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Coming January, 2010
African Dance
Classes
(for adults)
Beginners
welcome
)
 African
dance is another vehicle of language arts that have significant movements with
specific meaning and purpose. Most African dances are designed to communicate a
particular message.
Dance
class and workshop participants are informed of the existence and purpose of
various dances and learn specific movements and techniques used for various
ceremonies and occasions. Our classes
stresses movements from the west and central regions of Africa, the African Diaspora and Caribbean Islands. Dance and hand clapping techniques along with
songs and playing of African musical instruments are taught as part of the dance
workshop. The class is accompanied by African drumming and includes warm-up exercise.
African Drumming Classes and Workshops
A
brief presentation is conducted on the history and relationship of African music
in connection with aspects of African American culture and it’s impact on world music and
other cultures.
In the words of
Baba Kwame Ishangi,
born December 15, 1934, joined the realm of his beloved ancestors October 22,
2003 in the Gambia, West Africa., “music is a form of
conveying and transmitting information." African drum is not Morse code; it is
the actual imitation the human voice using drums and other instruments that
reflect the spoken language of the musician. It is believed by some that the
beat of the drums represent the forces of life, correlating to the beat of the
human heart.
Participants who
have instruments will be instructed on how to use them, and eventually play
together as an orchestra by the end of the session.
 Baba Ishangi (picture shown on left) was one of many special guest brought to Dallas, Texas to conduct public and private workshops on dance, drum,
history, language, African martial arts and African culture. We praise and honor the life of Baba Ishangi's
and his accomplishments by continuing to lead by the example of doing our best
while inspiring others to do and be their best.
African
Music Lecture and Demonstration
A
collection of African instruments which include, conga drums, talking drums,
ashiko, djimbe, kinkini, doundoun drum, agogo (bell), shekere (beaded gourd),
sanza (thumb piano), and many others instruments. A select assortment of
instruments would be introduced, demonstrated and their use explained, along
with their relationship to other traditional instruments used on our societies.
The
makeup of a traditional African orchestra will be covered, in addition to a
demonstration of the intricacies of African polyrhythmic style. The African
tradition of call and response singing, which carries over into instrumental
music as well, the use of hand clapping, foot stomping, and the use of the voice
to imitate sounds are all part of the wealth of expression utilized in African
music and the workshop.
Since both drum and dance are forms of expression and communication, our
workshops are designed to lay the foundation for positive and productive human
relations and transcending those common values of
confidence, self-determination,
goal setting and collective work and responsibility through forms of
African music and dance expression.
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