Embody the Rhythm

WITH EVERYONE’S WELLBEING IN MIND, WE’RE MOVING ALL DANCE & DRUM CLASSES *ONLINE* UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
OUR FIRST ONLINE CLASS IS TUESDAY 3.17 at 6PM and FREE!
LIVE DRUMMING!  KEEPING VIBES HIGH & BODYS HEALTHY.
#SPREADLOVE#BELOVE

So much happening at Embody the Rhythm and we don’t want you to miss a beat!!

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 14, is BRING A FRIEND FREE DAY and Marita’s last class before she’s away for a bit ~ Grab a buddy and come dance!
9-10am at 302 Stevens Ave, Portland.
Happy V-Day!

NEXT FRIDAY MORNING DANCE SERIES BEGINS MARCH 20 ~ Details and registration below. Early Discount before March 1!

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TUESDAYS, FEBRUARY 18 & 25 lovely Anne Esguerra will be subbing for Marita, and FEB 18th is Namory Keita’s first dance class back in Maine from winter in Guinea!! Come show them some love, give Namory a warm welcome back and congratulate him on his recent engagement!!!

Tuesday Classes are Ongoing, 6:00-7:30pm at 302 Stevens Ave. – Guinea Style West African Dance with Live Drumming. Always open!

Anne Esguerra

Namory Keita

TUESDAY MARCH 3, SPECIAL GUEST IMAN BANCE will be subbing for Marita as she stops through Portland on her way back from spending 3 months dancing in Guinea:

Iman Bance

Born and raised in Hawaii, Iman Bance started studying African Dance in 2006. She was part of Harambe Dance Company in New York, for a time, and studied with various New York dance schools, including Mark Morris, Alvin Ailey Extension, Peridance Capezio Center, as well as Cumbe Center for African and Diaspora Dance.  Iman lived a year in Guinea, studying and rehearsing with Les Merveilles, the preeminent drum and dance company of Guinea.

She is a patient and clear teacher and her positive energy, enthusiasm and passion are infectious. Catch this special opportunity to dance with Iman in Portland, Maine: March 3, 2020!!

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MORE WAYS TO MOVE WITH YOUR HEART:

Our dear community and New Moon Ensemble member, John Marlowe, has done incredible work to raise funds for our teacher Sayon Camara’s village in Guinea, West Africa.
John and his son Jamie put in tons of love to help raise the money for a library in Sayon’s village and provide school supplies to village children.
Now John’s own family is in deep need of support ~ Over the past few months both John’s wife and their son Jamie have been struggling with some major health issues, which have become nearly impossible to afford. I’m calling on our drum and dance village, to see what we can do. Sending along some love and any amount of financial support would go a long way.
With gratitude, here’s a link to: SUPPORT THE MARLOWE FAMILY.

~ DANCE THE FLOWERS UP FROM THE EARTH ~
Friday Morning Dance Series, March 20 – May 8

 

Guinea Style West African Dance

Register Now! – Early Discount before March 1st, 2020
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Join me for 8 Fridays of grooving in the morning sunshine, at Portland New Church, 302 Stevens Ave. 9-10am

Classes at Embody the Rhythm are designed for all levels of students, bringing community together through the healing power of movement and music.
No experience required. This is a safe space for newcomers.

Friday classes focus on the heart and hip opening movements that support a solid foundation in Guinea style dance. We warm up to lively contemporary music from West Africa, and dance to smoking traditional rhythms recorded live in Guinea. 

 

EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT

BEFORE MARCH 1st:

$104 cash or check received before March 1 

(or $108 online – link here)

REGISTRATION AFTER MARCH 1st:

$116 cash or check 

(or $120 online – link here)

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Spread Love. Be Love. See You on the Dance Floor!

Together from 6 countries, 3 continents, 18 beating hearts, 1 planet: *NEW MOON ENSEMBLE*
plus SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS
SATURDAY AUGUST 24th at CONGRESS SQUARE!

New Moon Ensemble

Don’t miss this special event!
Guinea Style West African Dance & Drumming

*New Moon Ensemble* with guest artists Sayon Camara, Seny Daffe and Theo Martey
August 24th at Congress Square Park! 6:30-8pm

Sayon Camara

Theo Martey

Seny Daffe

Whether experiencing Sayon as a teacher or performer in classes, workshops, or celebrations, Sayon will take you places in drumming and traditional Guinean music that you didn’t know were possible and will do so with contagious joy.

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Theo is a Songwriter, Recording Artist, Producer, Performer and Teacher. He has taught and performed African drumming, dancing and music in Ghana and internationally. 

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Seny is a versatile musician and plays the djembe, krin, bolon, gogo ma, sangban, balafone, and doundouns. He is also a very talented singer and comedian, and is considered one of the world’s finest doundoun players. SPECIAL GUEST CLASSES WITH SENY, AUGUST 22 in Kittery & 23 in Portland. SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS.

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Meet New Moon Ensemble Dancers:

Anne Esguerra

Alison Green-Parsons

Ann Brandt

Ashley Edmondson

Megu Hirayama

Aminata Doumbouya

Grace Kapinga

Danielle Dellaquila

Marita Kennedy-Castro ~ Artistic Director, Choreographer

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Meet New Moon Ensemble Drummers:

Namory Keita ~ Musical Director

Annegret Baier

Jeff Howe

John Marlowe

Janice Erickson

New Moon Ensemble
Guinea Style West African Dance & Drumming 

Master village drummer and performer Namory Keita, from Sangbarela, Guinea and dancer/choreographer Marita Kennedy-Castro from Maine developed the 15 member troupe to help spread the love for traditional music and dances of Guinea, West Africa. The Ensemble includes multi-talented musician Annegret Baier, from Germany, as well as a handful of other skilled musicians and dancers from Marita & Namory’s weekly classes.

THURSDAY August 22nd in Kittery (click here for details)
FRIDAY August 23rd in Portland:
WEST AFRICAN dance class with Seny Daffe
Accompanied by Master Drummer Namory Keita
6-7:30 pm at Portland New Church on 302 Stevens Ave – Portland ME
$16-20 sliding scale – Cash at the door

RECENT WORKSHOPS:
(If you missed the workshop, join weekly classes with Namory by clicking HERE)

Saturday July 27th ~ ADVANCED DRUM WORKSHOP
with NAMORY KEITA

Saturday July 27th
1 – 4:30 PM
$60 online /$70 at the door
Portland New Church, 302 Stevens Ave, Portland, ME
*For Intermediate/Advanced players*
Bring your Djembé or Dounoun playing to another level!
Visit Namorydrum.com for more info or to register

SENY DAFFE RETURNS TO PORTLAND, ME (and beyond) IN MAY!

Guest artist Seny Daffe, alongside Namory Keita and our talented drummers rocked the house in Portland & Kittery last month!

Here’s some of the fun we had singing and dundun dancing with Seny, April 25:

Seny & Namory have a mini-tour together in Maine and New Hampshire, MAY 27th – MAY 31st ~ Catch them for drum, dance, or dundun dance in Bristol, NH or Portland, Kittery, or Camden, ME!

Monday MAY 27 ~ INT/ADV DRUM CLASS with Namory Keita
Wild Root Kombuchery, 135 Washington Ave, Portland, ME | 6:15-7:15pm |
$15/class or $13 per class for punch card of 4
Find and share on facebook HERE

Tuesday MAY 28 ~ SPECIAL DANCE CLASS with Seny Daffe at Embody the Rhythm! 
Portland New Church, 302 Stevens Ave, Portland, ME | 6:00-7:30pm |
$16-20 sliding scale – cash only please
Show support and share on facebook HERE

LINK for CLASS DETAILS  May 29 – May 31
Wednesday MAY 29, Bristol, NH
Thursday MAY 30, Kittery, ME
Friday MAY 31, Camden, ME

THIS JUST IN: Beautiful djembefola (master drummer) Sayon Camara will be visiting Maine next week, and be our special guest drummer in Tuesday Dance Class, May 21st!

Come dance to the beautiful rhythm, Kassa, May 21! Drumming led by Namory Keita and Sayon Camara

*IMPORTANT* ~ CHANGES/NOTICES
at EMBODY THE RHYTHM:

• Dance Class TIME CHANGE: Tuesdays JUNE – AUGUST
  7:00 -8:30pm* | Catch an extra hour of sunshine before coming to dance it out to live drumming!!*If you’ve purchased a 4 or 8 class card and won’t be able to attend during this time change, please talk with Marita or Anne in class, or email me (Marita)*
• SEEKING OUTDOOR LOCATION for Dance
  I’m seeking a flat, open, (non-concrete) available space outside, to hold dance class on some Tuesdays this summer. Have ideas? Please email me.If a Portland location is found, will be posted as *special notice* at top of homepage here, by midday of class. If rain is expected or nothing posted, you’ll find us @ Portland New Church.
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• Our DANCE Class SUPPORTS SOCIAL CHANGE INITIATIVES
  A percentage of proceeds from every class is contributed to important social change initiatives. Please learn about the ones we support in 2019: VISIT THIS PAGE.
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• SUMMER PERFORMANCES ~ SAVE THE DATES
  New Moon Ensemble performs:
  Saturday August 24th ~ Free evening show at Congress Square Park, Portland, ME
  Saturday September 7th ~ at Henry Fest (Folk Music Festival), Falmouth, ME

HELP BUILD a LIBRARY for these children in KOUYA SIDIA, GUINEA, WEST AFRICA

Our newest dance class drummer, John Marlowe, has created THIS FUNDRAISER to help build a library in the home village of our wonderful teacher, Sayon Camara. 

Please check out this awesome project, and share it with the librarians, book lovers, children and community change-makers in your life!

Flowers are blooming, the weather is warming, the air is fresh, the birds are singing…  SO many reasons to dance. See you on the dance floor! 

This is how we keep warm as we anticipate a long-awaited summer in Maine … (Click the arrow embedded in right side of image, to see more sweetness)

WE’VE BEEN HAVING SO MUCH FUN BUILDING COMMUNITY WITH SOME FABULOUS GUEST TEACHERS THESE PAST FEW MONTHS.

IF YOU’VE MISSED THEM, THERE’S STILL MORE TO COME IN JUNE:

Thursday June 14th, Seny Daffe returns to the Dance Hall in Kittery, to teach Dundun Dance & Namory Keita teaches Drumming. Visit the links for details, and see videos below from our recent workshops.
Facebook Event Link / Seacoast Dance & Drum 

Friday June 15th, Music on Main – A Night of West African Drumming & Dance with special guests, Theo Martey, Abou Sylla, Seny Daffe and Namory Keita!
For more info and tickets, visit Music on Main. 

Here’s a peek at the fun we had in Dundun Dance Class with Seny Daffe, April 3rd in Portland, ME:

.. and April 5th in Kittery, ME:

Meanwhile, as we cultivate the Earth with the coming of warmer weather, we also continue to plant, water and grow this community.

Join us for Weekly Dance & Drum Classes, every Monday & Tuesday!
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Movement is Medicine. Find your movement. Find your medicine. 

See you on the dance floor.

Link Here for Dance Class Video Samples 

Link Here for Dance & Drum Class Details

Happy Autumn!
(CLICK HERE FOR OUR WEEKLY DANCE & DRUM CLASS INFO)

TUESDAY OCTOBER 24
World renowned master teacher, Youssouf Koumbassa returns to Maine.

Master village drummer, Namory Keita will begin the night with Drum Class, and lead the smoking drum accompaniment for dance class.

ALL LEVELS WELCOME. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.

YOUSSOUF KOUMBASSA 
Perhaps the world’s most sought-after teacher of Guinea-style African dance, Youssouf was born in Conakry, Guinea. He was a principle dancer with Ballets Djoliba, one of Guinea’s most important national dance companies, for 13 years, training and touring extensively throughout the world. With his prodigious skill and thrilling talent, as well as the precious pedagogy and choreography of his teachers before him, Youssouf relocated to the United States to share his passion and his legacy with dancers and audiences everywhere.

NAMORY KEITA
Namory Keita, Master Drummer, is a sought after teacher and performer with a unique style and a wealth of traditional knowledge very rare to find outside the villages of Guinea. His resources include not only his wonderful ability to engage any audience but also his relationships with dancers and drummers locally, and around the world.

Tuesday October 24, 2017
Woodford’s Club, 179 Woodford St, Portland, ME
5:15-6:15pm – DRUM CLASS with Namory Keita 
6:30-8pm – DANCE CLASS with Youssouf Koumbassa

Preregistration Price*: $17/class or $32 for both classes
Preregistration is closed, but you can still pay at the door ~
See you tonight!
$20/class or $34 for both classes (Discounts offered for New Mainers/low-income. Inquire at the door)

HOW TO PREPARE:
`No prior experience is needed. 
`Bring an open mind, and an interest to learn.
`Wear comfortable clothing that you can move and sweat in.
`Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated.
`Dancing is with bare feet (dance shoes but not street shoes) are okay, if needed.

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES to Dance with Youssouf in Maine:

Thursday October 26th, at Kittery Dance Hall
Kittery, ME

Friday October 27th at High Mountain Hall
Camden, ME

Embody the Rhythm had a busy summer, so there’s more good news to come, including exciting developments and opportunities for dancers coming up in early 2018.
Follow this newsletter to keep up to date.

See you on the dance floor.

 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 

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:

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Blue Moon Tribe performs for Learning Works at Riverton School

SUMMER CLASSES IN WEST AFRICAN DANCE & DRUM:

~ SUMMER DANCE INCENTIVE: Dance more, pay less ~

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

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!

 FIRE POI WORKSHOP SERIES:

Marita dances with fire at Mini Guinea Fest