All for drums, drums for all

Insisto performs at Park Theatre on May 9 and 10

The drumming group Insisto is made up of five women who have different backgrounds and different strengths but who share a common interest.

“Drumming makes us feel alive. It’s about five strong women coming together making noise,” says Kalyn Falk, who began Insisto about five years ago.

“We want it to be a sense of theatre. We’re not just a musical group,” she said.

“It’s a little Cirque du Soleil, Stomp and Feist.”

The women use a wide range of hand drums and percussion instruments, including garbage cans converted into drums, conga drums, rain stick shakers, xylophones and accordions.

The group members also use their bodies to create sounds, for example, slapping their boots and beat-boxing, which requires making drum noises with your mouth, said group member Mandy Jaques.

“It’s pretty much a mosh of everything,” the Elmwood resident said.

The group plays out various scenarios while it makes music, Jaques said.

For example, one of its pieces is about conformity.

“It’s about when we all conform we become a nightmare,” said Jaques, who plays the one having the bad dream.

“It’s about, ‘This is what it looks like, but not what we think it should be,’” Falk added.

“It’s an abstract take on what we’re going through.”

Insisto is Latin for “on a journey,” said Jaques. The group chose the name because its members are on a journey to find their strengths.

Insisto is performing its one-hour, Wake Up and Drum show at various times during the weekend. The show will take place at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on May 9 and at 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. the following day at the Park Theatre, 698 Osborne St

Tickets are available at the hall. Adult tickets cost $12 and children 12 and under tickets cost $6.