“Cirque du Soleil has chosen to involve itself with people and communities, and to reach out to a growing number of people with the aim of improving the quality of life for all human beings.”

“From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is now a major Quebec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has more than 4,000 employees from over 40 different countries, including 1,000 artists.

Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to almost 90 million spectators in over 200 cities on five continents. In 2009, Cirque du Soleil will present 20 shows simultaneously throughout the world. The company has received such prestigious awards as the Emmy, Drama Desk, Bambi, ACE, Gémeaux, Félix, and Rose d’Or de Montreux. Cirque du Soleil International Headquarters are in Montreal, Canada.”

By promoting excellence and encouraging beauty in art, Cirque du Soleil has truely touched, and healed millions around the world with joy and beauty of life.

Now, they are teamed up with the other true legend of entertainment, Michael Jackson to even do more “healing” work in 2011 in Las Vages. (go read more.)

“The Carnival of Barranquilla is a unique festivity which takes place every year during February or March on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Cumbia, both music and dance, is considered to be the main essence of the Carnival. A colourful mixture of the ancient African tribal dances and the Spanish music influence – cumbia, porro, mapale, puya, congo among others – hit for five days nearly all central streets of Barranquilla, the capital of the Atlántico Department. Those traditions kept for centuries by Black African slaves have had the great impact on Colombian culture and Colombian society. In November 2003 the Carnival of Barranquilla was proclaimed as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.”

Photography by Jan Sochor

“The human voice is our most powerful tool for transmuting pain and sorrow into radiant well-being.  In her book Sound Medicine, Laeh Maggie Garfield attributes the popularity of opera to is ability to purge strong emotions.  “Opera buffs go to hear favorite singers not so much for their total performance but for the special notes they are known to hit during successfully written arias,” she writes.  “Most often the operatic devotee awaits the high pitch of the dramatic soprano, who unknowingly strikes a healing chord for the rapt listener.  The fan is thereby revitalized by the evening’s performance.”

From The Mozart Effect by Don Campell

In Case you have not seen this music video, it is a must for everyone.

Recommended to watch listen to this “wonderful” video when:

You are happy and want to be happier

When you are unhappy and want to be happier

When you feel strong and want to feel stronger

When you feel weak and want to fee stronger

What it comes down to is that we all should listen to it whenever we feel like and whenever we do not feel like it.

What a wonderful healing world is.

When we move, we feel better.  Exercise has been proven to help fight depression. When we move, we feel joy.  During a harvest, we danced.  When we get married, we dance.  When we feel happy, we dance (look at children!)

Dancing is a great healing that brings joy to us.

So, we decided to look at some of the great dance festivals of the world to see how we can use them.  As you may notice, they are not just about dancing, but also about music, color and costumes!

“From the oldest of the times,  people danced for number of reasons.  They danced in prayer, so that their crops will be plentiful, so that their hunt will be good.  And they danced to stay physically fit and show their community spirit.  And they danced to celebrate. “ (from movie Footloose)

1. Carnival Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Starting out as a festival before the somber mood of Lent, Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is considered one of the greatest shows on Earth. The first festivals of Rio date back to 1723. (from Wikipedia)

2. Awa Odori (Awa Dance festival), Tokushima, Japan

Awa Odori is held from 12 to 15 August as part of the Obon festival in Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku in Japan. Awa Odori is the largest dance festival in Japan, attracting over 1.3 million tourists every year.?(from Wikidepia)

Awa Odori (Japan National Tourism Organization) site

3      Love Parade, Germany

The love Parade has its roots in the spirit of a changing Europe. In 1989, it was first celebrated four months before the demolition of the Berlin Wall. It was started by the Berlin Underground under the initiative of Matthias Roeingh aka “Dr Motte” and his then girlfriend Danielle de Picciotto. It was held as a political demonstration for peace and international understanding through love and Music.” ( from Wikipedia)

5. Aliwan Fiesta, Phillipines

Aliwan Fiesta is an annual event that gathers different cultural festivals of the Philippines in Star City Complex in Pasay City wherein contingents compete in dance parade and float competitions, as well as in a beauty pageant. Organized by Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) together with Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the cities of Manila and Pasay, the event is dubbed as “The Mother of All Fiestas,” with prizes totaling to P3 million (roughly US$70,000). Aliwan Fiesta, which began in 2003, aims to showcase the richness of different Filipino cultures and heritage not only to the people in Metro Manila but also to the rest of the world.  The contingents, meanwhile, aim to promote their respective regions both economically and tourism-wise.  It was originally organized as a visual extravaganza for the Christmas season, but it has since been held during the summer months of either April or May. Aliwan is a Tagalog word for “entertainment” or “amusement.” (from Wikidepia)

6. Latvian Song Festival 2008 – Dance Concert

In 2008, three Baltic countries – Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia – will celebrate 90 years since their independence. Year 2008 will also be significant for Latvia as around 35 000 participants will gather in our capital Riga for the XXIV Song and XIV Dance Celebration. It is not just a festival – the tradition goes back for 135 years and in 2003 together with Lithuanian and Estonian Song and Dance tradition it was recorded in the UNESCO list of Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage. The celebration is due to take place from the 5th through the 12th of July 2008, in Mezaparks and Daugava Stadium in Riga. Attendees are certain to experience Latvia as the Land That Sings. Every spring all Latvian dance groups and choirs take part in displays involving more than 15 000 dancers and around 13 000 singers, demonstrating to the jury from the compulsory repertoire as well as freely chosen ones. In spring, 2008 dance displays will take place so that the jury can determine which dance groups and choirs are suitably prepared for the Song and Dance Celebration. The cream of the crop will be invited to participate in a final round on May 24! They have been preparing for 5 years to be named the best and win the participation at the celebration in July. The atmosphere will be similar to that of the 100 metre sprint at the Olympic Games!

7. San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival

The San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival was founded to present the diverse ethnic dance companies in the Bay Area. Over the years, the Festival has expanded its reach to include performers from throughout Northern California and has presented over 600 dance companies from over a hundred different genres. (Please see the World Dance Index, coming soon, for a list and information on the genres and groups presented in World Arts West programs since 1999.)

During its rich history, the Festival has celebrated and fostered appreciation for the diverse cultural communities in the Bay Area and Northern California, through an annual performance season of dance styles that have included traditional classical dance, sacred dance genres, vernacular dance forms, social dance and folk dance presentations.

8. Blackpool Dance Festival

The 8-day Blackpool Dance Festival is the world’s first and most famous annual ballroom dance competition of international significance, held in the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, England since 1920. It is also the largest ballroom competition: in 2003, 1539 couples from 54 countries took part in the festival.

As of the early 21st century the festival is held in May. It covers Ballroom and Latin American dancing, and incorporates the British Open Championships in categories of adult amateur and professional couples and formation teams. In 2005 two new categories were introduced: the British Rising Star Amateur Ballroom and Latin Competitions. Two invitation events, the Professional Team Match and the Exhibition Competition, create much interest.

The Junior Dance Festival, Blackpool Sequence Dance Festival, and British National Dance Festival are also held annually in Blackpool.

The annual World Professional Dancesport Championship  is often held in Blackpool (4 times between 1989 and 2005), but is not connected with the Dance Festival. (from wikipedia)

9. Earthdance

Global Festival for Peace

“Earthdance was conceived in 1996 by artist/musician Chris Deckker, as a vision to unite the whole world through the universal platform of dance and music. Earthdance has now become the largest global synchronized dance event in the world.

What began in 1997, with 22 cities in 18 countries has now occurred in over 360 locations with over 300 locations in 60 countries participating in 2007 alone! Rising out of the global electronic music scene, Earthdance has now grown to include a diverse cross-section of musical genres including world music, jazz, conscious hip-hop, folk and reggae.”

We judge these by energy and feeling, instead of  popularity or how many views.

1. Whitney Houston singing “Star Spangled Banner.”

In this great performance at the beginning of Super Bowl, and was the time of Gulf War, Whitney Houston delivers such a beautiful emotion filled performance.  This is about loyalty, unity, honor, and oness, instead of violence characterized by war.  Grasp and feel what is delivered here without judgement.  It is very powerful.

2. “Time To Say Goodbye” by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman

This is such a magical performance by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman.  Voice, sound and energy.  One can see that in Sarah Brightman7s eyes as she sings.

3. USA for Africa – banana boat song

“During the making of “we are the world”, a spontaneous tribute to Harry Belafonte starts… harry starts to sing with all together his “banana boat” song…! in the end, it’s so tender looking at Micheal Jackson smiling… ” We love the pure playful energy and smiles of all the artists there.

4. “That’s What Friends Are For” by Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross & Whitney Houston

Great inspiring song performed by real life friends makes this performance one to remember.  Yes, we all can go to Steve!  Keep smiling.  Send it to the special some one who may need to hear from you.

5. “You gotta be” by Des’ree

Yes, “Try to solve the puzzles in your own sweet time.”  Life is a one big puzzle filled with challenges and problems.  All we need to do is just solve them one by one.  There is no question and challenge we cannot solve nor conquer.  We gotta be!!!

6. “Man in the mirror (Live Bucharest)” by Michael Jackson

There are few performers in the world that could make audience this energized.  Just mere presence and his aura is enough to make some teens faint.  Watch this video to empower yourself when you need energy! Remember that Michael is talking about him, you and all of us!

7. Beautiful Day (Live Chicago) by U2

Is is a beautiful day today for you, for us?  Make today a beautiful day!  Make yesterday a beautiful day.  Make tomorrow a beautiful day!

8. “Lean on me” from 1989 Movie “Lean on Me”

We can always lean on each other.  Great song adapted to a great inspiring movie.  Original song is powerful as well.

“There is always tomorrow!”  We live today for tomorrow. Just call on me brother when you need a hand!

9. Husky Dogs Singing Gwen Stefani

Humans are not the only one who can sing.  Singing dogs do inspire us and make us smile, laugh and cheerful!

Watch is when you are feeln’ down!

The question now is how would you use it?

Mozart effect was popularized by a  book by Don Campbell.

According to the study and many sources, listening to Mozart has following effects:

• Improvement on the performance of certain kinds of mental tasks known as “spatial-temporal reasoning;”
• Temporary boost of IQ
• Benefits mental development of infant
• Enhances enhance “deep rest and rejuvenation”, “intelligence and learning”, and “creativity and imagination”

We listen to Mozart every morning about thirty minutes in order to set a tone for the day, calm us down and set a good intention (to do a good job, pay attention to details, make a sale, etc.) for the day.

The question is, “How would you use it?”

(read more on wikipedia)

]]> http://kingsremedies.net/king/mozart-effect/feed/ 0 http://kingsremedies.net/king/music-that-heals/ http://kingsremedies.net/king/music-that-heals/#comments Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:44:34 +0000 admin http://kingsremedies.net/king/?p=109

“Through the practice of therapy in music and art,” said Mr. Martocchio, “we aim to help our clients fulfill their potential, improve the quality of their lives, and the lives of their families.”

Don Martocchio, a Harvard Graduate, ex J.P Morgan employee, now seeing the healing potential of music, who says that he aims to help clients fulfill their potential, improve the quality of their lives, and the lives of their families.  He is offering his music and art performing services to children and adults with learning and developmental disabilities, we say why not use that to heal people without leaning and developemental disabilities so they too can fulfill their potential and improve the quality of their lives?  That’s what we say, hey hey hey! ( read more at acron online.com)

The question is how would you use it?

Yes, music heals.

Voice of Lauren Whitehead – a powerful poet, singer and story teller.

“This part I’m hoping will be a little more upbeat and funny because it has to do with those relationships and the similarities that I think all women go through in trying to love somebody.” (from San Francisco Chronicle online, sfgate.com)

She will be performing at the Black Voices Performance Series, part of the 16th annual AfroSolo Arts Festival. (read more)

How would you use it?