Email for more details.

Colin@capoeiramocambo.co.uk, 07773798199

Conga Workshop

Seckou Keita Drum and Dance Experience

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seckou_logoSaturday 9th April 2016

Llanfairfechan Community Centre, Village Road, Llanfairfechan, Gwynedd, LL33 0AA

(located opposite Llanfairfechan Post Office)

A Workshop with Seckou Keita Focussing on the Djembe – an Invitation to Drum!

A unique opportunity to learn rhythms and share musical insight with the charismatic Senegalese drummer who comes from a family of hereditary musicians. Seckou is famous and popular for both his awe-inspiring renditions of traditional music and his ground-breaking contemporary collaborations with musicians across the globe.

A participatory and interactive event aimed at beginner and intermediate drummers.

Please bring Djembe and any other related African percussion.

Doors open 1.30pm workshop at 2 – 4.30pm 09/04/2016

Cost £35 (£25 if booked and paid before 01/04/2016)

An Audience with Seckou Keita Focussing on Dance – an Invitation to Dance!

A unique opportunity to surrender to the beautiful music of Seckou Keita in a safe space dedicated to dance.  Open to the flow of music from Kora and Drum and let Seckou guide you on a journey, allowing your body and being to respond the music.

Close your eyes and express yourself through dance.

This will be a personal, participatory event for people who love to dance.  Please wear loose clothing and bring water and a blanket.

Doors open 7.30pm with dancing from 8.15 – 9.45pm 09/04/2016

Cost £25 (£15 if booked and paid before 01/04/2016)

Cost for both sessions:  £60 (£40 if booked and paid before 01/04/2016)

Places are limited, so please book early: Booking Form

More details: Facebook event

Enquiries and to book please contact: jennie@carrregyfedwen.wales

Chinese New Year – Dragons Parade

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chinese_new_year_2016_poster_500

 

Bangor University’s Confucius Institute celebrated Chinese New Year on Saturday 13th February with an awe-inspiring Two Dragons Parade through central Bangor; created, performed and puppeteered by schoolchildren from Ysgol Hirael.

See the video here: Colin Daimond Dragons Project

Colin Daimond is the artistic director for the project working alongside materials artist / puppeteer Peter Powell and Dancer Liu Yuan from the Beijing Dance Academy.

In an adaptation from Chinese legend, two dragons (one Welsh and one Chinese) wound their way through the streets of Bangor to the sound of drums, chasing an elusive pearl swept away by a storm. The project has been developed over several weeks with movement, music and craft workshops taking place at Ysgol Hirael.

The parade started at Ysgol Hirael on Orme Road and made its way through the city centre finishing at Bangor Town Clock for a grand finale.

“The Chinese and Welsh dragons dancing together are a potent symbol of cultural exchange and we are very proud that Ysgol Hirael is able to represent Bangor at such a prestigious event.”

said Miss Valmai Davies, Headteacher at Ysgol Hirael.

 

2 lines hirael

More information about the Confucius Institute’s events can be found at: www.bangor.ac.uk/confucius-institute. 

Drum Celebration 2015

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This project, running for its second year, is a collaboration between Colin Daimond, Bangor University Afro-Caribbean Society and Batala Bangor.

Saturday, 31st October, 12.00 – 12:30pm, a mass band will perform in Bangor town centre to mark Black History Month – a time to raise awareness of the importance of people of African and Asian origins in world and local history. The mass group will perform arrangement’s based on Afoxé and Samba Reggae rhythms from Brazil.

To join the band, contact Colin@capoeiramocambo.co.uk (or 07773 798199), or follow this link to the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1100000570011966/

Drum Workshops for all 11-16 year olds

Thursday and Friday 29/30th October 2015. £30

at The Old Goods Yard, Treborth, Bangor (near antelope pub LL57 2hz).

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/460542620769114/

last years event:

Join us for North Wales' biggest Samba Style drumming event.

Join us for North Wales’ biggest Samba Style drumming event.

Junk Percussion

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Physics of sound, education junk percussion Wales

Physics of sound, education junk percussion Wales

Junk Percussion is particularly popular for summer community events and festivals – people of all ages can come and drop in, arrange their own Drumkit, make their own instruments and jam with strangers. Colin works to facilitate creativity, musicality and experiential learning with all ages and all abilities. Colin has also used Junk Percussion to deliver creative educational projects to Key Stage 1,2 & 3 on the themes of recycling and the physics of sound, choreographed Junk Percussion orchestras and used Junk percussion as a corporate Team Building tool.

Next public workshop is at Greenwood Forest park on Tuesday 27th October. https://www.facebook.com/events/770056656474135/

Here are some links to short videos:

Myself and Iolo “bashing out some ideas” on portable metal work; Hit Sgrap

And a Jam on some recycled Drainpipes: Pipe Jam

Junk percussion workshops North Wales

Junk percussion workshops North Wales

Capoeira Mocambo

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Batizado Capoeira Mocambo 2011

Batizado Capoeira Mocambo 2011

Monitor Colin Daimond started training Capoeira in 1997 and has been qualified to teach since 2004, his work in Capoeira has always involved community outreach projects and public performance. He formally established his own school Capoeira Mocambo in 2010. Capoeira Mocambo is commited to the teaching and development of traditional Capoeira in North Wales. www.capoeiramocambo.co.uk Colin is responsible for the Project Management of Capoeira Mocambo’s events. There are upcoming Drum Workshops, Samba Dance Classes, Brazilian themed parties and Samba Band gigs coming up around Bangor, North Wales. Follow this link: Drum and Dance workshops

Samba Workshops

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workshops for all ages www.colindaimond.co.uk

workshops for all ages www.colindaimond.co.uk

As the 2014 World Cup is in Brazil, International Companies, Community Organisations, weddings and birthday parties are all after a taste of the Brazilian Beat. Colin has been playing samba since 1995, running community projects since 2000, and working on corporate team building exercises since 2001. Colin has run workshops through the mediums of English, Welsh, German and Portuguese for numbers ranging from 3 to 700 participants. Get in touch to discuss how to bring the Brazilian flavour to your event. colin@capoeiramocambo.co.uk