Welcome to Heart Beat Drum Circle
by Rev. Michelle Clark RMT
From the beginning visions back in the year 2005 grows a gathering…
Baba Jubal Harris, well known in the Greater Cleveland, Ohio (USA) area as a musician, artist and educator; had a vision. To “connect as ONE through the heart beat of the drum”. With his workings with The Inner Peace Drum Circle held at Unity of Greater Cleveland, he spear-headed this community event that gathered over 300 people one beautiful Sunday afternoon in July.
Months ago, Baba Jubal along with Deirdre Garvey, Sandra Lester, Wally Gunn and Paul Sherlock, plus organizations like The Cleveland Drum Circle, gathered to plan and build this cultural event. Spending countless hours and with funding from Community Partnership for Arts & Culture, they organized a gathering for hundreds to come and experience the rhythm of the drum like they’d never experienced before. To allow for such a community event, participation is key. A core group of about 20 people along with volunteers, hand made 100 box drums and included percussion sticks as well as rattles for the populous to explore.
As the afternoon sun shined, leaders of the “Heart Beat Drum Circle” gathered among an almost perfect circle of trees and began to embark on a global journey at the shore of Lake Erie. What was witnessed in the hours that followed was nothing short of amazing. People from all walks of life and backgrounds slowly filled this space with their energy. They first walked with cautious curiosity and then, as the rhythm of the drum moved them, they began to join in. With some basic instructions by Baba Jubal, the drum circle commenced and developed into this beautiful, rhythmic union. The goal as explained by Baba Jubal was to bring awareness that we are all ONE. He used rhythm to join them together.
With the funding opportunity from Cuyahoga County’s Arts & Cultural (CPAC) community leaders, this vision will continue on as an annual event. People like Thomas B. Schorgl President & CEO of CPAC know the importance and economic impact the arts have on a community. Jubal Harris, known as Baba Jubal received a fellowship from The Creative Workforce Fellowship Program, sponsored by CPAC.
Sign up for more information at http://heartbeatdrumcircle.com
The passions behind events like this are becoming more and more prevalent as time moves forward. A global organization has slated September 18th, 2010 as Drum Circle for Global Unity. The organizers and core members of these groups above, along with Baba Jubal, have decided to gather once again and join this global beat. This takes the concept even further, having all participants hitting their drums at preciously the exact same moment in time around the world. To find locations near you that are participating, visit: http://www.drumforglobalunity.com/
