What a community that has grown through Guinean dancing and drumming at the Dance Hall since April of 2011. We’ve loved the opportunity to share some of Guinea’s rich culture in hundreds of weekly classes at the Dance Hall, dozens of guest workshops, and many performances at schools, libraries, festivals, and other community events. And we love that it’s all continuing!

You can join us Thursdays at the Dance Hall in Kittery, ME. Drum classes with Namory are 5:30 – 6:30 pm. In each class, Namory will teach several parts – accompaniments and solos – of a Malinke rhythm from the Hamana region of Guinea. Be sure to bring your own djembe to class or let us know ahead of time if you’ll need to borrow one. Class is $20.00. Dance class taught by Liz follows from 6:45 – 7:45 pm. Dance class begins with a warm-up, a combination of stretching and aerobic movement. This is followed by a high-energy class where you will learn a traditional dance from Guinea, including some of the context around it. Some weeks we will dundun dance, a combination of drumming and dancing together. Dance class is by donation. Each week, half the dance class donations (after rent) are contributed to a local regional, or national BIPOC organization. Over the past three years we’ve made contributions to Black Lives Matter Seacoast, Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, Wabanaki Public Health, Tree Street Youth, Soul Fire Farm, Somali Bantu Community Association, Equal Justice Initiative, International Institute of New England, Wabanaki REACH, among many others.

Namory will be traveling in Guinea for the months of January and February, but we’ll continue on with Thursday classes as the weather allows! To confirm that classes are happening, you can follow us on Facebook or send us an email seacoastdanceanddrum -at- Gmail.com

As we hope many of you have seen, Namory Keita has now had three online drum classes through FB Live (on our Seacoast West African Dance and Drum FB Group and this week he added in Instagram Live through his own account, too! He’ll be on every Thursday from 6-7 PM EDT until further notice. We know it’s a far cry from being together, but it’s what we can do right now! (Classes are at an intermediate-advanced level – follow along where you can, and don’t worry about what you miss.)

Namory is offering these Thursday night classes by donation. You’re welcome to contribute to him on a sliding scale – whatever you’re able – from $0 to $20. PayPal direct to Namory or CashApp or Venmo to Liz. To get our user names, you send an email to Liz seacoastdanceanddrum@gmail.com

Namory is also available to repair drums or tighten up the ropes for folks who are local. Reach out to Namory or Liz if you’re interested!

If you have a good internet connection, there are many ways to stay connected to lots of drum and dance right now. Here are a few things. Feel free to share more ideas with us!

Drum and dance classes

Dance with Marita Kennedy-Castro of Portland, ME Embody the Rhythm Tuesday evenings and Friday mornings via Zoom

Running list of African drum and dance classes from many different timezones and on many different platforms

List of many styles of dance offered online around the US: Dancing Alone Together

Our friend Sayon Camara is going to begin online classes soon. And you can find Theo Martey on his Facebook sharing some drumming as well.

Performances

There are numerous performances being offered online right now, too. Here are some that may be of particular interest.

Alvin Ailey is sharing various pieces of their repertory free online through their Ailey YouTube Channel

The Joyce Theatre is streaming Ronald K Brown Evidence Dance “Grace” through Monday April 6. Check out Evidence Dance Instagram for more.

TedTalk with Camille A Brown on the history of social dance.

These lists aren’t exhaustive – so be sure to reach out if you’ve found some other drum or dance online to sustain you at this time.

Our in-person weekly Guinean style West African drum and dance classes are cancelled for the next several weeks as communities across the globe continue to figure out how to best respond to the Coronavirus.

Our home venue, The Dance Hall, Kittery, Maine is closed until at least April 15 as well. Please consider making a contribution to the Dance Hall to offset this significant loss of income for them. Besides being where we’ve spent every Thursday night for the past nine years, they have hosted incredible, intimate performances of so many genres that have added greatly to our community.

We’re trying to figure out how to get Namory Keita to be able to teach remotely while we all practice some social distancing. If we get that set-up – through Skype or FaceTime or some other video tool, would you be interested in some drum lessons?

Namory is just back in Maine from his winter visit to Guinea! Join him this Thursday, February 20 in Kittery. (or any Thursday for that matter)

Drum class with Namory
5:30 – 6:30 pm
$15.00

Class with Namory includes both djembe and dundun parts (both accompaniments and solos). Namory’s infectious joy as a drummer and a teacher will inspire you whether it’s your first time playing or you’ve been studying for years.

Dance class with Liz
6:45 – 8:15 pm
$15.00 drop-ins or $96.00 for eight pre-paid classes

Class begins with a warm-up, a combination of stretching and aerobic movement. This is followed by a high-energy class where you will learn a traditional dance from Guinea, including some of the customs around it. You’re welcome to adapt moves to fit your body during warm-up and class.

For more information: seacoastdanceanddrum@gmail.com
Pay by cash, check, Venmo, or PayPal

~Wear comfortable clothing. Dance is traditionally done in bare feet, though you’re welcome to wear soft-soled dance shoes.~

All levels welcome to both drum and dance classes!!

Be sure to bring water to drink.

Due to the mixed precipitation in the area, we’re cancelling drum and dance classes this evening. We hope to see you next week, February 13!