Live In Courage
Sound of a desert dream : A symphony under the stars
Warm rock, crisp air, bright stars and classical music.
I have to take myself back. For a moment.
To the first time I heard the symphony at the Place of Dream in the Karoo.
When I was newcomer.
Yet, it felt familiar somehow.
Is it possible to feel recognition for a place you have never been to?
We were there to perform with The Psychedelic Theatre.
The anticipation of hearing the music under the stars was thick in the air,
and in my gut I knew something special was happening here.
To be honest, I wasn't always able to appreciate classical music. Through what I could call my 'shedding' journey I was stripped of all the resistance I had against it.
At night, year after year, before we perform, standing in the 'wings' of the canyon, I would be so deeply moved by the sound of angelic voices and compositions that my heart ran down my cheeks. What a privilege, I thought. To be here. And with each passing year, the land and the people grew more familiar—until I began to greet it like a friend.
You are treated to a whole experience during this festival; one for young and old, and anyone who wants to experience a true glamping style paradise. At least to me, it takes away all the unnecessary difficulty often sacrificed when camping : warmth from cold evenings, secure and stable sanitation stations, and safe spaces from outside storms or extreme weather. There is no need to reinvent the wheel, and I believe it can be balanced in working with the land in better ways. I feel that is done here. The space is so beautifully taken care of and the land has prospered and benefitted from the human hands that work it.
Here you can experience the open showers under the stars (now also closed if you prefer) with water that is always warm. And if it might not be, it is a gas bottle change away from being warm again. As I understand: mostly everything runs on gas and solar. The farm is self sufficient. There is a gorgeous kitchen and living area where you can rest in comfort, and during the weekend you are fed with the most nourishing food. Great planning, real care and love has been poured into it.
You can watch the morning sun rise across the planes of pure bush and veld. Which in itself is a deeply renewing experience, but then again there is so much more to go explore (like the pavilion, the dam, the yoga pavolion, the art) than just the basics that were there when we first performed our fire routines doing our best to keep up with the live beats of an orchestra. This place has come a long way. And so have I. In contrast so much has stayed the same too: The spirit of adventure, the moving nurture of the wind, and the safe playful pattern in the rock. There is so much to witness with time: The succulents, wildflowers, and grasses springing to life, eyes that behold it becoming brighter, and the light dancing in colour at sunset in the most magnificent ways.
It was only ever a bright lit starry dream to be there, to get to know the land and the beautiful people. Intrigued by the mystery it carries, and curious about the blanket of tranquil comfort and the zing in a shot of tequila with a few good friends at the saloon, in the middle of the night.
The enchanting movement of cosmic sound is curated by Elna Van der Merwe every year, and it never ceases to amaze me. The powerful dynamic somehow captured by the grand piano in the middle of a canyon : contrasting genius of pure art in nature and the simple human art of creation.
At the 2024 Classics, we were there to do stilt walking and dancing again, and I was unexpectedly asked to host the raffle for fundraising after the flood that year. They needed a public speaker. I had done a few talks there at Easter and I am a public speaker, so it made sense. I felt appreciated, seen, and valued. I'm so grateful for that and to add value to whole. The magic of this place is that parts hidden about yourself come into view through how others experience you.
The special humans and opportunities, the friendships built over time have taught me about community in a way I hadn't understood in the beginning. It often takes someone else to show you the impact you didn’t know you can make. What I experienced through their eyes is the ability to help people feel safe and hold the space with warmth and gentleness. How lovely to have that reflected. But what surprised me most was the reaction of the audience which told me I have humour. Mostly I have only seen myself as very serious. As it turns out I have a charming wit, maturing like good wine, and if I might say so myself full of bold notes in a joyous love of life. I am so happy to say we reached the goal of the fundraiser and it was a successful raffle.
The flow of this creative process was full and inspirational.
I noticed that being here helps me be more open and receptive somehow. It is like a muse. An open flow of creativity. Sometimes it feels as if creative expression withdraws itself, or is hidden, especially if the environment is hostile. But when there is a gentleness, it becomes easier to listen to the creative impulse and then to be given the opportunity to add that to a whole blesses you with wonder, and presence. This peacefulness is unique to the place of dreams.
Being in the presence of this tranquility, listening to the wisdom of cosmic classical music: the sound the stars would make if they could sing, the sound of light and change saying : Trust is fickle in human hearts. We have all been through a lot, and if you listen well enough, not just whether you like or dislike the sound, but how it can teach you about all our stories, then you will hear how painful it is to be humbled by the imperfection of mankind, and once again find trust in the light violin singing : we are here to meet that in each human being and in ourselves. Hand in hand.
As you experience this weekend, the stars and the bush veld experience you, and we are all witnesses, being moved in wonder listening, and watching the beautiful patterns projected on the rock, feeling sometimes the cold of the wind, but more importantly the inner movement of sharing this experience together.
The last performance on the Sunday afternoon was a string treat. Each song a story and a lesson about the importance of treading lightly. Lightly winding down and saying good bye to the weekend. Wherein you can rest. When you have applied yourself in every way possible, all that is left for you to do, is listen to the music of cosmic wisdom and resign, with a note that is powerful and productive.
I’ve come to believe that everyone who has set foot on this land, who has contributed and become part of its story, has helped dream it into being. And so it will keep growing and evolving—shaped by the growth of those who are there and those still to come—as a living, collective dream.
Sterrestof
Sag noot, bond geure
In jou hand, onder die maan
Sing die heelal
Shelani
A multidisciplinary artist blending voice, movement, and storytelling to inspire growth, confidence, and authentic self-expression in others.
Copyright