Performance Offerings
Funkadesi is ideally suited for:
Festivals
past shows & workshops:
Lotus Fest (Bloomington, IN)
Arts & Ideas Festival (New Haven, CT)
Blissfest (Harbor Springs, MI)
Brampton Global Jazz Festival (Brampton, Canada)
Private & Corporate Events
past performances:
Breeders Cup Opening Reception hosted by Bobby Flay
(Lexington, KY)
Walmart Inclusion Forum (Bentonville, AR)
Intercultural Wedding
(Montego Bay, Jamaica)
Google Summit (Chicago, IL)
Performing Arts Centers
past workshops & shows:
Holmes Historical Center
(Detroit Lakes, MN)
Tulsa Children’s Museum (Tulsa, OK)
Krannert Center (Urbana, IL)
Beverly Arts Center (Chicago, IL)
Schools & Universities
past residencies & shows:
Texas Tech University Presidential Series (workshops, panel, concert) (Lubbock, TX)
Lake Forest College Residency (workshops, concert)
(Lake Forest, IL)
UIUC Quincentennial Celebration (Urbana, IL)
Latin School of Chicago – Diwali-themed residency; performance & recital (Chicago, IL)
Conferences
performances & experiential keynotes:
American Psychological Association Opening Ceremonies
(Toronto, Canada)
BISC-ME Annual Conference
(Detroit, MI)
Asian American Psychological Association Annual Convention Virtual
AAO Ophthalmology Convention
(Las Vegas, NV)
UUPCOMING PERFORMANCES:
2024 SHOWS:
1.17 Keynote for MLK Day @ Latin School (private)
1.18 Hello Baby book launch (private)
1.24 Ashe Elementary
1.26 City Winery BUY TIX HERE
1.31 Lincolnwood Elementary
2.9 Fitzgeralds: BUY TIX HERE
3.7 Calmeca Academy, Chicago
3.19 Fairview South Elementary, Skokie
3.21 Community Drum Circle @ District 45 w/ Dr. Sharma & Rhythm Ambassadors of Funkadesi
3.23 Holi @ Navy Pier 1-5pm - FREE!
3.30 4-6pm Global Drum Jam w/ Rhythm Ambassadors Spring Break @ Navy Pier - FREE
[APRIL-JULY] 24 Drum Circles for Special Children's Charities w/ Dr. Sharma & Rhythm Ambassadors of Funkadesi
4.6 WORKSHOP: Healing from Racism Through Drumming & Dialogue w/ Dr. Sharma & Rhythm Ambassadors of Funkadesi 11am-2pm, Elastic Arts (Logan Square) - REGISTER FREE
4.19 Deerfield High School
4.20 WORKSHOP: Healing from Racism Through Drumming & Dialogue w/ Dr. Sharma & Rhythm Ambassadors of Funkadesi 11am-2pm, Elastic Arts (Logan Square) - REGISTER FREE
4.20 Solidarity Bridge Silver Jubilee Gala
4.26 Maine West High School - Drum Circles & Concert
5.11 1pm-4pm. Healing from Racism Funkadesi Concert & Drum Circle. NOTE: FREE registration to folks who attended an April workshop - @Elastic Arts (Logan Square)
5.14 Funkadesi Rhythm Ambassadors "Taste of DEI" Corporate Event (downtown Chicago)
5.24 Celebratory Community Concert @ BUILD Chicago (5100 W. Harrison St., Austin)
6.7 Evanston SPACE. On sale mid-April
6.13 Urban Prairie Waldorf Closing Festivities (private)
6.15 Taste of Rogers Park (6pm-7pm Funkadesi plays). Entire free event Noon-8pm at Touhy Park (7348 N. Paulina St.) Full schedule & deets.
6.17 (closed event) Funkadesi Rhythm Ambassadors at Metamedia Summer Experience, Evanston -- youth workshop on collective music making, storytelling, & connection to time
6.20. World Refugee Day Gala, Room 1520 (1520 W. Fulton), 6:30-9:30pm
7.11 Harper Court Music Series, 6-9pm (5235 S. Harper Court, Hyde Park)
7.20 Truckin' on Jarvis
8.10 Veggie Fest 3:30-5:30pm, Lisle IL
8.11 Veggie Fest 6-8pm, Lisle IL
8.20 [RESCHEDULED & RELOCATED from Aug 22] Summerdance @ Daley Plaza, 4:30-5:30pm dance instruction, 6-7:30pm music (50 W. Washington St., downtown Chicago)
8.23 Skokie Backlot Bash: Funkadesi (7:15-8:15pm) followed by Arrested Development (8:45-10:15pm). (corner of Floral & Oakton in downtown Skokie).
9.8 City Winery Tix on sale -- THIS WILL SELL OUT! 5pm doors, 7pm show. 1200 W. Racine (Chicago's west loop)
9.12 Desi quintet (Bollywood fusion) featuring Pavithra Anand Evanston Downtown Summer Sounds
9.15 Festival of Cultures, Wheaton (Memorial Park). Funkadesi performs 1:15-2:45pm
9.15 Navy Pier Beer Garden (evening -- deets TBA)
9.20 Old Town School Blue Jean Gala After-Party (following Lyle Lovett)
10.10.24 Combat Blindness International Gala Concert (Madison, WI) @ Majestic Theater
11.8.24 The Venue Aurora, IL 8pm
12.6.24 SAVE THE DATE - Funkadesi 28th Anniversary Party.
Special Guest Amyna Love.
Old Town School of Folk Music, Maurer Hall