Olas

Olas Is A Band Of Musicians And Dancers From Portland Maine Heavily Influenced By Andalusian Flamenco And Arabic Folk Music Translated Through A Blend Of American Folk Rock West African And Afro-Cuban Sounds Palmas Original Spanish Verse And Contemporary Flamenco Choreographies. Their Work Is All Original And Works To Celebrate The Power And Importance Of Music And Dance. "Olas Is A Quilt. Each Added Square And Patched Tear Has Infused A Greater Richness A True Commitment To Why We Come Together To Make Music And Dance. We Do It Because It Is Based On Love. Simple.
This Newest Project Was Created Within A Very Poignant At Times Turbulent At Times Beautiful Few Years. There Were Travels Rich With Hard Good-Byes Letters Phone Calls And Joyous Reunions. We Studied And Built New Muscle Memory And Courage. More Of Us Became Teachers And Simultaneously Students Once Again. One Of Us Found Love On A Small Island In Greece And Brought A New Member To Our Family. Other Loved Ones Left Us A Sister A Father A Mother Passing Like Sudden And Saddening Gusts Held In Memory Photos Lyrics And Heart. And Still Others Aleta Louise And Suzanna Rose Were Born. Their Brother And Safe-Keeper Javi Lee Turned Four And Can Tell You The History Of Dinosaurs The Geography Of Western China And Can Keep A Syncopated Beat Like It’s No Big Deal. As Life Goes Hearts Were Broken And Mended Stronger. Illness Came Descending With Deeper Appreciation And A Nine-O-Clock Prayer.
Each Of These Moments Was Shared Grieved Celebrated Because Olas Is Not A Band Of Musicians And Dancers But A Cooperative Of Threads Holding Together The Fabric Of The Lives Of Its Members Who Are Family. And The Next Generation Is Already Learning To Stomp Snap Clap Strum And Holler. For All Of This And Through The Years The Warm Words And Gatherings The Wine And Food We Share The Practices And The Collective Creation Of Art Keeps Us Whole And Always In Admiration Of This Beautiful And Sacred Quilt. " - Themselves On 2014's "Cada Nueva Ola" read less