Multi-cultural Festival and Chinese New Year

Hi folks, and welcome to another week. 
Last week I brought to you some images from the Bunbury Multi-cultural Festival Night Under the Stars concert and the dancing of my Spanish dance group - Sol y Sombra Spanish Dance Company -  

I promised you a few more pics from the festival and here they are.  Unfortunately I didn't take any pics of the delicious foods that were being produced in the food-trucks! 

The evening started with a flag parade of flags from all around the world, and then the traditional "welcome to country"  by Noongar elder Troy Bennell and a group of young dancers. It is good to see the indigenous traditions being passed onto the younger generations.

Following this were members of the Burundi Peace Choir, The Narthanalaya School of Indian Classical Dance and Bhangra Rulez, Ngaru Pou Maori group and a Filipino Song and Dance Group from the Bunbury Filipino community. 

We were then treated by a spectacular dragon dance by the Chung Wah Association. I have seen many dragon dances in the past but this one surpassed the others. I loved the way the background was in darkness and only the dragon was lit and the dragon performed intricate patterns across the stage. I have lightened some of the background in these images so you can see the dancers.

and Taiko Do Japanese drumming - their energy and timing was amazing!

During the afternoon there were various stalls and demonstrations. In all a fabulous cultural afternoon and evening. 

Last Saturday we had another opportunity to be immersed in culture with the Chinese New Year Festival in our city.  Unfortunately we only had a short time to browse the displays and entertainment. And we missed the dragon dance - you can see the dragon in the bottom pic.

Here is a list of lucky foods consumed during Chinese New Year

 How to say happy New Year in Chinese -from China Highlights

新年快乐 / 新年快樂 (Xīnnián kuàilè)

'New Year happiness!'

• In Mandarin: /sshin-nyen kwhy-ler/ 
• In Cantonese: /sen-nin feye-lor/

I enjoy living in a rich multi-cultural environment - especially the food and entertainment - and the opportunity to get to know people from other nationalities and learn something about their background.

 Thank you so much for stopping by. Have you been to a cultural event in your region lately. Perhaps you would like to tell us about it in your comments. 
I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

   
All Seasons
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

ThroughMy Lens 

Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity.

The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

Spanish Gypsies at the Multi-Cultural Festival

Today I'm sharing a few pics of my Spanish dance group, Sol y Sombra Spanish Dance Company, at the Multicultural Festival in Bunbury a couple of weekends ago. They have been entertaining people in our region for nearly 30 years. 

Don't they look fabulous! 

 The South West Multicultural festival is a fabulous afternoon and evening of cultural experiences, food and performances.

For this performance Sol y Sombra performed a gypsy dance to music from the opera Carmen. 

There were lots of fabulous performances at the Festival. I will try to come back to you with some more images soon. 

Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

   
All Seasons
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

ThroughMy Lens 

Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity.

The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

Red Capped Gum - Eucalyptus erythrocorys

Taking a small blogging break this week, but thought I would share a couple of pics of the Red capped Gum - Eucalyptus erythrocorys - other common names include illyarrie, and helmet nut gum - which is flowering in our area right now - though its native habitat is north of Perth on undulating limestony sites near Dongara, and also north of Kalbarri National Park where it grows as a mallee. The flower can be 7cm across and is quite spectacular and has red caps you can see in the photo below before it bursts open. 

More info at: Australian native plants society 

Thank you for stopping by. I hope to see you next week.

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

   
All Seasons
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

ThroughMy Lens 

Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity.

The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you. 

Roof Goats and Friends Face the Music

Last Friday evening I was asked to take photos at rehearsal of The Roof Goats and friends prior to the opening night of their show "Face at the Music" for the Fringe Festival at The Cube Theatre at the Bunbury Entertainment Centre on 7 February 2020. 

What a FABULOUS show and what a privilege. These guys are a very talented bunch that love what they do.  Last year in 2019 I took photos of the Roof Goats at their Fringe Festival show at the Bunbury Entertainment Centre, so I was thrilled to do so again. 

Their show, which was a mixture of styles, kept the audience enthralled and entertained. And was an amazing collaboration between all the singers, musicians, dancers, choreographers, and back up musicians, involved. 

 Mid last year The Roof Goats asked for photographic submissions from the general public, to which they wrote music and lyrics for the show. The results were outstanding. I hope they bring out a cd. 

If I have to pick a favourite, mine would be "Little Swan" written by Michael McIntyre, who was accompanied by his beautiful singer daughter Lydia. Mike is Mauritian and the piece was inspired by an old photo taken of a group of Mauritians on a boat which sailed across the Indian Ocean to Western Australia. Part sung in creole, this wistful song speaks of their longing for their homeland and family. 
You can see the photo in the background here. 

 This piece was followed by a jaunty upbeat not-a-sea-shanty "The Mannie Swan". 

I also really enjoyed "Your Hands" written by Geoff Robinson and Brad Snelling about the bonds between brothers and sisters.

Our Sol y Sombra Spanish Dance Company Artistic Director Nicole Kostezky again danced to some of the music - "That Girl" written by Nick Maher

and collaborated with dancer and cellist Lesley Ironside for "Shadows and Light" also written by Nick Maher

And no this is not a young guys band....they are right in my era... no wonder I love them!

 Thank you Roof Goats - Peter, Todd, Damian, Nick, Mike, Geoff and Brad. 

In this pic below you can see artists Jeannie Lewis painting a "Live art" during the performance of "Shadows and Light" . The piece was auctioned after the show.  

More photos can be seen on my Facebook page @ Life Images by Jill 

 Thank you so much for stopping by. Have you been to a fabulous concert recently? Perhaps you would like to tell us about it in your comments. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

   
All Seasons
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

ThroughMy Lens 

Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity.

The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.