actors and singers of Ukrainian avantgarde theater "DAKH"
mashup of native Ukrainian folk motifs with African, Arab, Bulgarian, Hungarian ideas
Dakha
Brakha is an exciting Ukrainian ethnic music band that consists of
three girls Nina Garenetska, Irina Kovalenko, Olexandra Kleynis, Olena
Tsybulska and frontman Marko Halanevych.
Instruments
they use : Indian tablas, buddhistic gong, marakas, cello, Russian
treschotki, dijeridu, bongo, darbuka, djembe, Carpathian bukhalo etc.
The
name is original, outstanding and authentic at the same time. DakhaBrakha
means “give/take” in the old Ukrainian language.DakhaBrakha was created
in 2004 at the Kyiv Center of Contemporary Art “DAKH” by the avant-garde
theatre director – Vladyslav Troitskiy. Theatre work has left its
mark on the band performances – their shows have never been staged
without the scenic effects.
“We
decided to create a new style of music that consists mainly of our native
Ukrainian folk motifs, with some African-styles added in. We also combine
Arab, Bulgarian and Hungarian ideas. Dakha Brakha collects the components
of its repertoire during our expeditions. We go out to villages, pitch
our tents and visit local babushkas and ask them to sing their folk
songs. We record them and use them in our compositions,” - says the
band.
Dakha Brakha is still somewhat of a cult phenomenon in Ukraine,
appealing to a discerning audience of knowledgable fans who like their
aggressive sound, which involves a lot of ritualistic tribal rhythms
and frenzied, sometimes caterwauling, vocals.
They perform in native Ukrainian dress, as befitting their faith in
Ukrainian culture, which they believe has enormous potential that should
be explored and retained.
As
well as performing gigs as a band in their own right they are also
the 'house' band for the Dakh Theatre company . Dakh Theatre is known
throughout Europe as one of the leading production houses of avant-garde
theatre combining live music from DakhaBrakha with theatre and dance
to create some intense productions. Their series of Shakespeare interpretations
has brought them to many of Europe's leading venues including London's
Barbican in January 2007.
As
well as many festivals and theaters in Ukraine, DakhaBrakha have also
performed in the UK (London), Dublin (Ireland), Germany, France (Cannes),
Russia (Moscow), Georgia, Poland, Hungary (Budapest) and Poland.
A
list selected of festivals:
August 2009: The Festival of World Cultures 2009(Dublin, Ireland)
August 2008: The Festival of World Cultures 2008(Dublin, Ireland)
August 2008: The first International Music Festival "The Creation
of Peace"(Kazan, Russia)
July 2008: The International Ethnic music and Landart festival "Sheshory
at Podillia" (Ukraine)
July 2008: The "Sayanskoe Koltso" world music festival (Russia)
June 2008: The "Trypilske Kolo" festival (Ukraine)
May 2008: The second international festival of contemporary arts "GogolFest"
(Ukraine)
July 2007: Shesory festival (Ukraine)
February 2007: DakhaBrakha with Theatre “Dakh” played 10 performances
“Prologue to “Macbeth” at the Barbican Centre (London, UK)
September 2006: The days of Ukraine in Georgia (Tbilisi, Georgia)
September 2006: The International Music Festival “JazzKoktebel” (Koktebel,
Ukraine)
September 2006: The Summer Festival (Budapest, Hungary)
August 2006: The Music Festival “Pechenizke Pole” (Kharkiv, Ukraine)
August 2006: The International Art Festival “Bulwar sztuki” (Torun,
Poland)
July 2006: The World Culture Festival “Ethnolife” (Moscow, Russia)
July 2006: Shakespearian Theatre Festival (Diula, Hungary)
November 2005: "Brave festival" “Magic voices” (Vrotzlav,
Poland)
August 2005: The City Theatre Season Opening (Debretzen, Hungary)
August 2005: Shakespearian Theatre Festival (Gdansk, Poland)
July 17 2005: Shakespearian Theatre Festival (Diula, Hungary)
July 2005: “The Winged Dragon” Street Theatre Festival (Nyirbator,
Hungary)
June 2005: “Ethnic Style” Festival (St. Petersburg, Russia)
