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The Sydney and Melbourne based performance group - Junkyard Beats, was created by Oded Prior in 2015. For the past six years the group have performed all across Australia in major events, theatres, schools and festivals. Junkyard Beats are renowned for their dynamic rhythm shows.
They present a series of high-energy routines that include drumming, body percussion, dance, junk percussion, circus and hilarious skits.
Their family friendly show draws on inspiration from everyday life, the streets and the junkyard.
It is filled with imagination, humour and a lot of rhythm.
For the full story - watch our TED talk
Behind the scenes of
Junkyard Beats
Our performers
Since Oded was a kid he's been experimenting with objects laying around his home to create sounds and discovered that anything can be a drum, including the human body. A big passion for Oded is creating instruments from junk. After touring the world as a street performer he moved to Australia and created JUNKYARD BEATS. Today he is the Creative Director of the Group and he loves teaching Body percussion workshops and getting people into creative recycling.
Theo brings the swing and rhythm from Brazil straight to the stage. He is a percussionist and producer that played in a lot of bands and toured around South America with them. He has a Ska festival on the other side of the world. Now he is living in Australia, studying music and business. He is an integral part of the Junkyard Beats family!
Lucas started his artistic career when he was 15 years old. He has studied theatre, cinema, television and he did his degree in Performing Arts. Lucas is full of Brazilian energy and lots of Latin flavor! he loves dancing, drumming and singing and he has also trained in yoga, guitar and brazilian percussion. In Brazil he was successful actor in many stage shows, novels and short movies. Today he lives in Sydney, modeling and performing with Junkyard Beats!
Tom is a wildly passionate musician and artist who has traversed the creative landscapes to explore all things that catch his eyes and ears. His love affair for music began with piano & singing and soon developed to Digeridoo and Native American Flute. Tom brings an African inspired groove to the Beats crew, he loves traditional West African style of Djembe drumming and also loves working with kids and youth. On top of all that he is also a Yoga teacher and and a super positive, peaceful guy
Tania is a tap dancing machine. Working as a dance teacher in Primary Schools and Studios, Tania has a wealth of experience to draw from. Her inspiring presence and commitment to her passion of dance encourages others to push their boundaries. One of Tania’s greatest joys is performing; whether that be on stage, in a hall full of students or just for her crazy family! Tania is a hardworking lovely human full of positive energy, smiles and awesome grooves!
May is youngest member in the history of Junkyard Beats! becoming infatuated with music at the age of 7 years old while began piano lessons. Over time this passion brought him to percussion and jazz drums which he has studied for 7 years. In his spare time, Oskar explores different cuisines and how to cook food from many different cultures. The junkyard beats culture has become his love and his life. He is known in the group as: "El Niño - The Kid "
Kobe has been working for Junkyard Beats since 2016. He has been taking workshops around Australia from Alice Springs to Tasmania to Melbourne and Adelaide. He is a passionate percussionist and juggler with a mission to inspire young people to think outside the box and bring more awareness in their lives through movement and play! Kobe will be one of the Directors starting up the new Junkyard Beats headquarters in Melbourne this year!
Leslie’s drumming journey began as a 10 year old when he joined his local brass marching band. He soon jumped ship to punk bands, and from there began touring and recording with bands in a myriad of genres from funk to metal, maths prog to electro. Currently he plays drums with Nimeo - a French Aussie swing/soul group who spend their time chasing summer festivals from one continent to another.