This blog will post various dance events, cultural events, or other pertinent information that takes place in and outside the bay area. However, the focus is on my classes, workshops, performances, etc, the (CDDF) Congolese Dance and Drum Festival:BIAMVU BIA KONGO will happen September 26-28, 2014 instead of October, and Congo Week VII, October 19-25, 2014. Happy Dancing!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Thursday, June 5 – Saturday, June 7
@ LANEY COLLEGE DANCE STUDIO, D-100
900 Fallon Street, Oakland, CA 94607
(campus map - http://laney.peralta.edu/apps/page.asp?Q=CollegeMap&menutab=1)
Festival Schedule:
Thurs., JUNE 5 Dance Schedule:
5:45 - 6:45 - Mini Lecture ~ Mbala Nkanga
7:00 - 8:15 - Dance - Mouyabi
8:15 – 9:30 – Dance - Vivien
Thurs., JUNE 5 Drum Schedule:
7:00 - 8:30 ~ Titos
Fri., JUNE 6 Dance Schedule:
5:45 - 7:00 - Dance ~ Kayos (Makaya)
7:00 - 8:15 - Dance ~ Biza
8:15 - 9:30 - Dance ~ Titos
Fri., JUNE 6 Drum Schedule:
7:00 - 8:30 ~ Mouyabi
Sat., JUNE 7 Dance Schedule:
9 - 10 - Youth Drum/Dance ~ Massengo
10:00 - 11:30 - BEG. Dance ~ LaKiesha
11:30 - 1:00 - Dance ~ Mbayero
1:00 - 2:30 - Dance ~ Titos
2:30 - 4:00 - Dance ~ Mouyabi
4:00 - 5:30 - Dance ~Biza
Sat., JUNE 7 Drum Schedule:
10:00 - 11:30 ~ Kayos (Makaya)
12:30 - 2:00 ~ Mbay
3:00 - 4:30 ~ Armel
PERFORMANCE @ 8:00PM - LANEY COLLEGE THEATER
Sunday, June 8, 2008
@ MALONGA CASQUELOURD CENTER FOR THE ARTS
1428 Alice Street, 3rd flr., Oakland, CA 94612
Sun., JUNE 8 Schedule:
9 - Lecture/Discussion - Mbala Nkanga
10:30-12-Soukous~LaKiesha/Kayos/Vivien
12:00 - 1:30 - Dance ~ Mbayero
1:30 - 3:00 - Dance ~ Titos
3:00 - 4:30 - Dance ~ Biza
4:30 - 6:00 - All Teachers
Contact Info:
CONGOFESTIVAL@YAHOO.COM OR (510) 368-2475
Pre-registration Cost:
6 or more dance classes-$13 each, Total Dance Pkg-$195
Pre-Registration due by TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2008 (M.O. or CASH, if in person)
Mail M.O.'s and make payable to: LaKiesha Golden, P.O. Box 22066, Oakland, CA 94623
Pre-registration does not apply to Drum Workshops!
General Cost:
Each Dance Workshop-$15, Each Drum Workshop-$20, Lectures-FREE, Youth Workshop-FREE
VENDOR INFO:
All interested vendors must pre-register!
Fees: Thursday or Friday - $30/day, Saturday or Sunday - $50/day, Saturday w/ performance - $75
Vendor Conact: Corinthia Peoples, (510)-757-4110 or corinthiapeoples@gmail.com
HOTEL INFO: (not affiliated with the Festival)
*Close to Venue*
Oakland Marriott City Center
· 1001 Broadway
· Oakland, California 94607 USA
· Phone: 510-451-4000
Courtyard by Marriot Downtown Oakland
· 988 Broadway
· Oakland, California 94607 USA
· Phone: 510-625-8282
*Close to Oakland Airport*
Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites, Oakland
66 Airport Access Road, Oakland 94603
Toll-free: (800) 651-1883, Phone: (510) 569-4400
*Cost efficient* & near Oakland Airport*
Days Inn San Francisco-Oakland Airport/Coliseum
8350 Edes Avenue
Oakland, CA, 94621
Phone: 510-568-1880
Fax: 510-569-4652
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Dance Studio, D-100
900 Fallon Street, Oakland 94607
1 blk from Lake Merritt BART Station
(bet. E. 7th & E. 10th Streets)
(map-http://laney.peralta.edu/apps/page.asp?Q=CollegeMap&menutab=1)
Sunday, June 8, 2008 @ Malonga Center
1428 Alice Street, 3rd floor, Oakland 94612
Francois (Makaya) KAYOS**
ARMEL Mampouya
**International Guest via Congo-Brazza
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Please pass the word to those who may be interested…….
Come join us for Congolese at the Le Hot Sauce Part Deux Event!!!!!
http://www.redwoodcityswing.com - click for directions, details, etc.
Location for Congolese Workshop:
Imperial Ballroom
822 Cassia Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 366-0504
5:30pm - 6:45pm, $20
general contact info:
www.youmustdance.blogspot.com
golden2006@sbcglobal.net
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
ALAMEDA - POSTPONED until Spring Schedule is determined, time/day will change*****
RHYTHMIX CULTURAL WORKS (RCW)
2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda, 94501
(next door to Nob Hill Grocery Store)
Begins SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2007!!!!!!
MONDAYS, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
6-week session - $78
12-week session - $144
**Please Note: (If you choose the 12-wk option, there is a 1-wk break between the two 6-wk sessions-no class Oct. 29)**
click here to register: http://www.rhythmix.org/congo.html
___________________________________________________________
SAN FRANCISCO has been EXTENDED, Now Ongoing! Thank You 4 the Support!!!!!
DANCE MISSION
3316 24th Street, San Francisco 94110
(across the street from 24th/Mission Bart)
Classes:
WEDNESDAYS, 8:00pm-9:30pm
$12 per class
drop-ins
___________________________________________________________
BERKELEY - POSTPONED until Further Notice
**Childrens' class may be added, if you are interested, please use the contact info listed**
BLACK REPERTORY THEATER - the Purple Bldg.
3201 Adeline Street, Berkeley 94703
(1 blk from Ashby BART)
SATURDAYS (9/22-TBA)
11:00am-12:15pm
$11/drop-in
no discounts
Note: schedule subject to change
___________________________________________________________
SAN RAFAEL - WORKSHOP
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2008, $20
Osher Marin JCC
200 N. San Pedro Road
San Rafael, CA 94903
REGISTER @ 415-444-8000
15 people minimum to avoid cancellation****
*Located half a mile east of Highway 101
Directions
http://www.marinjcc.org/about_us_location.html#location
Saturday, June 30, 2007
CONGOLESE DANCE CLASSES
(Teens/Adults)
Summer Session: July 7 - August 18, 2007
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.
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
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
See ya at the conference!!!!!!!!
LOCATION~ Thursday, May 31 - Saturday, June 2, 2007:
Laney College Dance Department
900 Fallon Street, Rm., D-100, Oakland, CA 94607
1 blk from Lake Merritt Bart Station (bet. E. 7th and E. 1oth streets)
(campus map - http://laney.peralta.edu/apps/page.asp?Q=CollegeMap&menutab=1)
LOCATION~Sunday, June 3, 2007:
Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts (MCCFTA)
1428 Alice Street, 2nd & 3rd floors, Oakland, CA 94612
4 blks from 12th St/City Center Bart Station (bet. 14th and 17th streets)
Cost: Dance Workshops~$15 ea., Drum Workshop~$20, Youth Dance/Drum Workshop~$8 (ages 4-18, ages 3 and under are Free), Lecture/Discussion~FREE
***Youth may also take Adult classes for $8)***
LOCATION: Thursday, May 31 - Saturday June 2 @ Laney College Dance Studio, D-100
Thursday, May 31
5:00pm - 6:00pm ~ Mini Lecture - Titos
6:15pm - 7:45pm ~ Dance - Titos
7:45pm - 9:00pm ~ Dance - Alain
Friday, June 1
5:15pm - 6:30pm ~ Dance - Wanuke
6:30pm - 7:45pm ~ Dance - Biza
7:45pm - 9:00pm ~ Dance - Mouyabi
Saturday, June 2
9:00am - 10:30am ~ DRUM - Titos
10:30am - 12:00pm ~ Beg. Dance - LaKiesha
12:00pm - 1:30pm ~ Dance - Alain
1:30pm - 2:30pm - YOUTH CLASS - Titos
2:30pm - 4:00pm ~ Dance - Mbayero
4:00pm - 5:30pm ~ Dance - Mouyabi
5:30pm - 7:00pm ~ Dance - Biza
LOCATION: Sunday, June 3 @ Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 2nd & 3rd floor
Sunday, June 3
9:00am - 10:30am - Lecture/Discussion - Titos
10:30am - 12:00pm ~ Dance - LaKiesha & Biza
12:00pm - 1:30pm ~ Dance - Mbayero
1:30pm - 3:00pm ~ Dance - Wanuke
3:00pm - 4:30pm ~ Dance - Titos & Mouyabi
4:30pm - 6:00pm ~ Dance - All Instructors
Saturday, December 30, 2006
The Congolese class at the Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley will resume for its Spring session on January 20, 2007 and end on Saturday, May 19, 2007. The day and time is still the same, Black Rep, 3201 Adeline St., Berkeley, 94703, Saturdays, 11:00am-12:15pm, $11 per class. Drop-ins are fine. F.Y.I. CLASS WILL NOT BE HELD ON February 17th or on March 10th. If there are any other dates to be canceled, I will attempt to let everyone know in advance. Please read other posts for details about this class or email me to be added to my list at mailto:lakieshag@excite.com. Thank you for supporting this class in advance. Have a wonderful holiday season and a very Happy New Year throughout the entire year!!!
Monday, October 02, 2006
For those that are new or not knowledgeable of Congolese, here's a little bit of information. Congolese dance is a type of African dance originating in the Congo, a country in Central Africa. There are two countries that are referred to by this name and region. They are the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in which Kinshasa is its capitol, and the Republic of the Congo (RC), in which Brazzaville is its capitol. The DRC is often still referred to as Zaire or just by Kinshasa and the RC is commonly referred to as Congo-Brazza. Both of these countries hold the same people whom are also called Congolese as is the culture, yet there are also differences. The two countries are separated by the Congo River. The contemporary music from the Congo, called Soukous comes from the DRC, but is currently played and danced throughout Africa, Europe, and the U.S. The official language of these countries is French, however, many Congolese combine their native languages with French or simply speak their native languages.
LaKiesha Golden is a performing artist of more than ten years with a specialization in Congolese African Dance, Central African. Currently, Ms. Golden is an Artist in Residence, teaching dance in Oakland Unified School District high schools via Dimensions Dance Theater. At the end of each school year, she co-produces a community concert that is performed by the high school students. LaKiesha has most recently been one of the core members of "Fua Dia Congo" Dance Company, which means "heritage of the Congo", directed by the late Malonga Casquelourd in Oakland, CA. Among many performances in the local area, she has performed for events such as Carijama, Art and Soul Festival, Les Collages des Africans, and the Black Choreographers Festival. Also, LaKiesha was featured in a contemporary Congolese (Soukous) music video that was released in the summer 2005 entitled "Knockout" by Shimita El Diego, she was the choreographer for the production as well.
Previous to residing in Oakland, CA, LaKiesha's dancing career was dedicated to Bichini Bia Congo Dance Theatre, which means "dancers of the Congo", directed by Biza Sompa in Ann Arbor, MI. She was the Director's Assistant and lead member for four of the six years she studied with the company. LaKiesha was the Assistant Choreographer for "Liyanja", a theatrical work produced by Bichini Bia Congo at the University of Michigan's True Blood Theatre in 1999. In the same year, she also choreographed a dance segment in the play, "A Woman Called Truth" at Eastern Michigan University. Among many performances in the Michigan area, Ms. Golden has performed at The Ark (Ann Arbor), Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity's Miss Black and Gold Pageant (Ypsilanti), the annual Afro-World Festival (Detroit), Medical College of Ohio (Toledo), and Lisanga Ya Bato Dance Camp in New York.
Astonishingly, LaKiesha had the opportunity of studying Congolese dance and culture in Congo-Brazza (RC), Central Africa in 2005 and in Paris, France in 2002 and 2003. Due to living in the Midwest, Ms. Golden also learned an urban style of Ballroom Dance that she gained a great passion for. Among training through Congolese and other African dance classes, LaKiesha has had experience with other forms of dance such as Afro-Haitian, Salsa, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Ballet, Modern, Dancehall, and a mid-western form of Ballroom dance.