Black and White Elegance

Colors can sometimes make for the simplest, yet most striking statements at a wedding. A classical black and white wedding theme is still a very popular choice among couples. Simple, yet sophisticated, this theme is fairly simple to plan.

With a Black and White wedding theme – Simplicity is the way to go. Keep your wedding attire as elegant and plain as possible – Ruffles and Frills don’t go with this theme! The bridal dress should be white with accents of black and if you wish to then you can get your bridesmaids to wear black.

Keep in mind, a single flower can often make more of an elegant statement than an overflowing bouquet, especially with a black and white wedding theme.
However, if you would like to waver a bit from the strictly black and white wedding scheme, consider adding the slightest hints of one other color as contrast, such as bright red, bright pink, emerald green or a hint of gold.

Don't go overboard though... add just a hint here and there. For example, white roses with the tips tinted red and nestled in a black vase sitting on a table covered in a white tablecloth. Use black napkins secured with white napkin rings and a hint of some other color. These are simple accents that you could try which won't overpower the black and white theme.

Some things to remember about our courses: Our courses are both Theory and Practical – Elect Training Academy work in Association with Drum Beat Academy. Our courses are also endorsed and sometimes presented by the International Hotel School of South Africa.

Information Sessions:

• Our next information session in Pretoria is on 10 August 2010 @ Drum Beat Academy in Groenkloof – Time: 19:00. We will be finished @ 20:00
• Our next information session in Cape Town is on 31 July 2010 @ The Lord Charles Hotel – Somerset West – Time: 10:00
• Our next information session in Durban is on 22 July @ The Westville Hotel in Westville – Durban – Time: 19:00. We will be finished @ 20:00

Please let us know if you want to attend the session then we can send you more info.

Our next courses:

Foundational Draping in Durban: 23 & 24 July 2010 – Westville Hotel
Foundational Draping in Cape Town: 13 & 14 August 2010 – Somerset West
Foundational Draping in Pretoria: 20 & 21 August 2010 – Drum beat academy

Advance Draping in Pretoria: 28 & 29 July (evening classes) 30 & 31 July 2010 (full day)

Foundational Décor in Pretoria: 11 & 12 & 14 August OR 12 & 14 August 2010

Kids Party Planning: 23 – 28 August 2010 (Day or evening classes)

Events Management: Pretoria

We have an ongoing intake policy with the events management course in Pretoria – you can join us any Saturday.

Events Management: Cape Town

We start on the 4th of September with our new Events Management course.

Hope to see you at our info meetings!

Visit Drum Beat Academy's Tourist Guide and Event Support Training website for more information.

Bird Watching/Identification

Do you want to learn more about bird watching?

Would you like to easily identify birds in your area?

Come join us for a day and learn more about bird watching and how to identify them. A basic theoretical introduction will be done as well as an outdoor practical at Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary.

Date: 17 July 2010
Time: 08:30 – 16:30
Venue: Drum Beat Academy, 7 Van Wouw Street, Groenkloof, Pretoria
Price: R295

Bring along:
Field guide of own choice
Binoculars
Basic stationary (pen, paper)
Own lunch

Programme:
Bird watching
Bird identification
Overview of South African birds
Practical at Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary

About the facilitator:
The course will be presented by Annémarie Viljoen Van Der Walt, she studied BSc Ed majoring in Zoology and Botany, and started her career as Environmental Educator at the Pretoria Zoo. She presented Bird Identification programmes for eight years amongst other environmental education programmes and still maintains an interest in bird watching, environmental observation, guiding and developing environmental education elements.

Limited space available. Bookings essential. Payment needs to be made to secure booking. Non-refundable. All interested parties will be notified of the next available date.

Please contact Ester for bookings on (012) 460 9585 or admin@drumbeatacademy.co.za

Visit our website for information about Tourist Guide and Event Support Training.

Fountains Circle

The Fountains Circle 2010 Flag Ship Beautification Project is a Metropolitan Landmark and Gateway which has been developed successfully to landmark quality enhancing a sense of place, character, legibility and Capital City status. This development radically altered the character and image of the entrance to the City as envisaged. The whole design forms a spiral radiating outwards beyond the traffic circle itself symbolizing the 2010 FIFA World Cup that's being hosted in South Africa (Tshwane) and radiating outwards beyond Africa's boundaries to rest of the world. The main feature consisting of a spherical steel space frame/ ball cladded with broken panels depicting the people of Tshwane is being swung into infinity by the force which originates at the Fountain/South Africa. This ball is 'followed' and shot up in the air by spikes consisting of 'I'- beams in juxtaposing carefully placed. The spikes increase in height as it lifts off with the sphere symbolising the kick-off of a soccer ball.

Information & photos from Tshwane Municipality

Visit our website for information on Drum Beat’s Tourist Guide and Event Support courses.

Go Bafana Bafana!

2010 is here! Let us all get into the Ayobaness of the moment and learn a little SA soccer lingo.

Bafana: Nickname of the South African national team, meaning ‘boys’ in Nguni. Often appearing as Bafana Bafana.

Makaraba: South African fan helmets, artfully created from miners’ hard hats.

Vuvuzela: Plastic horn producing an energetically loud noise, it is the sound of South African Football.

Mzansi: A popular Xhosa word amongst the youth and townships for South Africa.

Ayoba: An expression of joy. Ayoba means cool, nice, sweet, etc.

Eish: An expression of surprise or resignation.

Howzit: A term meaning: How are you?

Lekker: An Afrikaans word meaning delicious.

Laduma: A popular cheer at South African soccer matches when a goal has been scored. It’s a Zulu word meaning ‘he thunders’.

Yebo: A word meaning Yes in Zulu.

Sharp: Often doubled up for effect, sharp-sharp. Used as a greeting, farewell, agreement or to express enthusiasm.

Bru: Slang term for brother that’s often used.


Get into the spirit and explore our country as a tourist guide and share this beautiful land with the world. For more information about Drum Beat's Tourist Guide and Event Support courses please visit our website.

Wedding Trends

Hi there all students

Good news… We’ve decided to send out a newsletter once or twice a month. In the news letter we will keep you up to date with new courses, new ideas, new trends etc in the wedding and events industry. We go to leaders in the wedding and events industry and get some good advice and tips for you… We listen to you in the courses and bring back the good advice to you! I also want to encourage you to take part in our blog where we can answer each others letter and questions. It is at times difficult for me to answer each one of you personally when you have questions – but if we can help each other and build our relationships in the wedding industry. Why not?

Most of the experts in wedding invitations, wedding décor agree on one thing – White and black will still be strong in 2011 but … look at the mood board… Dark purples, Gun Metal silvers, Black… Dark poetry will be one of the main trend setters. We’ve already started preparing décor for some of the wine farms in the Dark Poetry colours.

Interesting… keep watching our newsletters. Pls also note that our new course dates has been released.

Please note that this is our FINAL course dates for this year and we will only add another course in another region if we have 8 or more students that would like to do the course. Good news! We got a contract with the International Hotel School – they are going to present our courses in the near future. Then we will have a campus in Sandton, Durban, CPT and Pretoria.

Advance draping: After many request we decided to combine our draping level 2,3,4,5 into one course over 3 days. We are going to teach you some principles of Arch and Gazebo Draping, Room dressing, Ceiling Draping and Marquee Draping.

It is not a full course on i.e. Room Dressing but you would know the basics of it. If you need to specialize in Room Dressing then we would advise you to do the full 2 day course on Room Dressing. The cost for this course is R4500.00

Durban: On request
Cape Town: 31 July/ 3& 4& 5 & 7 August (2 Saturdays & 3 evenings)
Pretoria: 28 & 29 August (evenings) 30 & 31 August (full days)

Table setting & Centre pieces & Etiquette & Protocol:
Pretoria: 4 September 2010 / 25 September 2010
Cape Town: 22 & 23 & 24 June 2010 / 25 September & 16 October 2010

Foundational décor:
Cape Town: to be confirmed
Pretoria: 11 & 12 & 14 August 2010 (2 evenings & 1 Saturday)

Advance décor:
Cape Town: to be confirmed
Pretoria: 14, 15, 16, 18 September (3 evening and 1 Saturday)

Kids party planning:
Cape Town: 14 & 17 & 18 & 19 & 21 August (3 evening, 2 Saturday)
Pretoria: 24 – 26 & 28 August (3 evenings and 1 Saturday)

The Part time National Qualification in Tourism: Events Support starts this weekend in Pretoria. However – we can take students in at any time. If they start a few weeks later than the other students – then they will have to do the modules they’ve missed in the next intake. Our full time course is starting on the 14th June for 4 months. Remember, this course includes all the practical courses of Elect.

Visit Drum Beat Academy's Tourist Guide and Event Support Training website for more information.

Events Regards and remember – We don’t work, we play… come and join us!

Event Management Certificate

Elect Training Academy, in association with Drum Beat Academy, presents a SETA-Accredited certificate course that will allow you to establish your own Event Management business.

The subjects of this course include:
Event elements
Safety and security
Special events – sport, wedding, expo’s, etc.
Venue
Décor
Marketing
Entertainment
Basic Financials
Many more theory subjects

What makes this course different from all other even management courses is the practical training that we provide, which include:
Foundational draping
Advance draping
Foundational décor
Advance décor which will include subjects like centre pieces, themes, making of props, etc.
Etiquette
Children’s party course

Entrance requirements:
Read, write and comprehend English
Basic creativity skills

Durations:
3 Months

Assessment will include a group project where each group will be required to organize and execute (with assistance) a charity event.

Award:
SETA Accredited Drum Beat Academy Certificate
Elect Acknowledgement

For more information please visit Drum Beat Academy's Tourist Guide and Event Support Training website.

South African National Anthem

Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo
Yizwa imithandazo yethu
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho
O se boloke, O se boloke
Setjhaba sa heso
Setjhaba sa South Afrika

South Afrika !

Uit die blou van onse hemel,
uit die diepte van ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes
waar die kranse antwoord gee.

Sounds the call to come together
and united we shall stand.
Let us live and strive for freedom
in South Africa our land.

TRANSLATION OF THE ANTHEM

Lord Bless Africa
May her glory be lifted high
Hear our petitions
Lord bless us. Us your children

Lord we ask You to protect our nation
Intervene and end all conflicts
Protect us, protect us
Protect our nation
Protect South Africa

South Africa!

Ringing out from our blue heavens,
from our deep seas breaking round,
Over everlasting mountains
where the echoing crags resound.

Sounds the call to come together
and united we shall stand.
Let us live and strive for freedom

From SA Languages

For those of you that struggle to pronounce the Anthem correctly, one innovative blogger has the solution:

Follow the link to Brand South Africa Blog for the whole document, it’s definitely worth your time.

Go to Drum Beat Academy's website to learn how you can help promote our country with our Tourist Guide and Event Support Training.