Fresh Fall Air, Fresh New Moves & Fun Incentives

14 Sep 2015 Leave a comment

by danceswithfire in Monthly Dance Updates

The days are beginning to cool down outside, but we are heating things up in the studio on Tuesday & Thursday nights!

Click HERE for our schedule of weekly classes

On Thursdays this month we’re celebrating the rhythm and dance Soko, from the Malinké people of Faranah, Guinea. Check out the video and preview Soko fun.

~ SPECIAL FALL INCENTIVES ~
SPREAD THE LOVE, BE THE LOVE, RECEIVE THE LOVE:

RAFFLE – Throughout the months of September & October, bring or send a total of 3 new friends to dance class on Tuesday (beginners) or Thursday (all-levels), and be entered into a raffle for a FREE month of classes for you! Please have them mention your name when checking in. All new student’s 1st class is 1/2 price.

DANCE CLASS PASSES – NOW VALID ON EITHER NIGHT!

FMI on Classes & Prices Click HERE

PRIVATE LESSONS – AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

NEW DANCE SESSIONS BEGIN EVERY MONTH ~ ALL ARE WELCOME!

Namory Keita and Lanssine Traore playing for Tuesday night dance class. Photo by Ben McCanna

Instructor Marita Kennedy-Castro leads a class in West African inspired dancing Tuesday, April 7, at The Woodfords Club in Portland.

Marita Kennedy-Castro instructing Tuesday night dance class at the Woodford’s Club. Photo by Ben McCanna.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES – The Blue Moon Tribe will bring some West African Inspired Grooves and Fire Dances to the Biddeford Ball fundraiser, on October 3rd.

Celebrating Mill Workers and raising funds to illuminate the historic Pepperell Mill Building in Biddeford, the Masquerade Ball will include an array of performance acts, a delicious feast of local foods and drinks, and a band to boogie to. Find more info and purchase tickets to the event, HERE.

With the changing seasons, and more exciting things coming up soon, this is a great time to share the dance and drum class experience.
See you all soon! Peace.

Dancing to Remember

08 Aug 2015 Leave a comment

by danceswithfire in Monthly Dance Updates

Click Here for our Schedule of Weekly Classes

Come join the fun ~ We begin a new dance every month!

Freshly inspired by the incredible master teachers at Camp Fareta (annual West African dance and drum camp in California), I am excited to share Gumbé on Tuesdays this month, and Soli on Thursday nights.

Marita dancing at Camp Fareta – Photo by Dawn Cerf

Dancing at Camp Fareta – Photo by Dawn Cerf

This month I am dancing in honor and remembrance of our beloved teacher, Abdoulaye Sylla, who has so recently left this world. I am still stunned that he has passed, and give thanks for having been able to see and dance with him again, just a few weeks ago.

Abdoulaye had an incredible, lively spirit and energy. May he rest in peace, love, respect and harmony ~ the things he wished for everyone in the world ~ and may his spirit live on.

Dancing with Abdoulaye Sylla – Photo by Dawn Cerf

Dancing with Abdoulaye Sylla – Photo by Dawn Cerf

“Peace, love, respect, and harmony for everybody – Unity. Together. One.” ~ Abdoulaye Sylla (Photo by Dawn Cerf)

At Camp Fareta there are both beginner classes and intermediate/advanced classes in dancing and drumming every day, all day long.

There is a kid’s camp, offering amazing activities for the young ones while their parents take classes, the food is was delicious local, organic and made with love, the community is international, warm, open and beautiful.

I’d love to get a big group from Maine to come along next year!!

Photographer Dawn Serf captured the energy of the dance and drum classes so beautifully. Check out more of her beautiful photos at this link ~ Joyful West African Dancers at Camp Fareta 2015.

See you on the dance floor!

With love and gratitude.

Dancing from Coast to Coast

29 Jun 2015 Leave a comment

by danceswithfire in Monthly Dance Updates, Special Workshops

Click Here for our Dance & Drum Class Schedule

Portland is still buzzing from Mini Guinea Fest

One of the highlights was the celebration of Namory Keita’s move to Portland, and the moment Youssouf Koumbassa, Sayon Camara and Abou Sylla gave their blessings for his move here, and bestowed him to the Maine community.

Abou Sylla offers a blessings and officially bestows Namory Keita to his new home in Portland, ME

Our honored guests rocked the house with their incredible performances, including Theo Martey and Youssouf Koumbassa busting up the dance floor!

Akwaaba Ensemble performs

Theo Martey of Akwaaba Ensemble

Youssouf Koumbassa performing in Portland, ME in May 2015.

Namory Keita

It is truly a gift to have Namory in Maine. If you haven’t gotten to one of his drum classes yet, now’s a great time to start! New students always welcome. Every Tuesday 7:15pm, 179 Woodford St. in Portland.

See more beautiful moments from Mini Guinea Fest 2015, HERE

The month of June brought more special performances to Portland, including Seacoast West African Dance & Drum hosted by the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project at Old Port Festival on June 13~

And Portland’s Blue Moon Tribe, hosted by Friends of Congress Square Park for the Heart of Community Placemaking Launch on June 24 ~

This week I’m gearing up to head out to CA to study with master teachers Moustapha Bangoura, Abdoulaye Sylla, Djeneba Sako, Marie Basse-Wiles, Mabiba Baegne & Aziz Faye, Youssouf Koumbassa and many more, at Camp Fareta!

I’ll be building connections to bring more master artists to Maine in the future. I’m excited to bring back some wonderful energy to share with this community!

Come dance with me in class this Tuesday, June 30th, before I go.

There will be no class in Portland Thursday July 2nd ~ It’s a great night to pop down to Kittery for drum class with Namory Keita and dance class with Elizabeth Fowler and Seacoast West African Dance & Drum !

All other Portland classes are on, as usual.

We will have some wonderful subs for Tuesday classes (Janice Erickson) and Thursday class (Ashley Edmondson), until I return in mid July. Have so much fun with these lovely teachers!

Reminder: Now is the time to sign up for Dundun Dance and Fire Dancing Workshops in July & August. More details in last months blog (scroll down) or at the Facebook links provided below.

Click the class name for more info:

Dundun Dance Workshop Series

Fire Poi Dancing ~ A Beginner’s Series

Peace

Heating it Up!

08 Jun 2015 Leave a comment

by danceswithfire in Monthly Dance Updates, Special Workshops

Click Here for our Dance & Drum Class Schedule

Visit our PHOTO GALLERY from MINI GUINEA FEST (linked here) ~ We had a fantastic time!

Many more drum and dance performances coming right up ~ In addition to Mini Guinea Fest, Blue Moon Tribe (Portland’s West African inspired Dance & Drum ensemble) members also performed at the June First Friday Art Walk event, Converge.

Blue Moon Tribe dances & drums in the evening sun at First Friday Art Walk

MORE PERFORMANCES COMING SOON:

Saturday June 14th, 4pm at Portland’s Old Port Festival ~ Marita Kennedy-Castro will join Seacoast West African Dance & Drum for a performance lead by djembefola Namory Keita, and dancer Elizabeth Fowler.

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Wednesday June 24th, 4-5pm at Congress Square Park ~ Join Namory Keita, Annegret Baier, Jeff Howe, Marita Kennedy-Castro and many more drummers & dancers, for performances followed by a free mini dance lesson and chance to get your groove on to some fantastic rhythms!

Performing arts are helping to keep this park a vibrant and active asset to our community. We hope you can join us!

Blue Moon Tribe performs for Learning Works at Riverton School

SUMMER CLASSES IN WEST AFRICAN DANCE & DRUM:

~ Dance class for beginners, Tuesdays @ Woodford’s Club, 5:45pm Facebook Link

~ DRUM classes for all-levels every Tuesday at the Woodford’s Club, 7:15pm.

~ Dance class for all-levels, Thursdays @ Maine Ballroom, 7:15pm. Facebook Link

*All classes are on-going throughout the summer, with the exception of Thursday July 2nd (no class on this date).

~ SUMMER DANCE INCENTIVE: Dance more, pay less ~

8 class pass* for $96 (Good for 3 months, June-August!)

4 class pass* $52 (Good for 2 months from purchase)

Drop in $15

*Class passes are designated to either Tuesday or Thursday location, but cannot be transferred.

*All classes are on-going throughout the summer, with the exception of Thursday July 2nd (no class on this date).

DUNDUN DANCE WORKSHOP SERIES ~ Drum & Dance with 5 Gallon Buckets:

Do you like to dance AND to drum?

In this workshops series participants will learn the exciting Guinean tradition of Dundun Dance ~ dancing and drumming together! We will use easily accessible buckets as drums.

We’ll play a series of rhythms and movement sequences, which will all come together in a fun choreography.

Blue Moon Tribe dundun dancing in Bakunda. Photo by Arthur Fink

Blue Moon Tribe bucket drumming to promote Garbage to Garden, door to door compost service

In leu of a dun dun drum, bring a 5 gallon bucket and drumsticks (or inquire about reserving one – limited number available). Opportunity to perform, for those who are interested!

(Pre-registration required by July 15th ~ Contact Marita here to register)

$60 for 4 Wednesdays: July 22, 29, Aug 5 & 12
5:30-6:30pm (Location TBA with registration. Planning for outdoor location with indoor back up in case of rain)

Share & Link to Facebook here

FIRE POI WORKSHOP SERIES:

Fire Dancing ~ A Beginners Series (no fire required)

Participants will use practice sets of poi (limited number provided, very easy to make yourself) and learn basic to advanced skills and tricks in fire poi /fire dance.
Final workshop includes a tutorial for making your own fire poi and taking fire safety precautions, for those who are ready for the flame.

Marita dances with fire at Mini Guinea Fest

(Pre-registration required by July 15th ~ Contact Marita here to register)

$60 for 4 Wednesdays: July 22, 29, Aug 5 & 12

7:30-8:30pm (Location TBA with registration. Planning for outdoor location with indoor back up in case of rain)

Share & Link to Facebook here

Can’t wait to dance with you all in the studio or the grass this summer!

Announcing ~ Mini Guinea Festival!

02 Apr 2015 2 Comments

by danceswithfire in Monthly Dance Updates, Notice, Special Workshops Tags: Namory Keita, Sayon Camara, Youssouf Koumbassa

Click Here for our Weekly Dance & Drum Class Schedule

Mini Guinea Fest

Saturday May 16, 2015

At the Woodford’s Club, 179 Woodford St. in Portland, Maine

Building community and sharing the love, we celebrate master drummer Namory Keita’s move to Portland, the 10 Year Anniversary of Portland’s West African Inspired Dance, and the many artists and students who have helped build the energy here over the years.

Click HERE for Tickets

Some of the amazing artists we’ll celebrate with:

Namory Keita

Youssouf Koumbassa

Sayon Camara

Abdoulaye Toure

Abou Sylla

*

Mini Guinea Fest is a celebration of West African Dance and Drumming, and its growing community here in Maine and New England.

*

The event begins with a lively dance class with Youssouf Koumbassa ~ world-renowned for his dancing, and gift for making Guinean dance accessible to all learners.

Youssouf Koumbassa teaching at Mechanic's Hall Ballroom, in Portland 2014

Youssouf teaching at Mechanic’s Ballroom in Portland, ME 2014

Youssouf teaching at Camp Fareta in California

Class will be followed by breaking bread together, an evening of performances with some of Guinea’s finest musicians, and some local talents from ME and NH.

Stay on afterward to join the dance party and help us give Namory a warm welcome!

*

Welcoming Namory Keita! Photo by Philip Styles

Mini Guinea Fest ~ Saturday May 16

At the Woodford’s Club, 179 Woodford St. in Portland, Maine

Doors Open at 3:30pm

4:00-5:30pm ~ All Levels West African Dance class with Youssouf Koumbassa

No experience necessary in what is certain to be a joyous dance class with revered teacher, and renowned master dancer, Youssouf Koumbassa, from Guinea. ($15 advance/$18 at door)

5:30-7:00pm ~Potluck and mingling

Please bring something to share.

7:00-9:00pm ~ West African Dance and Drum Performances

With Guinean artists, Namory Keita, Abou Sylla, Sayon Camara, Abdoulaye Toure, Theo Martey and more! Portland’s local Blue Moon Tribe, lead by Marita Kennedy-Castro, Kittery dancers lead by Elizabeth Fowler, and Araba-Lon, from New Hampshire will open up the show. ($15 advance/$18 at door)

9:00-11:30pm ~ Stay on for the party, and join the celebration!
(Included in performance ticket)

Purchase Tickets Here:

http://miniguineafest.brownpapertickets.com

Join and share the Event on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1575977879343761/

Learn about some of the guest artists:

*

Youssouf Koumbassa:

http://youssoufkoumbassag.wix.com/site

Class with Youssouf in Portland last June:

Youssouf’s Summer Camp in California:

*

Namory Keita:

http://www.namorydrum.com

*

Plus many additional musicians and dancers!!

Join our weekly classes in West African Inspired Dance and West African Drumming with this welcoming and ever-expanding community in Portland Maine!

~ More info HERE ~

See you at Mini Guinea Fest!

Dancing in the Returning Light

10 Mar 2015 Leave a comment

by danceswithfire in Monthly Dance Updates, Notice

While dreaming of birdsongs and flowering plants, this beautiful and ever-growing community is staying warm dancing and drumming ’til the walls sweat with us. Come join the fun! This month we are honoring Guinean dances associated with healing and healers.

Photo by Kara Estey

Tuesday nights in March we are celebrating Lamban (also Lamba), meaning “spirited dance”. This is a healing dance from the the storytellers and history keepers, the “griots” or “djelis” of Guinea.

Thursday nights in March we are celebrating Tiriba, a dance of the Baga and Landouma people of Guinea. A very special dance in honor of healers and medicine people.

Photo by Kara Estey

We’re also calling community together this month to support our friend, drummer and teacher, Namory Keita, in this particularly tough time for he and his family. Namory’s older brother passed away one week ago, unexpectedly, and Namory is now the primary supporter of his and his brothers family in Guinea. Please take a look at this link: http://www.gofundme.com/nnrpu8 and give anything you can to support them in this time of loss. Together we hold one another up.

Join us this month in class as we dance in celebration of the returning light, as well as the healers within us, amongst us, and beyond.

Peace

Checked out the Related Events and Classes page for Info on Drumming with Sayon Camara on Spring Equinox!

Rhythms to Warm Your Bones

16 Feb 2015 Leave a comment

by danceswithfire in Monthly Dance Updates

Over 30 People Turned out to Namory Keita's Drum Workshop on January 18th

Namory Keita’s drum workshop on January 18th at the Woodford’s Club

Portland community turned out in large numbers to take one or more of the 4 dance, drum and song workshops on January 18th, with Ismael Kouyate and Namory Keita.

Visit Portland Maine West African Inspired Dance, on Facebook, to see and hear videos from the weekend of workshops Jan 17-18 (“smart” phone videos not formatted well for this page).

If you missed out, here’s the great news ~ Namory teaches drum classes for all levels every Tuesday night in Portland at 7:15pm after accompanying West African Inspired Dance class for beginners at 5:45pm. Tuesday classes are at the Woodford’s Club.

In our Thursday night all levels dance class we continue to enjoy live drumming accompaniment by the talents of Jeff Howe, Annegret Baier, Janice Erickson, Chris Gager, Lanssine Traore, Sandra Benson and Adrian Smith…

Heating up the dance floor all through the winter, at Maine Ballroom Dance Studio. Thursdays start at 7:15pm.

There’ll be no classes Tues Feb 17th. On Thursday Feb 19th, Ashley Edmondson will be subbing for me at Maine Ballroom, and on Tuesday Feb 24th, Janice Erickson will sub for me at the Woodford’s Club. Enjoy the fun styles of these lovely teachers!

Happy February New Moon, and Chinese New Year!

Click Here for More Info on Our Weekly Dance & Drum Classes

Guinea is coming to Maine!!

04 Dec 2014 1 Comment

by danceswithfire in Monthly Dance Updates, Notice, Special Workshops

Click HERE for our Current Weekly Class Schedule

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

I never anticipated a day would come that I’d get to make this special announcement: Portland is welcoming master drummer Namory Keita, from Guinea, West Africa ~ to LIVE HERE!

I am thrilled to share that this gracious, kind, djembefola (master drummer) from Sangbarala, Guinea, has chosen Portland, Maine as his new home and community. Big Up to you Namory! We have much to celebrate!

A Warm Welcome to Namory Keita!!!!!!!

Namory Keita, djembefola

Starting in January, Namory will be accompanying our Tuesday night beginner dance class at the Woodford’s Club (yes yes!) and teaching drum classes directly following. We are blessed!

Weekly Drum Classes with Namory Keita, starting January 6th, 2015

Tuesdays 7:15-8:45pm at the Woodford’s Club, 179 Woodford’s St. in Portland

Please bring a drum if you have one. Limited number of drums available for reservation.

FMI contact Janice Erickson: jerickson002@maine.rr.com

Dancing & Drumming Without Borders ~ Supporting ebola relief efforts

Reminder: Over the next 2 months a percentage of funds from every dance class will be donated to Doctors Without Borders to aid in ebola relief efforts. Please consider donating directly, via their website, and help to support the people and families from which this music and dancing comes!

HOLIDAY Discount Offers & Gift Certificates Available in December & January

Good for Tues OR Thurs night Dance Class ~ (we can’t do multi-location passes)

*4 classes ~ $48

*8 classes ~ $88

*12 classes ~ $120

*Introduce someone new to class and you BOTH attend their 1st class at 1/2 price (redeemable one time only)

*Barters available for members of Hour Exchange Portland

*Students: $2 discount with I.D.

SAVE THE DATE January 17-18, 2015

Workshops & Performances with Special Guest:

Ismael ‘Bonfils’ Kouyate!

Ismael ‘Bonfils’ Kouyate, world renowned artist of traditional Guinean dance and song is coming to Maine in January 2015, for a weekend of workshops and performances.

Bonfils comes from a family of artists, and was a long time performer with Les Percussions de Guinea and Les Ballets Africains, one of Guinea’s national ballets. You may have caught him in the Broadway musical FELA!, or performing with Ismael Kouyate: Waraba Band.

Spread the Word

Saturday Jan 17th ~ Ismael teaches song, dance, drum and dundun dance classes in Kittery, topped off by an evening performance with several other musicians and dancers from Guinea, including master balafone player, Abou Sylla.

Sunday Jan 18th ~ Ismael teaches song, dance, drum and dundun dance classes in Portland

More Details Will Be Posted Soon!

Click HERE to find us on Facebook

Embodying Gratitude and Altruism

20 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

by danceswithfire in Monthly Dance Updates, Notice

Click HERE for our Current Weekly Class Schedule

Click HERE to find us on Facebook

The earth dances a little further from the sun each day now, bringing us ever more reason to dance more warmth into our lives, and the lives of others.

Next week many of us will gather with loved ones to share in the gifts of this years harvest, reconnect with good friends and family and give thanks for these blessings.

In honor of those who’s cultures birthed these rhythms and dances, and in recognition of the current struggle to control Ebola in numerous West African countries, over the next few months we’ll extend this embodiment of gratitude to the peoples of West Africa. For the months of December and January, beyond the energetic support and prayers we send, a portion of the proceeds from each class will be donated to the aid efforts of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders).

Even if you can’t make it to class, please consider contributing directly. Here’s a link ~ http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/our-work/medical-issues/ebola

Hope to see your lovely faces in class tonight! There will be no class next Thursday, Novemeber 27th. Wishing you all a sweet time to celebrate the harvest and enjoy gathering with loved ones.

Hearts that ache, still can sing. Let’s take them dancing.

30 Oct 2014 Leave a comment

by danceswithfire in Monthly Dance Updates, Notice

Happy late October!

With the Day of the Dead almost here, it’s a wonderful time to honor and celebrate the lives of loved ones who’ve passed on. If you’re looking for a reason to take yourself out dancing, I hope you’ll let the call of live drumming, presence of community, urge to sweat something out, or the wish to celebrate the life of a loved one, carry you to class this evening.

This month we’ve been celebrating the rhythm and dance, Soli, which comes from the Susu people of Guinea, West Africa. Although we’ve switched to Kassa, on Tuesdays, there’s still one more chance (tonight!) to bust a move to Soli, with our fantastic drummers to put some heat beneath your feet.

Last week in dance class.

Check out this VIDEO LINK on our Portland Maine West African Inspired Dance facebook page for inspiration!

Special news~ Our talented dancer and friend, Alison Green-Parsons will be selling some of her crafts in classes this week and next. Bring some extra cash and get holiday shopping done while supporting a local community member.

Alison Green-Parson's beautiful hand made earrings and cloth covered journals.

Some of Alison’s beautiful hand-made gifts, from my own collection.

~ SPECIAL FALL INCENTIVES ~ SPREAD THE LOVE, BE THE LOVE, RECEIVE THE LOVE:

This week I’m gearing up to head out to CA to study with master teachers Moustapha Bangoura, Abdoulaye Sylla, Djeneba Sako, Marie Basse-Wiles, Mabiba Baegne & Aziz Faye, Youssouf Koumbassa and many more, at Camp Fareta!

Come dance with me in class this Tuesday, June 30th, before I go.

There will be *no class in Portland Thursday July 2nd* ~ It’s a great night to pop down to Kittery for drum class with Namory Keita and dance class with Elizabeth Fowler and Seacoast West African Dance & Drum !

All other Portland classes are on, as usual.

Reminder: Now is the time to sign up for Dundun Dance and Fire Dancing Workshops in July & August. More details in last months blog (scroll down) or at the Facebook links provided below.

Click the class name for more info:

MORE PERFORMANCES COMING SOON:

SUMMER CLASSES IN WEST AFRICAN DANCE & DRUM:

~ SUMMER DANCE INCENTIVE: Dance more, pay less ~

DUNDUN DANCE WORKSHOP SERIES ~ Drum & Dance with 5 Gallon Buckets:

FIRE POI WORKSHOP SERIES:

Mini Guinea Fest

Saturday May 16, 2015

Building community and sharing the love, we celebrate master drummer Namory Keita’s move to Portland, the 10 Year Anniversary of Portland’s West African Inspired Dance, and the many artists and students who have helped build the energy here over the years.

Some of the amazing artists we’ll celebrate with:

*

Mini Guinea Fest is a celebration of West African Dance and Drumming, and its growing community here in Maine and New England.

*

The event begins with a lively dance class with Youssouf Koumbassa ~ world-renowned for his dancing, and gift for making Guinean dance accessible to all learners.

Class will be followed by breaking bread together, an evening of performances with some of Guinea’s finest musicians, and some local talents from ME and NH.

Stay on afterward to join the dance party and help us give Namory a warm welcome!

*

Mini Guinea Fest ~ Saturday May 16

Purchase Tickets Here:

Join and share the Event on Facebook:

Learn about some of the guest artists:

*

Youssouf Koumbassa:

Class with Youssouf in Portland last June:

Youssouf’s Summer Camp in California:

*

Namory Keita:

*

Sayon Camara:

* Abou Sylla:

* Abdoulaye Toure:

Plus many additional musicians and dancers!!

Join our weekly classes in West African Inspired Dance and West African Drumming with this welcoming and ever-expanding community in Portland Maine!

~ More info HERE ~

See you at Mini Guinea Fest!

Join us this month in class as we dance in celebration of the returning light, as well as the healers within us, amongst us, and beyond.

Peace

SAVE THE DATE January 17-18, 2015

Workshops & Performances with Special Guest:

Ismael ‘Bonfils’ Kouyate!

Happy late October!

It’s a good night for hearts to sing.

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Portland New Church, 302 Stevens Ave., Portland, ME 04103 | (207) 200-4834

~ SPECIAL FALL INCENTIVES ~
SPREAD THE LOVE, BE THE LOVE, RECEIVE THE LOVE:

There will be no class in Portland Thursday July 2nd ~ It’s a great night to pop down to Kittery for drum class with Namory Keita and dance class with Elizabeth Fowler and Seacoast West African Dance & Drum !

*
Abou Sylla:

*
Abdoulaye Toure: