embody the rhythm

*FROM GUINEA TO MAINE*
4 UPCOMING WORKSHOPS WITH SPECIAL GUESTS!

Room Island, Guinea

Hamana region, Guinea

With our friend, Namory Keita, and his son.

The beautiful location where Namory has begun building Hamana Art Center.

2018 began for me amidst the beauty of Guinea, West Africa, with dear friends old and new, to study at the home of my long-time teacher, Youssouf Koumbassa:

Grand Master Dancer and Teacher, Youssouf Koumbassa

It has taken me a Moon or more to settle back into Maine’s long winter, and tonight as I reminisce these sunny photos, we prepare for another big snow storm. 

This beauty, dear friend and long time student Steph Harmon, came along for the month-long dance and drum immersion studies.

We invite our community to join us for a sharing of stories & slideshows from our trip: SUNDAY, MARCH 18
7pm, Hustle & Flow Studio, 155 Brackett St., 3rd floor, Portland.

I will continue to share Guinea stories here too, bit by bit.
There is so much!

*FROM GUINEA TO MAINE*
UPCOMING DANCE & DRUM WORKSHOPS
WITH VERY SPECIAL GUESTS!

Bolokada Conde

Seny Daffe

THURSDAY, MARCH 29
All Levels Drum Class with
Grandmaster djembefola,
BOLOKADA CONDE
The Dance Hall, 7 Walker St., Kittery, Maine
5:30-6:45pm, $20
Bolokada will lead the drum accompaniment for Liz Fowler’s dance class, directly to follow.

TUESDAY, APRIL 3
All Levels Drum Class with
Master Village Drummer,
NAMORY KEITA
The Portland New Church, 302 Steven’s Ave. Portland, ME
5:00-6:00pm, $15
Contact Marita to reserve a drum. 

TUESDAY, APRIL 3
*Dundun Dance* Class with
Master Drummer & Singer, SENY DAFFE
The Portland New Church, 302 Steven’s Ave. Portland, ME
6:15-7:45pm, $18

*Space is limited. ALL DUNDUNS HAVE NOW BEEN RESERVED, which means we’re at capacity, but we do have a WAITLIST. You may join the waitlist by contacting Marita.

Namory Keita

SUNDAY, APRIL 15th
Special *Advanced* Drumming Workshop with
NAMORY KEITA
1:00-3:00pm, $25
Portland New Church, 302 Stevens Ave.
One-Time Event. Register HERE 

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Guinea Story #1
FIRST AID, FROM NEW ENGLAND TO GUINEA

Guinea, West Africa is rich in culture, contributing incredible music and dance to the rest of the world, the roots of which are seen in many popular contemporary art forms worldwide. As you might have noticed, as a follower of West African dance & drumming, Guinea has *incredible* talent. 

Meanwhile, the reality remains that the average person in Guinea has only the very basics for survival. While colonizing countries have established businesses there, and imported all manner of packaged items, there is no place to deal with trash and plastic waste, no sanitation system, no running water, and scant/rationed electricity for the non-elite. The average person has no access to basic health care or even first aid such as antiseptic, bandages, fever-fighting medicines and pain reducers, no simple life-saving conveniences such as bug spray (while malaria, and other mosquito born illnesses are rampant). My friends and fellow artists whom I became close with are not even guaranteed to have food to eat each day, nor a bed to sleep in. 

On my recent journey to the country, I was able to bring along a suitcase full of traditional first aid items and lovingly prepared herbal medicines, coming from many of you in our local community. I cannot tell you how incredibly far this went. A special shout out to wise herbalists, Angel Putney Noe and Isa Beaulieu for your beautiful healing remedies ~ the herbal medicines were most deeply appreciated. 

An amazing group of friends and community members in Guinea volunteered to help with separating all of the donations into smaller units, which we then distributed home by home, around numerous villages. Local volunteers came along to ensure that proper use of the medicines was translated into the local languages. It was a most beautiful effort, linking together communities that I love and cherish from both sides of the ocean. Thank you to all who donated, and to all who helped.

As I would hear people say every day in Guinea, “Wontanara” (We are together / We are one). Let’s find more ways to give back, to share the wealth, and to honor this truth of our common humanity with care and action. 

Click Here for Weekly Dance & Drum Class Details for Adults
Click Here for Children & Family Classes, Winter Session 2018

Do you have plans in place to stay warm and inspired, active and connected this winter?
One of my favorite ways to beat the blues is gathering with community for energetic movement and inspiring live music ~
There’s a lot of love here.

West African Dance & Drum is alive and thriving here in Maine, thanks to an incredible, ever-growing community. Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post for some big updates, relevant this month. 

Post Dundun Dance Class with Seny Daffe in Kittery, ME. November 30, 2017

We had a fantastic turnout for our special day of classes with Youssouf Koumbassa and Namory Keita in Portland last month, and a great class with Seny Daffe in Kittery last week.

Click here for Video from Seny Daffe’s dundun dance class, 11.30.17

Dance Class with Youssouf Koumbassa in Portland, ME. October 24, 2017

~ GIVING & RECEIVING ~

In the tradition of West African drum and dance,
there is a constant exchange.
Energy is given out by each dancer and drummer, and received in turn by each, as well as the rest of the community.

IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING AND RECEIVING WE SHARE THIS NEWS AND INVITE YOUR PARTICIPATION:

• Embody the Rhythm founder, (yours truly) Marita Kennedy-Castro is returning to Guinea, West Africa December 31 for a dance intensive cultural immersion with Youssouf Koumbassa.
  
  
• Click Here to Support First Aid supplies for Guinean Families
  I will return with photos and stories from those whom you’ve helped, and I’ll be on fire with new dances to share.Please donate before December 27th for First Aid supplies.
  
  
• Click Here to Support your teacher’s immersion studies at Bagatai Dance/Drum
  
  
• Click Here to Support Namory Keita’s Dream Project – Hamana Arts Center
  
  
  
• NEW Winter Dance Class Sessions for Children & Families
  Beginning February 10th – 2 Age Groups – Details & Registration, here
• NEW Gift Certificates for New Students –  $20 for 4 weeks of Tuesday night adult class. Give the gift of dance ~  Contact Marita by Dec 27 to order Gift Certificates
  
• YOU’RE INVITED – Tuesday December 19th, will be our last class of 2017. Join Embody the Rhythm for a community potluck gathering right after dance class at the New Church. Bring your dinner, or something to share. Funds and First Aid items can be donated that evening as well.
• No class Dec 26 * Classes Resume Jan 2nd and continue on, weekly! 
  Ashley Edmondson and Anne Esguerra, from New Moon Ensemble, will be subbing for Marita while she’s in Guinea. Our solid drummers will keep it hopping, so there’s no need to lose your groove.

Join the ever-growing community here at Embody the Rhythm!
All are welcome.

Our lively dance classes bring community together through the healing power of movement and music, and the gift of cultural exchange. Classes are designed for beginner students together with intermediate students. No experience necessary.

Click HERE for weekly adult dance class info

Namory, Liz, Youssouf & Marita (left to right) celebrating West African Dance & Drumming, alive, thriving and expanding in Maine.

Dance class will begin at 6pm, starting this week.
All-levels dance class with live drumming.  
Every Tuesday, 6-7:30pm
Come dance in Spring, 2017! What better time than now?
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Loads of fun things being cooked up, behind the scenes, at Embody the Rhythm.
So much so, that this post needs to remain brief… Inhale, exhale, repeat.  Join me on the dance floor!