Embody the Rhythm

Greetings community,

Perhaps you, like me, have been thinking about things going on in the world that weigh heavily on the heart. I am grateful that we can lean on the healing and regenerative power of coming together in rhythm and dance, to boost hope and resilience. It is my intent that by dancing I not only regenerate strength and energy for myself, but that the healing energy will spread out to those around me, and beyond.

For September in our Thursday class I’ll share with you what I have learned of the beautiful dance, Yankadi (from the Susu people of Guinea, West Africa), with the wish that as we move to this beautiful rhythm, we send love in all directions. 

Here’s a snippet of Yankadi at a dance class, with Youssouf Koumbassa, at the Ndaje Festival in Cambrige, MA. Mangue Sylla on djembe and Fode Bangoura on dundun~

Also, a NEW 12 week BEGINNER DANCE CLASS SESSION, starts on Tuesday, September 30th at the Woodford’s Club.

FMI please visit the page: About Our Weekly Classes, and stay tuned in by signing up to follow this blog. You can also follow on Facebook at: Portland Maine West-African Inspired Dance

Be love.

West African inspired dancing and drumming in Portland: 3 nights/week in August

Mondays at 5:30pm ~ Join us for drum and dance workshops with 5-gallon buckets (scroll down to 8/27 post for full details, or click here for fb event)

Tuesdays at 5:45pm ~ We’re dancing Djolé at the Woodford’s Club (click here or here for class details)

Thursdays at 7:15om ~ We’re dancing Macru at Maine Ballroom Dance Studio (click here or here for class details)

Come join us!

AND finally, I am sharing some footage with you (taken by my lovely papa) from our incredible workshop with master dancer, Youssouf Koumbassa, here in Portland, in June! All in perfect timing… Enjoy! 

We now have TWO Weekly Classes in Portland: 

Beginner classes on Tuesdays, July 15- September 16th, 5:45pm @ the Woodford’s Club

&

All-levels classes on Thursdays (on-going), 7:15pm with live drumming @ Maine Ballroom Dance Studio

Photos from our amazing workshops with Youssouf Koumbassa last month, coming soon.

I feel as though I am writing to you from a mountaintop high in the clouds as I revel in the joy of the amazing production on April 19th.

Bakunda (We Love) was a night of cross-cultural dance, music, spoken word and imagery that truly seems to have inspired feelings of resilience and awareness of interconnectivity in the community it brought together. 

Here are a few sweet snippets from the show, captured by Tony Castro (my wonderful dad)~

Flamenco

Stepping

B’inganzo

Spoken Word Poetry

Interweaving the Dances

Adding Layers

B’inganzo

Members of Olas

Djundjun Dance

Djundjun Dance

Our Drummers!

An Ensemble of Amazing Women

We are so grateful to all who shared in this very special evening and hope some day to share it again for those who missed it.

I am really excited for our upcoming new Tuesday night class, starting May 13th! I’ve had a strong response to the offering of a beginner class and can’t wait to spread the love of this dance form further.

This will also be a great opportunity for Thurs night dancers to hone in on strengthening and alignment techniques that support us in this dance and to return to the essence of the groove.

TUESDAY night classes will carry through for 8 weeks, May 13th – July 1st (and we’ll see where to go from there). During the month of May we’ll dance Kuku, a wonderful celebration dance from the Susu people of Guinea. FMI on the Tuesday class please scroll down to the post from April 23rd or click this link HERE.

THURSDAY night classes will continue as usual, accompanied by live drumming by our fantastic band. This month we are honoring the energy and rapid footwork of the dance, Sorsornet, from the Baga people of Guinea.

Stay tuned for an announcement about special guests, Youssouf Koumbassa~ master dancer, teacher &  and Namory Keita~ master drummer, both from La Guinea, West Africa. I’m working on bringing them back for workshops in Portland in the month of June!!

In Peace & Community

Happy Spring!!!

Last month was International Women’s month (and March 8th was International Women’s Day). I suppose some could say this dance is coming a little behind schedule, but it’s always a great time to celebrate the amazing women of the world!

We’ll carry the celebration on into the month of April with a women’s dance from the Susu people of Guinea, called Yokí, or Guinea Faré (women’s dance). 

A simple wish ~ May all woman of the world be loved, respected, supported … and receive hand-picked flowers from special admirers! In fact, may all the men of the world, be blessed with the same.

I am interested in the ways that dance and music contribute to the wellbeing of our selves, our communities and the world around us.

Through teaching this class I’ve experienced the growth of a community that comes together each week to let everything go, allowing our inner selves to wake up in response to the rhythms of live drumming. By participating in and experiencing this together we are given the opportunity to express our own nature in response to our surroundings while at the same time experiencing our innate relationship with others. As humans, we need one another for optimal wellbeing. We remind each other of our true nature by virtue of sharing  in existence. I need you as you need me, as we need we.

Beautiful Bentourya, home of Nimba Center for Art & Sustainability

In Guinée, West Africa, dance and music are an integral part of life. During my stay there I witnessed no discouragement of the natural movement and expression of self that comes in response to music. I believe sharing in rhythmic music and movement connects us to one another, deeply, at the soul level and helps us to remember who we truly are. I encourage our community to experience the wellbeing that comes from sharing in live music and dancing, to embody the rhythms, express ourselves freely and honor the places and peoples from where these incredible rhythms and dances have come.

If you would like a way to give back to the people of Guinée I encourage you to check out the wonderful work of Nimba Center for Arts & Sustainable Energy (that is a direct link). All donations will go a long way.

This month in class we will be dancing Kassa, meaning “to plant” in the Malinké language. I know it is a little early for a planting dance, but I suppose I am just feeling quite ready for spring. While we dance (and our wonderful drummers drum) we can send the energy of rejuvenation and appreciation to the Earth that sustains us and allows us to thrive through all that grows.

See you on the dance floor!

Peace

We’ve recently celebrated the Chinese New Year and I am so pleased to have entered the year of the Horse. Horse is such a dear animal friend, reminding us by example to remain strong, graceful, wild… and to celebrate our freedom. How blessed we are to dance and be free!

We’re excited to bring you a new dance for Februrary ~ Sinté

Sinté comes from Boké village in Guinea. It is traditionally an initiation dance, and according to my teacher, Youssouf, it has become a national celebration dance in the country today. After a few more weeks behind the drum I so look forward to dancing Sinté with everyone very soon!!!

In the meantime, I continue to dream nearly every day of dancing in beautiful Guinea. Let’s pay tribute the roots of this dance form and dance up some heat, like we feel in the hot sands of Roum Island~

Roum Island, La Guinea, West Africa

Dancing in the sand on the Island of Roum…

Last week while we gave thanks for all good things in life the drums went on break and the studio was silent…

Drums resting in the shade in Conakry

I couldn’t help but dream of being in La Guinea.

Though it was only 2 years ago that I was gathering supplies and packing bags for an incredible trip to the birthplace of these rhythms, it feels like a decade. I can’t wait to return!

Perhaps some of you will join me next time ~ Winter 2015, anyone? That’s when I’m hoping for.

While we prepare to celebrate with loved ones over the coming month and perhaps seek organizations to support in our gift-giving, I’d love to encourage you to support Youssouf Koumbassa’s project, Nimba Center for Arts and Sustainable Energy. Please click HERE to learn about this fantastic project.

Bentouraya ~ Home of Youssouf’s Future Nimba Center

For the month of December I hope you’ll join me in celebrating this past year together as we send off 2013 with the energetic dance and rhythm, Soboninkun.

I’ve missed you these past few weeks and can’t wait to see you all again tomorrow night! In the meantime, feel free to join me in dreaming of Guinea…

See you on the dance floor!

Peace