Monday 5 January 2015

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15)



A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul

Life is very much like a drum circle; those who drum, those who dance to the beat of the drum, and the audience who watches them both.


Since I arrived to Los Angeles in March 2014, and the Venice Beach Drum Circle has become my one and only weekly outing... and outlet. I spent the first months between taking pictures, dancing, and drumming whenever I had to chance to use someone’s drum or the few times I rented one for the day. I had already shared my drumming adventures and you can check this earlier article, Full Moon Drumming, as well as shorter posts Here and There.

Then finally, I made the bold move and bought a djembe. By that time, I had made lots of friends from that glorious gathering. Many eclectic, multicultural, like-minded people from different backgrounds getting together once or twice a week for such a magnificent event. To each their own cause to attend. Some go to detach, some to heal, some to let out frustrations. Others, to play music ― dance and party ― or simply to enjoy the energy and connect with fellow Earthlings.

Enough with words, enjoy this collection of captures I have taken throughout this past year. Also check the sequel (2016-’17) and threequel (2017-’18) as well as this Photo Album of more recent photos.

But first, here is
sweet memory of one of my very first times at The Circle before acquiring the djembe, before the rental even. It was also before getting to know any of the tribe members, especially the veterans — most of whom happen to be in this VIDEO from 17 August 2014. Since my ex was then visiting L.A, it actually remains one of very few full videos of myself. 

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Tom on the Djembe and Andy in his famous red shirt holding
the shaker on the far right


A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Tim (right) was the first to lend me his djembe to try, then it was Ronald (left).
I instantly knew that this was it.

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Alex from Russia (left), Freddy in black holding his cap, next to him sitting down
is Joseph, in green T is Toby, and Kevin in white T. Mike is in the middle
practising his soulful singing and sweet Kadi in blue from his back (right).

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
El Maestro ― Jack, apparently, is from Lebanon and we often chat in Arabic

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Saturdays are usually smaller and more contained than Sundays as it’s less people so we
can hear each other and there is more connection

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
I was sitting down drumming while closing my eyes then I opened them to find this
smiling clown girl ahead. Had to get it on camera.

Paul first on the left, then Joseph, then Tom, then Dan on the chair, then
the guy with the Palestinian flag, and finally Steve on the far right

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Lydia dancing to the tunes, Edward on the guitar (his back), Eddy
in blue T (far left), and Scott in sunglasses and jeans
A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
A common site at the circle  a baby left to explore and enjoy
while being monitored by their parents

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Not Venice Beach, but Dockweiler on the full Moon

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Luke on the far left and the the band

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Eddy with his mummy bandage (left), Steve in a hat, Todd drumming in
the middle
in grey shirt, Carlos in beanie and glasses, and Miguel
in funky haircut and black T-shirt (right)

Tim (left), Feather, and Ronald

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Let me play you the song of my people

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Somewhat at the beginning when I rented a drum for the day

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Djembe View

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Celebrating Existence

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul


One of the last Saturdays of 2014


A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul


Breed’em young

Alien looking at Scott and the other Paul is sitting down in the
middle on the very back in black top and shades


Spark of Light
on the first Saturday of 2015

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky SoulThe Tribe in 2015

Suntimental

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul


A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Shiny Happy People
One additional thing I love about drumming is the chance to give people a good time
and a reason to smile, dance and celebrate.


A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Tribalism in January 

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
From left to right: Louis (yellow shakers), Edward (white beard and white cap),
Mike, Tim, Feather, Alex (white shirt), Paul (behind Alex in yellow T-shirt),
Louis, Dan, Andy (red shirt), and Steve in the middle.


A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Sunniness
Eddy, Louis, Louis, and Carlos


A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
How the famous Venice Beach Drum Circle starts every weekend

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
We The Sovereign

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Bring On The Dancers” ― Sonia here in the middle

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
The boys in full swing

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul

The Zone by David Healey Photography
 
The next four photos were kindly sent to me by Francis Ybanez, a new friend I met at the circle. I rarely had any since I’m either behind the lens or the drum.

 A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Another baby roaming around in full freedom

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
Emanations

A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul


A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15) by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul
This one was taken by a man who parked his bike to listen to me playing solo on
a Wednesday afternoon when I was accompanied by Blackjack




And finally the most recent video shot by my new bungalow-mate, Jarkko from Finland

― June 7th, 2015





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