>>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A CHOREOGRAPHER WHO'S TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF DANCERS.

>> JUST SEEING THE DAILY GROWTH MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY, CREATIVELY, THEY ARE EXPANDING JUST EVERY DAY.

AND THAT'S BEEN LIKE THE GREATEST GIFT FOR US AS A TEAM TO SEE THAT GROWTH.

>> A LOCAL FILMMAKER DRAWS FROM THE REAL-LIFE PANDEMIC NURSING HOME TRAGEDY TO CREATE A FICTIONAL CALL-TO-ACTION MOVIE.

>> WE CANNOT LET THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY GET TOSSED AWAY WHEN WE'RE IN TROUBLE.

PEOPLE ARE NOT DISPOSABLE!

>> AND FRIENDS AND STRANGERS UNITE TO CREATE COMMUNITY THROUGH SONG AS A WAY TO DEAL WITH THE ISOLATION OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLAN.

THAT THERE'S NO ONE IN CHARGE.

PEOPLE SHOW UP AND THEY SING.

>> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

>>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT," YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

TEDxYES GREW UP IN SOUTHHAMPTON AND BEGAN DANCING SERIOUSLY AS A CHILD.

IN HIS LATE TEENS HE LEFT THIS REGION TO BUILD A CAREER AS A CONTEM METRO AREA DANCER AND CHOREOGRAPHER.

THAT JOURNEY ENABLED HIM TO WORK WITH POP MUSIC STARS LIKE MADONNA, LADY GAGA, USHER, AND KELLY CLARKSON.

TODAY FIRANCE IS BACK IN WESTERN MASS, RUNNING A NEW DANCE PREPARED CALLED CLI, A DANCE CONSERVATORY, THAT HE AND A FEW FRIENDS STARTED SELF YEARS AGO WHEN LIVING IN LOS ANGELES.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER VISITED WITH FORANCE AND BRINGS US HIS STORY.

>> ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR FIVE.

>> TEDDY IS BACK WITH AT HIS PERFORMING DANCE SCHOOL.

IT'S A HIGHLY IN10-IVE NINE-MONTH PROGRAM FOR EXPERIENCED AND TALIENTED YOUNG DANCER.

>> I THINK TO HAVE LONG-EST, YOU NEED TO STAY CURIOUS AND ALWAYS LEARNING FROM EVERY SITUATION, GOOD OR BAD.

LEARNING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

SO REALLY, IT'S KIND OF A FULL CIRCLE, CREATE, LEN, INSPIRE.

-- LEARN, INSPIRE.

WE TRY TO KEEP THE REVOLVING DOOR HAPPENING WITH OUR TEAMMATES AND ALL THE DANCERS THAT WE TEACH AS WELL.

>> FORANCE HAS HAD A LOVE OF DANCING FOR AS LONG AS HE CAN REMEMBER AND BEGAN WINNING AWARDS IN COMPETITIONS WHILE STILL IN SCHOOL.

WE FEATURED HIM ON OUR MAKING IT HERE TEEN STYLE PROGRAM BACK IN 2006 AND OVER THE PAST 15-PLUS YEARS, HE BUILT A BUSY CAREER AS A CONTEMPORARY DANCER AND CHOREOGRAPHER.

>> I STARTED WORKING WITH JANET JACKSON, LADY GAGA, JUSTIN BIEBER.

AND A LOT OF POP STARS AND I STARTED A DANCE COMPANY AND WE TOURED DOING CONTEMPORARY WORK.

FROM THERE WE STARTED CLI STUDIOS AND IT'S BEEN OUR ONLINE CONTENT PLATFORM FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.

AND THIS HAS BEEN OUR NEW BABY HERE, WHERE IT'S DANCERS 18 AND UP TRAINING TO BE PROFESSIONALS SOMEDAY IN CONCERT DANCE, COMMERCIAL DANCE, BROADWAY, YOU KNOW, REALLY JUST ALL THE DIFFERENT FACETS AND KNOWLEDGE THAT WE CAN HAND DOWN TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

AND IT'S -- I'D HAVE TO SAY THIS HAS BEEN MY FAVORITE SO FAR.

ONE -- >> OVER 300 STUDENTS AUDITIONED FOR THE FIRST CLI CLASS LAST SEPTEMBER.

AND FROM THAT FORANCE AND HIS STAFF CHOSE ROUGHLY 40 TO COME TO EAST HAMPTON TO LEARN JAZZ, HIP-HOP, CONTEMPORARY, AND OTHER STYLES OF DANCE.

>> THIS TRANSITION WAS HUGE FOURS.

WE MADE -- FOR US.

WE MADE A DECISION TO MOVE FROM LOS ANGELES.

WE FILMED ALL OF OUR ONLINE CONTENT FROM THIS BUILDING AS WELL.

SO ALL OF OUR DANCERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSIST THE CHOREOGRAPHERS COME IN.

>> HEY!

HEY!

>> ALEX IS HERE FROM MINNESOTA.

HE SAYS HE DIDN'T HAVE A CLEAR DIRECTION AS TO WHERE HE WANTED TO GO AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, BUT KNEW HE WANTED TO BE WITH OTHERS WHO LOVED DANCE.

>> NOT ALWAYS DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE AT THE SAME LEVEL STRIVING TO BE THE BEST ALTOGETHER.

SO IT'S LIKE SUBCONSCIOUS, I DON'T THINK WE REALIZE HOW MUCH ENERGY THAT IS PUSHING FORWARD FOR ALL OF US TO HAVE A BETTER CAREER.

SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

>> HI, MY NAME IS FRANCIS.

>> FLANSES IS FROM PUERTO RICO -- FRANCES IS FROM PUERTO RICO.

>> KIDS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SPEND VIDEOS TO ME AND I CAN PUT THEM TO THE APP, GIVE THEM CORRECTION.

NOT ONLY AM I DOING AN ONLINE CHALLENGE, BUT I'M -- >> THE CONSERVATORY DRAWS FROM STUDENTS ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

AMANDA IS FROM TORONTO, CANADA.

>> 11--HOUR DRIVE, WHICH ISN'T SO BAD.

I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH.

IT'S INSANE.

I HAVE TO GO HOME AND WRITE SO MUCH IN MY JOURNAL BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE I'M JUST LIKE OVERFLOWING WITH KNOWLEDGE AND I DON'T WANT TO FORGET IT.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF STYLE DANCE THAT I CAME HERE FEELING VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH.

AND UNSURE OF.

AND TAKING CLASSES HAS MADE ME WANT TO WORK IN THEM AND GROW IN THEM.

AND I'VE JUST DISCOVERED SO MUCH ABOUT LIKE WHO I AM THROUGH DANCE AND HOW I SEE MYSELF IN THE WORLD AND WHAT I WANT TO CREATE.

>> ONE MORE TIME.

>> BEYOND THE DANCING, FORANCE FOCUSES ON KEEPING THE STUDENTS MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY.

RECOGNIZING THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME AWAY FROM HOME FOR MANY.

>> LIKE ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN ADJUSTMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM DIFFERENT PLACES.

AT FIRST IT'S LIKE, WHOA, THIS IS A COMPLETELY NEW SPOT, BUT THEY'VE REALLY I THINK ENJOYED THE COMMUNITY ASPECT OF BEING IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.

WE GO TO BIG Y EVERY DAY FOR LUNCH AND WE KNOW WE'RE IN THE BUILDING.

WHERE ARE YOU GUYS FROM, AND THEY'RE LIKE WE'RE FROM HERE, FROM THERE, FROM HERE.

IT'S BEEN COOL TO SEE US SLOWLY GETTING MORE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> LOW.

>> FORANCE DOESN'T PERFORM MUCH THESE DAYS BUT FEELS HE CAN DO MORE FOR THE EVOLUTION OF DANCE AS AN INSTRUCTOR AND ENTREPRENEUR THAN HE DID AS A PERFORMER.

>> YOU KNOW, JUST SEEING THE DAILY GROWTH, I'VE NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY INVEST MY TIME TO THIS MANY DANCERS.

AND I THINK MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY, CREATIVELY, THEY ARE EXPANDING JUST EVERY DAY AND THAT'S BEEN LIKE THE GREATEST GIFT FOR US AS A TEAM, TO SEE THAT GROWTH.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> FEELING OUTRAGE AND GRIEF AFTER WITNESSING NEWS ACCOUNTS OF SOME OF THE TREATMENT OF VETERANS AND THOSE WHO CARE FOR THEM DURING THE PANDEMIC, COUPLINGTON MUSICIAN LAURA WETZLER DECIDED TO WRITE, DIRECT, PRODUCE, AND SCORE HER OWN HOMEGROWN IDGEDIE FILM ENTITLED, "WHAT HAPPENED AT THE VETERANS HOME."

THE FICTIONAL DRAMA DEPICTS THE STORY OF A DISABLED VETERAN, HER NURSE DAUGHTER, AND A CNA WORKER CAUGHT IN THE CENTER OF A PANDEMIC NURSING HOME TRAGEDY.

THE CALL-TO-ACTION FILM IS AN OFFICIAL SELECTION AT 25 INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALS AND HAS WON NUMEROUS AWARDS.

I TALKED WITH WETZLER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FILM.

>> WELL, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, IT JUST CAME OUT OF BEING HORRIFIED.

AND I -- I DON'T SIT WELL WITH -- WITH BEING UPSET AND AS AN ARTIST, AS A MUSICIAN, AS WRITER, WE -- IT'S PART OF HOW WE COPE WITH THINGS, IS TO TRY AND MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF IT THAT CAN POSSIBLY INSPIRE PEOPLE OR -- OR, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST REFLECT WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> THE FICTIONAL DRAMA TELLS THE STORY ABOUT A VETERAN, HER NURSE DAUGHTER, AND A CNA WORKER WHO ARE ALL IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC HEALTHCARE TRAGEDY.

HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO AUTHENTICALLY PORTRAY THESE CHARACTERS?

WHAT KIND OF RESEARCH WENT INTO CREATING THEM?

>> WELL, I SPOKE TO A LOT OF FOLKS.

I SPOKE TO VETERANS, I SPOKE TO HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS HAD BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH.

THEY'VE PUT A -- THEY'VE BEEN CRYING OUT TO ALL OF US, YOU KNOW.

SO IT'S NOT AS IF -- YOU KNOW, IT'S A SURPRISE OF -- MANY OF THEM ARE SUFFERING FROM PTSD.

THEY FELT -- SOME OF THEM ARE BEING ATTACKED.

IT'S JUST BEEN REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT FOR THEM.

>> AND I KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T ALL FEMALE CAST IN THE FILM.

WHAT WAS IT THAT MADE YOU WANT TO DEPICT THE STORY FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE?

WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT WENT BEHIND THAT?

WHAT WENT KNEE THE CREATION OF THE CHARACTERS?

>> WELL, I JUST FELT LIKE PEOPLE EXPECT A STORY ABOUT A VETERAN TO BE A MALE VETERAN.

AND THE FACT IS, MANY, MANY WOMEN HAVE SERVED IN THE AMERICAN MILITARY FOR THE LAST 250 YEARS.

AND MANY WOMEN OF COLOR HAVE SERVED IN THE MILITARY FOR THE LAST 250 YEARS IN VARIOUS -- AS NURSES, IN VARIOUS WAYS.

AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO REALLY CHANGE PEOPLE'S STEREOTYPE ABOUT WHAT A VETERAN LOOKS LIKE.

>> WAS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE EVER VENTURED INTO BEFORE OR IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME CREATING THE FILM?

>> THIS IS MY FIRST FILM, BUT I'M A SINGER/SONGWRITER.

I'M A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN.

I NORMALLY TOUR 100 DATES A YEAR.

I'M A WRITER, SO I'M ACCUSTOMED TO WRITING, BUT I WROTE THIS FIRST AS A PLAY.

AND SO THE IDEA IS THAT THESE WOMEN ARE BEING INTERVIEWED BY A JOURNALIST LIKE YOURSELF WHO'S ASKING THEM QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.

SO IT LOOKS A LOT LIKE A DOCUMENTARY.

>> THE FILM HAS WON NUMEROUS AWARDS, INCLUDING BEST SCREENPLAY IN PARIS AND BEST FEATURE IN ATHENS.

AND THAT'S JUST TO NAME A FEW.

IT'S ALSO AN OFFICIAL SELECTION AT 25 INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALS.

SO CONGRATULATIONS FOR THAT ACHIEVEMENT.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU AS AN ARTIST, TO HAVE THIS FILM RECEIVE ALL OF THIS GREAT RECOGNITION?

>> WELL, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE WHOLE TEAM.

WE'RE A VERY SMALL TEAM.

I LAUGH SOMETIMES WHEN I LOOK AT THE CREDITS OF BIG HOLLYWOOD MOVIES AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.

IT WAS FOUR ACTRESSES, ME, JARED SCHOLNICK, THE DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY, AND WORKED ON THE EDIT WITH ME.

AND A SOUND GUY -- IT WAS JUST, VERY, VERY SMALL, SMALL TEAM WORKING ON THIS.

SO I'M REALLY, REALLY PROUD.

>> AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE ALL HEARD ABOUT THE DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD.

AND ESSPECIAL IT HIT CLOSE TO HOME LOCALLY WITH THE TRAGEDY AT THE -- AT THE SOLDIERS HOME.

I HAVE TO SAY, MYSELF, WATCHING THIS FILM, IT REALLY HIT DIFFERENTLY, JUST HEARING AND SEEING THE CHARACTERS.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ART THAT IS ABLE TO KIND OF ELICIT IN DIFFERENT EMOTIONAL RESPONSE FROM OTHERS AND EVEN PROVOKE CHANGE?

>> I KNOW THESE -- I KNOW FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING IN FACILITIES.

AND I WAS -- I WAS HORRIFIED THAT IT FELT LIKE THE LEADERS THOUGHT SOME OF YOU HOW THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE DISPOSABLE, YOU KNOW?

AND THEY'RE NOT.

THEY ARE -- ARE MOTHERS AND FATHERS AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

THEY ARE US, YOU KNOW?

AND SO I FELT LIKE I WANTED TO GIVE THOSE NUMBERS SOME HUMANITY.

SO THAT WE COULD RELATE TO -- TO THE TRAGEDY IN A DIFFERENT KIND OF WAY.

>> AND THE FILM IS HEARTBREAKING, BUT YET HOPEFUL AT THE SAME TIME.

AND HAVE YOU IT -- YOU YOU DESCRIBE IT AS THE CALL TO ACTION.

WHAT WOULD YOU WANT VIEWERS TO TAKE AWAY?

>> MY FEELING IS WE'RE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER.

AND THAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT AS A SOCIETY HOW ARE WE GOING TO CREATE SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE FAMILY MEMBERS, LOVERS, PARTNERS, PARENTS.

WE HAVE TO AS A SOCIETY FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST POINTING FINGERS AT PEOPLE.

INSTITUTIONS ARE REALLY HARD.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO BE MORE CREATIVE.

WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT -- WE CANNOT LET THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY GET TOSSED AWAY WHEN WE'RE IN TROUBLE.

PEOPLE ARE NOT DISPOSABLE, PERIOD.

YOU KNOW.

>> AND TO THAT POINT, AT THIS -- AT THE FILM'S PREMIERE, A PORTION OF EACH TICKET SOLD WILL BE DONATED TO TWO ORGANIZATIONS, SOLDIER ON AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK MILITARY WOMEN.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THESE TWO ORGANIZATIONS IN PARTICULAR, AND TELL ME ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THIS BE AN ASPECT OF THE FILM PREMIERE?

>> WELL, I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ABOUT WHO WAS DOING WHAT LOCALLY.

AND I LOVED THE WORK THAT SOLDIERS ON WAS DOING IN TERMS OF HOUSING HOMELESS VETS AND DOING TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COMING SERVICES.

SO I THOUGHT AS A LOCAL ORGANIZATION, WE SOLDIER ON.ORG IS A -- PEOPLE SHOULD CHECK IT OUT.

THEY'RE A WONDERFUL NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION.

AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK MILITARY WOMEN OOLZ IS ALSO AN INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION AND THEY MAINTAIN A BEAUTIFUL WEBSITE WITH THE HISTORY OF BLACK WOMEN IN MILITARY.

AND I STUDIED FROM THAT WEBSITE, I LEARNED A LOT.

AND I USED IT AS RESEARCH TO MAKE THE FILM.

AND I FELT I REALLY OWED PAYBACK TO THIS WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF.

PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

AND PEOPLE SHOULD.

IT'S A GREAT ORGANIZATION.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> IT WAS EARLY IN THE QUARANTINE OF 2020 THAT A COUPLE OF LOCAL SINGERS AND MONTAGE DECIDED TO MEET UP IN THE TOWN COMMON TO SING SOME SONGS AS WAY TO FEEL SOMEWHAT NORMAL AGAIN.

THEY MET AT 2:00 AND SANG FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, BUT LITTLE DID THEY KNOW THEY WOULD BE JOINED BY SEVERAL OTHERS AND CONTINUE TO MEET UP EVERY DAY REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER.

FRIDAY, MARCH 18TH, 2022, MARKS TWO STRAIGHT YEARS THAT FRIENDS AND STRANGERS ALIKE HAVE GATHERED ON THE TOWN COMMON AT 2:00 TO SHARE AN HOUR OF SINGING AND "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN SULLIVAN BRINGS US THEIR STORY.

>> ONE DAY IT MAY LOOK LIKE THIS OUTSIDE ON THE TOWN COMMON.

ONLY TO LOOK LIKE THE VERY NEXT DAY.

THIS PERSON MAY BE HERE ON TUESDAY.

BUT THIS ONE IS HERE ON WEDNESDAY.

ANYONE LOOKING FOR A CONSISTENCY HERE CAN FIND IT IN THESE TWO THINGS -- LOCATION AND THE FACT THAT EVERY DAY AT 2:00 P.M., THERE WILL BE SONGS BEING SUNR -- SUNG FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR.

THE FACES AND MUSIC MAY CHANGE, BUT SINCE 2020, AN ASSEMBLY OF MERRY MELODY MAKERS HAS GATHERED HERE AND IT'S POSSIBLE IT WAS BORN OUT OF A SENSE OF CABIN FEVER DURING THE SECOND WEEKS OF TWO WEEKS TO FLATTEN THE CURVE.

>> EVERYTHING WAS GETTING CANCELED.

ONE OF THE LOCAL CHOIRS, REHEARSALS GOT CANCELED.

SEVERAL OF THE PEOPLE LIVED UP ON TAYLOR HILL AND THEY WERE LIKE, WE GOT TO SING!

AND THEY SENT WORD OUT TO NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS AND JUST SAID, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

JUST SHOW UP AT THE COMMON ON WENTZ, MARCH 18TH, 2020, AND 2:00.

AND ABOUT 16 OF US SHOWED UP HERE, NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT WAS GOING ON.

MAYBE EVERYONE KNEW ONE OR TWO OR THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE BUT NOT THE WHOLE GROUP.

AND WE JUST SANG!

>> NO ONE KNEW WE WOULD BE HERE TWO YEARS LATER.

IT WAS JUST SOMETHING WE STARTED AND SAID, THIS IS PRETTY FUN.

LET'S DO IT AGAIN.

AND THEN HEY, LET'S DO IT AGAIN.

AND I GUESS WE CAN STILL DO IT IN THE RAIN.

AND THE SNOW.

AND THE HEAT.

AND THE -- YEAH.

ED FROM.

>> WILL AND LORI WERE TWO OF THE FIRST TO EMBARK ON THIS MARATHON ENDEAVOR AND EACH BRINGS A SOLID SET OF SONG-SINGING SKILLS TO THE TABLE.

IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THE OTHERS AREN'T QUALITY SINGERS.

BUT THIS WAS NEVER ABOUT GETTING THE BEST VOCALISTS TO JOIN IN.

IT WAS ABOUT GETTING ANYONE WHO WANTS TO COME DOWN AND SING TO DO JUST THAT.

REGARDLESS OF SKILL.

>> OVER TIME SINGING HAS GOTTEN IN SOME WAYS TREATED AS SOMETHING THAT IS OUT OF REACH UNLESS YOU SOUND LIKE SOMEBODY WHO'S A POP SINGER OR A STAR.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE AREN'T WHAT YOU WOULD CALL GOOD SINGERS FROM A POINT OF VIEW OF CARRYING THE TUNE OR THE PITCH OR THE TONE OF THEIR VOICE OR THAT KIND OF THING.

AND KNOW, VOICE TRAINING IDEAS.

IT'S ALL PRETTY MUCH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE JUST SINGING.

>> THIS UNIQUE CIRCLE OF SINGERS ALSO BOASTS THE FACT THAT THERE'S NO REAL LEADER.

WHATEVER HAPPENS HERE, IT'S ALL ORGANIC.

>> WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLAN.

THERE'S NO ONE IN CHARGE.

PEOPLE SHOW UP AND THEY -- THEY SING AND SO WE GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER BY WHAT'S BROUGHT ON A DAY.

OUR SONGS CAN COME FROM THE PLOW GUY COMING BY OR THE WEATHER OR WHAT'S IN SOMEONE'S HEART.

AND AS PEOPLE SHARE A SONG, IT'S NEVER JUST THE SONG.

THERE'S ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING OF THEM.

>> THE SNOWY MANSLAUGHTER OF MAR 9TH, 2020, THAT WE DROPPED BY -- 2022, THAT WE DROPPED BY MARKED THE 71ST DAY.

IT'S A REMARKABLE FEAT COVERING THEY MAY BE THE ONLY ONE OF THEIR KIND IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

>> A GROUP APPEARS TO HAVE TAKEN A PAGE OUT OF THE BOOK OF THE UNITED STATES POIFLTZ, BECAUSE FOR -- POSTAL SERVICE, BECAUSE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THEY'VE BEEN COMING OUT HERE THROUGH RAIN, SLEET, AND SNOW.

AND THEY MAY HAVE DONE THE POSTAL SERVICE ONE BETTER IN THAT THEY'RE NOT DELIVERING JUNK MAIL AND BILLS.

THEY'RE DELIVERING SONGS OF HOPE AND INSPIRATION EVERY DAY.

AND NOT JUST INSPIRATION FOR PASSERSBY, EITHER.

ALTHOUGH IT DOES SEEM THEY WENT OVER THE KIDS ON THE SCHOOL BUSO AREN'T -- WHO WEREN'T EXACTLY THEIR BIGGEST FANS.

THEY INSPIRE EACH OTHER TO KEEP SHOWING UP.

AND IF THEY KEEP SHOWING UP LIKE THIS, THE TWO-YEAR MARKER OF MAY, MARCH 18th, MAY BE ANOTHER DAY ON THE CALENDAR.

>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY PLANS OF STOPPING.

THERE ISN'T -- THERE ISN'T A NEXT THING.

THERE ISN'T A GOAL.

THERE'S JUST COME AT 2:00.

IT'S SING HI CLOCK.

-- SING O'CLOCK.

¶ [SINGING] ¶ >> EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLON ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

AND THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, WE HAVE A MUSICAL TREAT FOR YOU.

AS FRIENDS AND STRANGERS WHO HAVE GATHERED EVERY DAY AT 2:00 P.M. TO SING SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC PERFORM THE SONG, "PAYMENT FOR THE PLOW GUY."

>> WHEN THE STORM WAS DONE I SHOVELED FOR HOURS, FROM THE ROAD RIGHT UP TO THE DOOR.

AND WHEN ALL WAS FINALLY CLEARED AWAY, OF COURSE, IT SNOWED SOME MORE.

¶ MANY AIMS A TIER -- MANY TIMES A YEAR PAYMENT FOR THE PLOW GUY TO KEEP THE DRIVEWAY YEAR SALT AND SANDED, TOO ¶ >> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> AS A YOUNG GIRL IN INDIA, VEENA CHANDRA WAS INSPIRED TO PLAY MUSIC BY HER FATHER, WHO EVEN NAIMENTD HER AFTER AN ANCIENT INDIAN STRINGED INSTRUMENT IN THE HOPES SHE WOULD TAKE A LIKING TO MUSIC.

SINCE THEN CHANDRA HAS GARNERED INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION IN THE HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL MUSIC GENRE AS A RENOWNED SITARIST, COMPOSURE, AND TEACHER -- COMPOSER AND TEACHER.

SHE FOLLOWED IN HER FATHER'S FOOT STEPS AND PASSED DOWN HER MUSIC TRADITION TO HERB SON, DEVESH, WHO JOINS HER IN PERFORMANCES PLAYING THE INDIAN HAND DRUM, TABLA.

I SPOKE WITH THE MOTHER AND SUN DUO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM.

>> SIERKS IT'S COMING FROM INDIA AND IT'S COMING FROM NORTH INDIA.

SO IN INDIA WE HAVE SORT OF TWO FORMS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC.

ONE IS THE CORNADDIC FORM IN THE SOUTH, AND THEN WE HAVE HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL MUSIC.

>> WHICH IS NOT INDIAN.

>> SO FIRST OF ALL, IT'S -- FROM THE NORTH PART OF INDIA AND THE INSTRUMENTS WE'LL BE PLAYING ARE SITAR YOU SEE HERE AND TABLA.

>> VEENA, YOU WERE ALMOST BORN DESTINED TO PLAY MUSIC.

YOUR FATHER NAMED YOU AFTER A TRADITIONAL STRINGED INDIAN INSTRUMENT.

SO TELL ME, NOW YOU HAVE GONE ON TO RECEIVE INTERNATIONAL RESPECT AND RECOGNITION.

HOW DID YOUR PASSION FOR MUSIC BEGIN?

>> MY FATHER HAD ALL THESE INSTRUMENTS AND HE USED TO PLAY AT NIGHT.

AND I WOULD SIT NEXT TO HIM AND HE'LL BE ALL DONE AND I WOULD BE STILL SITTING HOPING HE'D PLAY A LITTLE BIT MORE.

SO -- SO YOU KNOW, HE ACTUALLY INSPIRED ME TO PLAY MUSIC, I THINK.

THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY.

>> JUST FOR COLLARFICATION, CAN YOU -- CLARIFICATION, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE TABLA?

>> IT'S A PAIR OF INDIAN DRUMS.

THERE'S A RIGHT ONE, WHICH IS A HIGHER ONE, AND A LOWER ONE BASS.

AND SO IT'S A VERY UNIQUE INSTRUMENT IN THAT EVERYTHING THAT -- EVERYTHING -- THIS IS THE RIGHT ONE, YEAH.

THIS IS THE RIGHT ONE.

AND THEN THERE'S A LOWER ONE.

BUT IT'S A UNIQUE INSTRUMENT IN THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE PLAY, WE CAN SAY.

SO THE MUSIC THAT WE HAVE IS AN ORAL TRADITION.

IT'S PASSED DOWN GENERATION TO GENERATION AS A LANGUAGE.

SO WHEN SHE'S SAYING, MY FIRST WORDS WERE -- WHICH WERE THE SYLLABLES FROM THE DRUMS.

SO IT IS A LANGUAGE.

AND WE SPEAK IT AND REALLY WHAT WE'RE PERFORMING, SHE WAS DESCRIBING TO YOU THE FORMAT OF THE PERFORMANCE, WHEN WE'RE PERFORMING IT, WE'RE REALLY COMING TOGETHER AND HAVING A CONVERSATION.

AND ONE OF THE REAL SPECIAL THINGS ABOUT IT IS THAT WE CAN'T DO THAT EVER AGAIN, YOU KNOW.

SO IT'S LIKE -- IT'S A SPECIAL MOMENT IN TIME AND YOU KNOW, WE HOPE PEOPLE CAN JOIN US FOR THAT.

>> EVERY TIME IT'S UNIQUE, EVEN THOUGH WE PLAY THE SAME -- SNOWEDLY, AND -- SUPPOSEDLY, AND ACTUALLY THIS HAPPENS AT THE MOMENT WHEN WE GET ON THE STAGE, THAT WHAT -- WE LOOK AT THE AUDIENCE AND SEE WHAT IS GOING TO BE MORE SUITABLE FOR THEM TO LISTEN TO AT THAT POINT.

BUT EVERY TIME WHEN WE WOULD PERFORM, ANY PERFORMANCE, IT WOULD BE TOTALLY UNIQUE FOR THAT AUDIENCE, HOW THEY IRSPIRE US OR NOT INSPIRE US, OR WHATEVER HAPPENS AT THE MOMENT.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS IT IS.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> I HAVE TO SAY THAT WHEN I WAS WATCHING SOME OF YOUR PAST PERFORMANCES, I WASN'T EXPECTING FOR MYSELF TO KIND OF GET EMOTIONAL WHEN I WAS LISTENING TO IT.

I WAS LIKE, WOW, FIRST -- IT'S REALLY TOUCHING ME.

AND SO I KNOW THAT YOU DESCRIBE THAT THERE'S A TRYING COLLAR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN -- >> YES.

>> ARTISTS AND THE AUDIENCE.

SO CAN YOU EXPAND ON WHAT THAT MEANS AND HOW YOU'RE ABLE TO CONNECT THE AUDIENCE WITH THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS MUSIC.

>> SO LIKE MUSIC IS LIKE -- IT'S MY PART OF MY LIFE.

WITHOUT MUSIC, I THINK -- GREAT THING HAPPENED IN MY LIFE IS MUSIC.

SO MY MUSIC AND MY LIFE WOULD -- THEY ARE TOGETHER.

AND WHEN I PRESENT IT TO THE AUDIENCE AND IF THEY BECOME, YOU KNOW, ONE WITH THAT, THAT'S WHEN WE CALL -- [INAUDIBLE] LIKE A FEELING IN THEM AS WELL.

WHAT ARE WE FEELING, THEY ARE ALSO FEELING.

SO THAT'S THE SUBSTANCE OF OUR PERFORMANCE.

I WOULD SAY THEY SAY, WOW.

LIKE THEY REALLY FEEL IT UP HERE.

WE TRY TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO PRESERVE OUR MUSIC.

SO WE ARE TRYING VERY HARD AND.

AND TO PROMOTE AND ALSO CREATE INTEREST, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, YOU KNOW.

AND THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN SITAR, THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN A TABLA.

THEY'VE NEVER HEARD THIS MUSIC, SO OUR GOAL, WE TRY VERY MUCH TO GET THEM INTERESTED IN IT AND KICK OFF FROM THERE.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> AND FOR MORE FROM THE MOTHER AND SOB MUSICAL DUO, VEENA CHANDRA AND DEVESH GO TO "CONNECTING POINT" ONLINE FOR A DIGITAL EXTRA AS THEY SHARE A QUICK LESSON WITH US IN THE INSTRUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH BEHIND WERE YOU STANI -- HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL MUSIC AND GIVE US A FRONT ROW SEAT TO A SONG FROM THEIR PERFORMANCES.

>> EVERYTHING WE PLAY, WE CAN SPEAK BACK.

IF I SAY FITA, NA -- [INAUDIBLE] >> THAT DIGITAL EXTRA IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB PAGE RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND ALL THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW IN THIS EPISODE AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE ANYTIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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