Saturday, June 30, 2007

CONGOLESE DANCE CLASSES
(Teens/Adults)

Summer Session: July 7 - August 18, 2007


*Continuing students pay $5 for the first class on 7/7 if you bring a new guest*

We're also looking for people to commit to the entire session.



WHAT: Congolese Dance Classes (Central African)

WHERE: Black Repertory Group, 3201 Adeline St., Berkeley, CA 94703 (Purple Bldg.)

WHEN: SATURDAYS, 11AM – 12:15PM

COST: $11 per class, drop-in ok.

Contact info: golden2006@sbcglobal.net, 510-368-2475, http://www.youmustdance.blogspot.com/


For those who are new to this information, here are a few details. Congolese dance is Central African from the Congo. The dance, culture and people from the Congo all fall under the name Congolese. This dance is typically accompanied by live music from a cylindrical heightened drum called “Ngoma”. The dance is depicted by its smoothness, soulfulness, groundedness, funkiness, and pelvic rotations.



Class Format: Warm-up stretches are done center floor to recorded music, Soukous, which is contemporary music from the Congo. Some movements are done center floor as well. Then students will cross the dance floor in rows/columns with the given movement from the instructor and return to their starting point. Live music is provided by master drummer, Constant Massengo, and in his absence other wonderful musicians will accompany the class.

Please note: class format is subject to change.
For your dancing pleasure, here are some links to the upcoming conferences, camps, etc that will take place through the end of the this year.


Camp Fareta (Youssouf Koumbassa), July 8 – 15, 2007

http://www.westafricandance.com/camp_fareta.html

http://dancingvillage.com/camp_fareta_artists.php


Congolese Dance & Drum Workshop, Pike, CA, July 20 -29, 2007

http://www.congorhythms.org/


Moustapha Bangoura’s Won Na Won Malan conference in Chicago, August 23 – 26, 2007

http://www.clarence-webpage.com/AfricanArts/WonNaWonMalan2007.html


Kankouran Conference, Washington D.C., August 30 – September 2, 2007

http://www.kankouran.org/Conference%202007%20-%20Workshop%20Schedule.pdf


Kukundi Camp in North Carolina, October 5 - 7, 2007
http://www.kukundicamp.org/


SAN FRANCISCO/ BAY AREA AFRICAN DANCE & DRUM FESTIVAL-Oakland

November 7 - 11, 2007

http://www.celebrateclitoris.com/SFafricandance.html