What’s New:

New Moon Ensemble Performs on Congress Square July 15!
* Private movement lessons * Dance discounts for men *
* Possible Thursday dance class time change *

For Weekly Dance & Drum Class Schedule, please click HERE

Bring your kids, bring a friend, tell your neighbors…
Free outdoor show in downtown Portland! We hope to see you there! 

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NEW: Private Movement Lessons ~  Have you often thought you’d love to take a dance class, but don’t quite dare? Do you wish to find your freedom of movement but struggle with body image, or feel “stuck” in some way? Individualized classes can help to unblock and access movement and expression, at your own pace.  Marita provides a safe and fun environment in which to explore, and is passionate about helping folks find more ease and confidence in their bodies. Contact Marita HERE to explore the possibilities. 

NEW: Men Dance for Just $5, first Tuesdays or Thursdays ~
Acknowledging that Maine can be a tough place for men to feel at home on the dance floor, I want to give the fellas a little boost – All identifying males dance for just $5 on first Tuesdays or Thursdays of the month. Tell your people! Flood the dance floor! 

Possible Thursday Dance Class Time Change ~ Heads up ~ Starting in the fall, we are looking to switch our dance class day and time to better serve this community. Stay tuned! 

HIGHLIGHTS FROM MAY
Mini Guinea Fest in Kittery was a blast!

~ Here are a few glimpses of the fun we had ~

Amazing Dance Class with Sidiki Sylla ~ 

Love Sayon Camara! All smiles & skills ~

Seny Daffe sets the drums on fire! ~

There were SO many more amazing moments, and many more to come.
Thanks to Elizabeth Fowler and Kittery Dance Hall for hosting!  

Save the dates: September 24-25, Youssouf Koumbassa returns to Portland & Kittery! 

See you on the dance floor!

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!

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. 

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. 

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

It’s a good night for hearts to sing.