Summer Classes and Performances

Last week Namory, Liz, and several drummers and dancers from Thursday night classes spent an hour at Rice Public Library in Kittery. Namory led a few songs and rhythms and several people who were there to watch joined in with the drumming and dancing. Folks from Seacoastonline captured some of the evening with photos and a story.

Thursday, August 16: there are no classes but we’ll be back at the Dance Hall on August 23 starting with drum class at 5:30 pm.

Seny Daffe will be back in the area in early September collaborating on classes and a performance with Namory.

Thursday, September 6: Seny will teach a dundun dance class at the Dance Hall in Kittery
Drum class with Namory 5:30 to 6:30 $15.00
Dundun dance class with Seny 6:45 to 8:15 $18.00 for drop ins or $15.00 for students with punch cards
Reserve your drums now!

Saturday, September 8: Seny, Namory, Marita Kennedy-Castro and folks from Portland’s New Moon Ensemble perform at Henryfest in North Yarmouth, ME.

Sunday, September 9: Drum and dance classes with Seny and Namory at Maine Ballroom Dance, Portland
Drum class with Namory 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Dance class with Seny 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
$16 each class or $30 for both
Contact Marita to sign up, and please be sure to specify if you’ll take drum, dance, or both classes: https://embodytherhythm.com/contact/

We’re trying to organize a class for Seny and Namory in Cambridge – stay tuned!

August 13, 2018 0

June 2018 Classes and Performances

Namory will be teaching and performing in Brattleboro, VT, and Kittery and Yarmouth, ME along with Seny Daffe, Abou Sylla, and Theo Martey.

Wednesday, June 13, Brattleboro, VT – classes

Drum with Namory 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Dance with Seny 7:00 – 8:30 pm
African Dance Vermont, 118 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT
All levels welcome at both classes

Thursday, June 14, Kittery, ME – classes

Drum with Namory 5:30 to 6:30 ($15.00)
Dundun dance with Seny Daffe 6:45 – 8:15 ($15.00 for people with punch cards & $18.00 for drop-ins)
And special guest Abou Sylla will accompany on balaphone
let us know if you need to borrow a drum for either class
The Dance Hall, 7 Walker Street, Kittery, ME

Friday, June 15, Yarmouth, ME – performance

Music on Main with Namory Keita, Abou Sylla, Seny Daffe, and Theo Martey
First Universalist Church, 97 Main Street, Yarmouth, ME
Tickets $15.00 at the door

Saturday, June 16, Kittery Block Party – performance

Drummers and dancers from weekly Dance Hall classes will perform at the Block Party

Performance led by Namory Keita and joined by Seny Daffe and Abou Sylla
11:00 – 11:30 am AND 2:15 – 2:45
FREE

June 10, 2018 0

Seny Daffe Returns to Kittery

Seny Daffe will return to teach a dundun dance class Thursday, May 10 at the Dance Hall.

Namory Keita

Be sure to let us know if you need to borrow a drum for either class. Join us at the Dance Hall for another wonderful evening with Seny and Namory!

Save the date:
Thursday, May 24 Afro-Brazilian Fusion ABIEIÉ Dance Class with Irineu Nogueira

May 4, 2018 0

Special Drum and Dance Classes Spring 2018

Bolokada Conde, djembefola from Guinea, will guest teach drum class Thursday, March 29 at the The Dance Hall.

Seny Daffe will return to teach a dundun dance class Thursday, April 5 at the Dance Hall.

Namory Keita

Save the date:
Thursday, May 24 Afro-Brazilian Fusion ABIEIÉ Dance Class with Irineu Nogueira

March 25, 2018 0

Dundun Dance Class with Seny Daffe

Seny Daffe, drummer and dancer from Burlington, VT, is teaching a special class, Thursday, November 30 at The Dance Hall.

Namory Keita is accompanying the dundun dance class and teaching a traditional drum class beforehand.

Drum class with Namory
5:30 to 6:30 pm

Dundun dance class with Seny
6:45 to 8:15 pm

$15.00 for each class.
You can pay with cash or check. (Correct change is appreciated.)

Please email seacoastdanceanddrum@gmail.com if you need a drum for either class.

November 28, 2017 0

Youssouf Koumbassa returns to New England

World renowned dancer and teacher, Youssouf Koumbassa, is coming back to New England! He will teach a special class on our ongoing Thursday night slot, October 26, along with Namory Keita.

Drum class with Namory Keita
5:30 to 6:30

Dance class with Youssouf Koumbassa
6:45 to 8:15

Pay ahead through Brown Paper Tickets and save!

$15.00 ahead per class or $18.00 each at the door

Youssouf is one of the world’s most sought after teachers of West African dance. He was a principal dancer with Ballet Djoliba, one of Guinea’s national companies, before relocating to the US more than 25 years. He leads workshops and conferences all over the world from Japan to Israel to California – and Maine.

Namory has traveled to many places to share his culture including Germany, Poland, France, Canada, and Portugal. Since moving to New England in 2010, he has continued touring to teach and perform at conferences around the world. Currently Namory performs and teaches weekly drumming classes throughout New England. He is a patient teacher for all skill levels and brings a thorough understanding of the whole drum ensemble and West African musical experience to his students.

Youssouf and Namory will be teaching in Portland on Tuesday, October 24th and in Camden on Friday, October 27th and then in Northampton, MA on Sunday, October 29.

October 8, 2017 0

Drum and Dance in August

Namory Keita is traveling and will be teaching in California for a few weeks. Drum and Dance classes are still on at the Dance Hall.

Thursday, August 17
Drum class with Ult Mundane
5:30 to 6:30

Dance class with Meaghan Dunn
6:45 to 8:15

Thursday, August 24
Drum class with Ult Mundane
5:30 to 6:30

Dance class with Liz Fowler
6:45 to 8:15

Thursday, August 31
Drum class with John Felice
5:30 to 6:30

Dance class with Liz Fowler
6:45 to 8:15

Namory will be back Thursday, September 7

Join in class any week! Drop-ins are always welcome!

August 17, 2017 0

No class on July 13

There won’t be drum or dance classes in Kittery on July 13. Namory Keita will be performing in Portland with the New Moon Ensemble. Tickets are available for the performance at Mayo Street Arts through Brown Paper Tickets

A Celebration of Allen Williams’ Life will be held at the Dance Hall on Saturday, July 29 from 1pm to 6pm.

Allen was a drummer with our drum and dance classes and performances for several years and shared his passion and talents in many groups throughout the Seacoast and more. He died earlier this summer from complications due to a double lung transplant.

The schedule for the day is:
1pm Drum Jam
2pm Opening Ceremony; open mic: sharing memories of Allen.
4:30pm Musical Performances
5:30pm Closing Ceremony
5:45 Drum jam
6:30 Clean up

Please bring:
– Snack food and (non-alcoholic) drinks to share.
– Object for Allen’s Memento Altar (you will leave with your object)

Please join us if you’re able.

July 12, 2017 0

Spring 2017

It’s technically still winter, but spring really is around the corner. We hope to drum and dance with you soon!

There are no classes on Thursday, March 9, because Namory and Liz are spending the week with third graders from Kittery’s Mitchell School. We’ll be back at the Dance Hall Thursday, March 16!

Speaking of the Dance Hall… it was one of the chosen organizations for March sales at The Fabulous Find! Each month, the Fabulous Find donates to local non-profits – they’ve just now surpassed $1 million! Please donate your gently used items and shop to the Fabulous Find this month and support the Dance Hall and Seacoast Mental Health!

Get your tickets now for One Billion Rising at the Music Hall on Sunday, April 2! We will be performing along with more than 75 dancers and musicians from the seacoast. The evening will benefit Haven NH as they work “To prevent sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking and to support and empower women, men, youth and families to heal from abuse and rebuild their lives.” Here’s a little taste of what we’ll be performing that evening.

March 6, 2017 0