The Ginger Root David Blanasi/White Cockatoo San Diego Event FAQ

• Q-Who the heck are these guys?
• A-see the press release for basic info and bios, but it is to be stressed that White Cockatoo is the real deal, music and dance of Aboriginal Australia, that rarely travels out into the world. This'll be unlike what most people have seen even in Australia, at shows catering to tourists.
  
  
• Q-What will the performance be like?
• A-White Cockatoo consists of 5 members plus the MC. The traditional Northern Australian performance section (most of the night) consists of a didjeridu player, two songmen (singer/clapstick player), and two dancers. Songs will be played telling stories of where the performers are from, and interpreted by the dancers, acting out the characters.
  
  
• Q-Who is this Blanasi, and why should I pay $50 damn dollars for a didjeridu workshop with him?
• A-David Blanasi is in his late 60's, was raised in southern central Arnhem Land, what is still today a huge Aboriginal Reserve, like our own Indian Reserves, except larger, lusher, BETTER.
  
  Blanasi and the guys from Yothu Yindi are the only touring Aboriginal didjeridu recording artists who were raised in an area where the didj is a traditional part of the culture. Other well known Aboriginal didge recording artists come from regions where the didge was only recently transplanted, and play a contemporary style. Some of the most famous Aboriginal players have been playing the didj a relatively short time, like after graduating from a western college, yet are credited with authenticity because of their heritage.
  
  But Blanasi was raised with this instrument, in the country where it originated. This is not said to discredit other Aboriginal players as musicians... we support them for what they do, but the point is, David Blanasi is an extremely rare case of THE REAL THING, by birth and upbringing. He is much sought after in Australia, so we better appreciate him here.
  
  Most of the money from the workshop goes directly to Blanasi's group, to cover the significant expense of him coming here, make his trip here worthwhile, and to show him the respect he deserves. A percentage does of course go to the venue and organizers who are making this happen, and to cover expenses, but rest assured the majority of your ticket price goes right to the artist.
  
  Also, concert tickets will be half price for workshop attendees.
  
  
• Q-What will the dance workshop be like/what is Aboriginal dance all about?
• A-Aboriginal dance is generally the retelling of creation stories, dramatizing the movements of the "Dreamtime Ancestors," beings, both animal and human (and combinations and shapeshifters!). The dance workshop will likely consist of a story being taught to the participants, and then everyone will learn the characters involved. For instance, you may learn to act out the part of an emu who played out a part in the creation of an area.
  Expect an animalistic, interpretive, dance-in-a-circle good time!