Enjoy ‘World’ of entertainment at Lawn on D
It’s an international affair at the Lawn on D this weekend, as the “Wonders of the World” come to Boston. To celebrate the many cultures that can be found in our city, the family-friendly event will bring a day of music, art and festivity from all over the world to the Lawn on D this Saturday.
A DJ will be spinning tunes from 2 p.m., and the Winchester School of Chinese Culture will present activities starting at 3 p.m. Founded by Winchester parents in 2004, the organization has taught Chinese language and culture in its after-school and summer programs. On Saturday, they’ll be teaching the Chinese arts of origami and calligraphy.
Another local organization, the Canton-based Irish Cultural Centre, will present a “seisun” of traditional Irish music and step dancing beginning at 4 p.m. If you’re a “Riverdance” fan who’s always wanted to give step dancing a try, this could be your big chance.
The next stop on the international tour will be France, with Chris Eyers Yerlig demonstrating the traditional French art of mime at 4:30 p.m. Born in England, Yerlig has performed all over the world, from China to Morocco and even Las Vegas.
Dance performances from three countries take us into the evening: First, the Gund Kwok Asian Women’s Lion & Dragon Dance Troupe will perform the Chinese dragon dance, in which a fire-breathing fabric/bamboo creature is borne aloft by a team of dancers to symbolize the strength and mystery of the river.
Greek culture is up next, as Boston’s Lykeion Ellinidon Dance Troupe performs Greek dances in traditional costume. The group has played throughout New England, and was featured last weekend at the Museum of Fine Arts.
Finally, the band Kina Zore will perform the funky dance music of Mozambique. Inspired by Fela Kuti and Bob Marley, the band is led by singer/guitarist Helder Tsinine, who moved from Mozambique to Boston in 2007. Their music, he says, is informed by his growing up during a time of civil war. “Experiencing movement of the people running away from war, getting shelter at my parents’ house and from others who were willing to help those in need of a roof during those critical times … those experiences inspired me to write the music that we play and share with the world with a hope that we can all live in peace.”
Events from closer to home fill the remainder of the weekend. The local Americana band Comanchero plays tomorrow evening beginning at 7. Inspired by icons from the Allman Brothers to Wilco, the band has released four albums of original music and recently won a “JamOff” competition sponsored by Relix magazine.
The popular lawn games continue through the weekend, with the weekly cornhole tournament tomorrow night and a bonus round Saturday (note, however, that due to a private event, the lawn will be closed tomorrow afternoon until 5 p.m.). And two party bands that already have rocked the Lawn on D this summer, Closing Time and Wolfpack, return to throw it down Sunday afternoon and evening.