Interview & Podcast

Global Drumming captivates 75 people
Sunday, September 21, 2008

Opening the 2008 edition of Sonics and Sojourns was Navaro Franco and Standing Eagle Drum Group from Rolling River First Nation. A powerful evening of rhythms from Ojibway origins fusing with Brazilian, Cuban and West African rhythms. Navaro brought a wonderful and inspiring evening to our community centre. Smiles of wonderment shimmered around the drum circle that was two rows deep. Drummers came from Minnedosa, Erickson, Brandon, Onanole, Wasagaming, Pinawa, Winnipeg and many other points. In this interview, Navaro shares the origins of her passion for bringing drumming to people and communities. (Click to listen to this podcast).

Navaro Franco leads Global Drumming workshop: Along with Standing Eagle Drum Group, Navaro Franco from Vancouver leads the opening night global drumming workshop with Sonics and Sojourns.

And, our circle continues in 2009: A couple of pix

Testimonials On Navaro's Drumming Classes & Workshops

Thank you for last night. I had a very moving and magical experience. I felt very connected to the spirit of our son, Dylan, who has left us. The drumming and singing was from my heart.

 I feel very blessed and grateful.
Pramonika

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Hi Navaro, I wanted to say thank you for the workshop yesterday. I feel really filled with music and aligned today and my whole energy has shifted for the better. I appreciate the way you lead the group, so grounded and flowing. I think that is the way I learn music the best. I sometimes have trouble finding verbal communication with people meaningful and yet connecting the way we did with drumming yesterday felt so real to me.   I think it's rare to leave a workshop feeling actually changed in some way, like I actually integrated something.  

Thanks,
A.

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Hi Navaro,

Thank you so much for teaching me the pleasure of playing drum. I really enjoyed every class I attended. After I attended each drum class, I felt peace in my mind and good energy flow in my body.I would like to continue learning to drum, so I would like to register coming drum class for level II on Tuesday.  

Thank you,
Motoko

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Amazing ability to engage such a wide variety of participants!   Yeah!

Natalie
(Drum and Healing Harmonies Chant event at the University Women's Club, Vancouver.)

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Oh gosh Navaro, I wish I could come to more of your events! One day it's going to work out. Please keep me informed. It brings the heart such joy and peace to remember these events really are Happening. Earth will survive because of you and others like yourselves. You need to be cloned!! You know that.

Namaste with gratitude and the greatest of love to you.
Frances

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I just wanted to tell you how much I loved the Saturday session.   You have a very beautiful spirit that you bring into the music. I am just learning how to drum, but your workshop really helped me to connect myself to the music, and I felt a very magical presence.

Hope to hear from you when you come to Victoria next.
Diane

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Sitting in the drum circle with you and the others, I feel like we are a tribe that is working on raising levels of vibrations, awareness and love.

Thank you,
Yvette

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Hi Navaro: It was great to be with you in circle, and to experience the power of drumming with you and the group.   Truly a healing experience. I look forward to the next opportunity.

Blessings,
Michael Hutton

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Hi Navaro,

I'm so glad I happened to be in drum class at what seemed like the right group and the right time to be able to explore some of these ideas more than usual last Tuesday. While I may not have mentioned them before, I have had such varied and always rich experiences in your drum classes.

I just wanted to let you know that last night's workshop really helped "ground" me again. I was so pre-occupied and stressed over some things, and the evening kind of stopped me in my tracks, and before I knew it I re-gained perspective about the things that are really important to me.

Thanks,
Linda.

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Dear Navaro,

Thank you for marrying the frequencies of Earth & Cosmos with the drum.

Annie Jack

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~On Earth Prayers Ecstatic Dance Journeys:

Hello beautiful Navaro,

I'm available and am soooo excited to partake in the wonders of Earth Prayers dance again.   My experience at your first one was pure magik.   It is such a blessing to be able to connect on so many different levels, being and flowing.   Drinking in the sacred space and energy created by you and the joy of live music.

It is such an honor to be in your presence and to revel in the divine wisdom you impart.  

Thank you for sharing, for connecting, for being you.

Love,
Kiamanawanui

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Hi Navaro,

Thank you for the beautiful dance class, I felt so refreshed and energized and connected aftertwards.

Green blessings and love,
Kalindi Chatterton.

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Hi Navaro,

I just wanted to tell you thank you again for the beautiful tribal dance class today.   It really inspired me almost to tears a few times.   The energy was very strong and your teaching is so sincere, clear and dear! Several times while dancing I felt the deepest part of myself saying a very loud YES! I have been interested in and practiced energy healing as well as dance, and to be able to participate with others where both are integrated is the kind of experience I live for.   I honor you as a mentor teacher and appreciate the things you shared today. Thanks for honoring us!

Rhythm be with you,
Karin

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Thank you so much Navaro for the space created on Friday. I felt totally held and guided by your facilitation and free to fly, sweep and dive to the depths of our Mother. We were embraced, all of us in the space you led us to create, luminous with golden fire of the sun, enlivened by the vibrant tones of our voices, warmed by the heat of our shared bodies, filled with the fluid rhythms of love.

Tannis

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Thank you for hosting and guiding us through an ecstatic, beautiful evening. The exquisite music was just so perfect for sending me deeply into trance of movement. Please let me know when you are having the next musical and movement events.
Joan

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Thank you for creating an amazing evening on Friday. For me, the experience reminded me of the human connection and inspiration with earth - that we are connected and we can create healing with our prayers. I have understood this concept intellectually and experienced in your workshop the reality of this connection. I am happy you are doing this work in the world and contributing so powerfully to creating healing.

Thank you,
Cathryn

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The best ecstatic dance class experience I have ever had!

Kelly & Zarah

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~ "To be fully embodied is Sacred" ~

Navaro Franco

Call or email Navaro to facilitate events in Corporate, Community, Festival, and Retreat Center settings: Workshops, Performances, School Shows, Dance Events & Private Instruction in:
~ African Hand Drumming & Chants
~ Mbira (the 22-key African Thumb Piano)
~ Healing Movement / Ecstatic Dance, and Tribal Dance.

Click to Join my One With Drum Facebook Group to get my Event Invitations!

CONTACT INFORMATION

Email : navaro@tribal-bliss.com
Address : Vancouver Canada
Cell: (778) 239-8444