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Article: Michael Mooleedhar, Francesca Hawkins, Prof. Patricia Mohammed (w. Francesca Hawkins and Michael Mooledar) 1

Caribbean Studies Association Film and Performance Track presents:

Michel Drenthe

Producer and Director, Michel was born in The Netherlands of Curacaon parentage and was educated there in Dutch Academy for Film and Television with a background in social studies . He came to Curacao in 2002 to help a dying friend to run a beach bar. After the beach bar he could not return

Curacao brought him closer to the meaning of making film than he would in Holland and he remained here to make his contribution to the develop of film and visual arts in Curacao. His most recent work United by Music, his first artistic directorial debut was screened at the Caribbean Studies Association 36th Annual Conference. The 47 minute film is a fascinating look at Curacao through the musical journey of Curacao. When the Ricciotti ensemble, a Dutch symphony orchestra of young musicians with a tradition of performing on the most unusual spots and places, announced that they would do a musical tour on Curacao (Netherlands Antilles), the ‘Barbulete Tour’ (Butterfly Tour)’, De Curaçaosche Kunstkring (the Curacao Art Association) decided to raise money to record this unique event. The Ricciotti ensemble’s 40 young musicians together with Curacao jazz singer Izaline Calister, toured around the whole island giving 18 concerts in 4 days. Everywhere they performed the audience, black and white, rich and poor, old and young, men and women (etc.), became one group of happy people, singing and listening, united by music. Their diverse and playful repertoire touched the hearts of everyone on Curacao. The tour became one of the most successful cultural events ever on Curacao, building bridges between Europe and the Caribbean people in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. “UNITED BY MUSIC is about how 40 musicians conquered the hearts of Curacao” is a dazzling and moving impression of Ricciotti’s tour, held from July 30 until August 3, 2008, featuring Izaline Calister and the Curacao people.
There was an unanimous delight as the film captured the joy of music of Curacao and the musical traditions of the Netherlands in a symbiotic relationship between the two nations that will continue to shape the future of Curacao.
Michel is owner of the Caribbean Filmcom. More information about Michel can be found at filmcom.nl

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Michael Mooleedhar 
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