Seny Daffe Returns to Maine

Two men smiling

Seny Daffe is coming back to Kittery (and beyond) for a mini-tour with Namory Keita in the end of May. Here is the schedule for that week.

Monday, May 27
Intermediate/Advanced Drum class with Namory
6:15-7:15 p.m.
$15.00 per class or $13.00 per class for a punch card of 4 or more classes
Root Wild Kombuchery
135 Washington Avenue
Portland, ME

Tuesday, May 28
Special Dance class with Seny 
Hosted by Marita Kennedy-Castro and Embody the Rhythm
6:00-7:30 p.m.
$16.00-$20.00 sliding scale, cash at door
Portland New Church
302 Stevens Avenue
Portland, ME

Wednesday, May 29
Guinean West African Drum and Dundun Dance
Drum with Namory
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Dundun Dance with Seny
7:00-8:30 p.m.
$20.00 for each class
Dancing Street Studios
5 Pleasant Street
Bristol, NH
Let us know in advance if you need to borrow a drum for either class

Thursday, May 30
Guinean West African Drum and Dundun Dance
Drum with Namory
5:30-6:30 p.m.
$15.00 per class or $13.00 per class for a punch card of 4 or more classes
Dundun Dance with Seny
6:45-8:15 p.m.
$18.00 for drop-ins or $15.00 ($3 extra) for folks with punch cards
Sliding scale is always available. Reach out to Liz if you’re interested.
The Dance Hall
7 Walker Street
Kittery, ME

Friday, May 31
Drum and Dance Class with Namory and Seny
Beginner drum with Namory
5:00-6:00 p.m.
Dance with Seny
6:00-7:00 p.m.
Intermediate drum with Namory
7:00-8:00 p.m.
$15.00 for one class; $25.00 for two classes; $40.00 for three classes
High Mountain Hall
5 Mountain Street
Camden, ME

Want to know what classes with Namory and Seny are like? Here’s a video of classes together in Conakry, Guinea in January 2019 and a video of dundun dance with Seny in Kittery, ME in April 2019.

Hope to see you at one or more of these classes the last week of May!

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Drum and Dundun Dance Classes with Namory and Seny

We’re excited to welcome Seny Daffe back to Kittery on April 25 for a special Dundun Dance class! Namory will teach a drum class beforehand and lead the accompaniment for the dance with Seny.

photo of dundun dance class at the Dance Hall in Kittery

Drum class with Namory Keita
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
$15.00 drop-in

Dundun dance class with Seny Daffe
6:45 to 8:15 p.m.
$18.00 drop-in or $15.00 for people with punch cards (just pay $3.00 extra at the door)

Reserve your drum today! Join Namory and Seny for these high-energy and joy-filled classes.

Seny will be teaching a traditional Guinean style dance class on Tuesday, April 23 at Portland New Church from 6:00-7:30 p.m. More details through Embody the Rhythm


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Intermediate or Advanced Drum Workshop with Drummer Namory Keita

Namory Keita is continuing with his weekly teaching schedule in Maine – Mondays in Portland and Thursdays in Kittery. On Saturday, March 30, he is offering the first of the year intermediate/advanced drum workshops.

Explore the intricate layers of West African traditional ensemble playing with this Master Village Drummer. Don’t miss this rare opportunity he is providing for his intermediate and advanced students. You can choose to come for just the first half or the entire workshop.

Saturday, March 30
First Half
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
$30.00 paid ahead or $40.00 at the door
This section will focus on the complexities of the djembé, setting the rhythmic stage for the entire ensemble with dunduns.

Entire Workshop
11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
$60.00 paid ahead or $70.00 at the door
The second half will be dedicated to developing the dundun lines for the rhythms we learned in the first half along with variations.

Please register ahead to ensure your spot.

What to bring

  • lunch and snacks (maybe water and caffeine!)
  • recording device
  • djembé
  • kenkeni, sangban, or dundun – whatever you can fit in your car – and of course sticks

If you need to borrow a djembé or dundun for the class or have any questions, please let us know by emailing mebdancn4ever@gmail.com.

Please note: this workshop is not for beginners. Namory teaches all levels classes Mondays in Portland and Thursdays in Kittery. Please visit the classes page on Namory’s website for information on the ongoing drum and dance classes.

photo of Namory drumming while standing in a group of people outside
Namory at a dundunba in his village of Sangbaralla

Photo of Namory sitting outside smiling
Namory teaching class in Sangbaralla

silhouette photo of Namory with a djembe and ocean in background
Namory teaching class on Roume Island in Guinea

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Namory is back from Guinea

Namory just returned from Guinea last week and will have his first Kittery class, Thursday February 21 at the Dance Hall.

Though we’re so glad that Namory is able to visit his home country each year, having him return to our community in Maine is always a blessing!

Wondering what some of the dancing and drumming was like in Guinea? Here is some footage of a dundunba in Namory’s hometown village of Sangbaralla and clips of drumming and dancing in both Conakry and Sangbaralla.

Drum class
5:30-6:30 pm
$15.00 drop-in
~Be sure to let Namory know ahead of time if you’ll need to borrow a drum~

Dance class
6:45-8:15 pm
$15.00 drop-in or $96.00 for 8-pre-paid classes
This week we will do both dance and dundun dance.
~Wear comfortable clothing. Bring water to stay hydrated.~
~Dance is usually done in barefeet but clean soft-soled shoes are fine.~

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Winter 2019 Classes

Thursday night classes at the Dance Hall in Kittery are continuing through early 2019.  Be sure to check here or on our Facebook group page if the weather is questionable to be sure that classes are on.

Namory will be back in Kittery, February 21 and until then we are keeping the beat going!

Drum class with Ult Mundane (through February 14)

  • 5:30 to 6:30
  • $15.00

Dance class with Liz

  • 6:45 to 8:15
  • $15.00 drop-in or $96 for 8 pre-paid classes

I’m recently back from a few weeks in Guinea and excited to share some of the new dances I learned from Seny Daffe and other dancers with you all!

Stay tuned: we’ll be hosting Seny again in March and other guest artists throughout the year.

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Drum and dance classes in November & December

There will be no drum and dance classes on Thursday, November 22. Enjoy the evening with friends or family.

Namory Keita will be back from traveling for two weeks before heading off to Guinea.

Join us for some festive classes November 29 and December 6!  There will be a post-class potluck and party on December 6th as we send Namory off for the winter in Guinea.

What you can bring to class on December 6th:

  • a dish to share – drink (non-alcoholic only), appetizers, meal, or dessert (no need for paper or plastic ware, we’ve got a good stash)
  • contributions for Namory’s school project in Guinea – Hamana Arts Center
  • a little extra money to spend at the “bazaar”, a collection of clothes, jewelry, and more – pay what you wish, with the proceeds going to Namory’s project
  • small amounts of warm-weather kids clothing and/or over-the-counter first aid supplies, which Liz will bring to Guinea in January

 

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Dundun dance with Seny Daffe

Seny Daffe will be back in Kittery at the Dance Hall, Thursday, October 25 for another dundun dance class. Reserve your drum now!

Drum class with Namory Keita
5:30 – 6:30 PM
$15.00

Dundun dance class with Seny Daffe
6:45 – 8:15
$18.00 for drop-ins or $15.00 (just $3 extra) for people with punch cards

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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!

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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

music_on_main

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

 

 

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