Didgeridoo Down Under – Over the Top Fun

Lindsey Dank, an edu-trainer with Didgeridoo Down Under, transformed the into a new time and place.  The land down under became real as Dank cleverly combined a lesson on Australian art and culture with his passion of performing the indigenous music of the land.

 The show came to life when he grabbed one of his many didgeridoos, a wind instrument, and began to play.  The sounds reverberated through the room, and the audience responded with an acceptance that was intuitive.  It was clear no one present had ever heard any thing like this before.  A mix of primal tones with a bit of modern melodies filled the room, and everyone was soon moving to the music. 

 During the performance the audience was asked to clap their hands as he played along.

 “It’s wonderful that people who have never met can come together in rhythm as one” Dank said. 

What continued was a show and tell of sorts.  The group was shown several instruments that he personally made.  One of them he “repurposed”, as he called it , from an old pair of denim jeans.  He then played a beatbox diddy on his denim didgeridoo that got everyone on their feet.   

 Australia was introduced as a continent, a country and an island.  From the Great Barrier Reef to its vast deserts and rainforests, the land was discussed and its many animals were introduced. 

 Dank was engaging with the group and surprised by one young attendee who had all the correct answers.  Having explained that bears are not native to Australia, he asked what a koala was.

 “A marsupial,” Ethan Jones shouted. 

 Dank told the young group how they could make their own didgeridoos out of cardboard tubing, whirly tubes and PVC piping.  He also shared technique of aboriginal x-ray art and encouraged the children to draw their favorite animals.

 Dank’s beautifully defined glorious dance of rhythm and sound clearly stole the show,  but he also spoke of the importance of kindness, tolerance and respect. 

 Hopkinton’s Youth Services Librarian, Denise Kofron, was responsible for bringing the program to the library. 

 “It was very different from anything we had ever done before,”  Kofron said. "If fit nicely with our theme, Many Stories-One World."

 Ann Burtenshaw, originally from Australia, stayed to thank Dank for his creative approach to her homeland.

 “My children learned a lot today," native Australian, Ann Burtenshaw said, "Thank You."

On the way out the door, a young patron was overheard expressing his delight.

"Christopher, wasn’t that amazing," he said.