West Africa offers a rich cultural heritage of the arts that has long been a traditional source of self-integration, community cohesion, and spiritual communion. Students will learn a traditional dance from the Senegalese/Guinean areas of West Africa as well as explore the functions of the dance in relationship to their own lives.
The class begins with a warm-up that informs West African dance technique and rhythmic sensibility followed by an introduction of the dance the class will be learning, where it is from, why it is danced etc. as well as an introduction for new students to some basic drum language. The main part of the class will be learning steps to the dance and dancing them in time with the rhythm or 'embodying the rhythm'. This will include moving with each individual step across the floor in a line with others. We will finish the class putting the steps we have practiced together and create our own dance. Our wonderful drummers will be playing during most of the class including warm-up, dancing across the floor, and for our ending class dance. This class is an inclusive class and invites everyone to share in these healing traditions.
Cost: $16
Partner organization: The Dance Complex