South Dakota

By Shigeyo Henriquez

The distance from Prairie du Chien, WI to Pierre, SD is 530 miles. We split into two days of driving. We arrived in Pierre, SD in the early afternoon on Monday. Barb Wood, the President of Short Grass Arts Council, met us at the hotel lobby and led us to Northridge Plaza mall. We brought a few taiko drums and set up in the walk way of the mall. Tony Mangan introduced the Mayors of Pierre and Fort Pierre, local sponsors, and Short Grass Arts Council. Matsuda started playing “Amazing Grace” with his shakuhachi.

By Shigeyo Henriquez

Week three of the tour is in Aberdeen, SD. This is my third visit to Aberdeen. First time was with Bamboo Orchestra 8 years ago and then the fall of 2009 with Beauty & Melody. I've worked with Stacy Braun, Aberdeen Area Arts Council, on all three visits. Familiar city and knowing the contact person made the work easier. The weather was good and everything went smoothly.

By Lindajoy Fenley

There is much to report about rich experiences in world of visual arts last week as South Dakotans responded to the Israeli Ethnic Ensemble’s musical gifts with plastic arts, ranging from opportunities to work with crafts to an invitation into the studio of a nationally acclaimed sculptor.

By Lindajoy Fenley

Sometimes World Fest residencies feel a little like Goldilocks’ experience with the Three Bears. After giving workshops for kindergartners through sixth graders at six Aberdeen schools, the ensemble performed for two groups of senior citizens. Finally they found a coffee house frequented by people their own age.

By Lindajoy Fenley

Just as Israel sits between Asia, Africa and Europe, members of the Israeli Ethnic Ensemble look to those three continents for their ancestry. “Each one of us has a parent from Europe [or America] and another from either Asia or Africa,” Avri Borochov told an Aberdeen audience this week.

By Lindajoy Fenley

At the Monday evening welcome reception, Mayor Mike Levsen congratulated the Israeli Ethnic Ensemble for their efforts to bring diversity and cultural exchange to the community during their upcoming residency in Aberdeen, SD. Jeff Bahr of the Aberdeen American News asked the traveling musicians how they liked giving workshops and traveling to new parts of the world, and what Israel and its culture were like.

By Shigeyo Henriquez, Tour Manager

Shigeyo Henriquez is the tour manager for Beauty & Melody’s Arts Midwest World Fest tour. She is also a great photographer, so she has been sending us fantastic photographs along with her updates from the road!

Well, we left Valley City on Sunday, September 27th. Aberdeen was only 130 miles from Valley City and we had plenty time to get there. We stopped at the Sheyenne Valley Arts & Crafts Fall Festival in Ft. Ransom, ND—30 miles south of Valley City.