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Arts & Culture>Steamboat African Dance & Drum Ensemble
Steamboat African Dance & Drum Ensemble
Started by Robin Getter more than 25 years ago, the Steamboat African Dance & Drum Ensemble continues to grow as an all-volunteer artist group that studies traditional African dance and music under renowned teachers from Guinea, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal, Congo and Zimbabwe. At least seven African masters traveled to Steamboat during the past year to teach wildly popular community workshops. The Steamboat African Dance & Drum Ensemble is an affiliate and strong supporter of the Steamboat Dance Theatre in its efforts to bring dance education, performance and participation to the Steamboat Springs community. In 2007, with the generous assistance of a Steamboat Dance Theatre scholarship, 21 local dancers and drummers attended Bantu Camp, a week-long African dance and drum workshop in Santa Fe, N.M. Most of that group, and several new recruits, will attend the camp again in May 2008. The dancers and drummers bring African connections back to Steamboat this summer with new choreography, community performances like Art in the Park, more local workshops with their African mentors and ongoing dance classes offered through Colorado Mountain College. Here are some links to recent local news stories about the Steamboat Springs African Dance & Drum Ensemble and our workshops: Pah-tah-goon-doh-gob-goon, Jan. 26, 2007, in the Steamboat Today Drums, dance and diversity, Oct. 12, 2007, in the Steamboat TodayWe'll have several exciting workshops planned in the coming months! Check out the regular spring and summer class schedules below, and stay posted for upcoming workshops with master drummers and dancers from throughout West Africa! Come dance with us! |
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| Weekly African Dance & Drum Classes, Summer 2008 |
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SUMMER 2008 (June 3 - Aug. 21)
Beginner/Intermediate classes
6-7:30 p.m., Tuesdays
Intermediate/Advanced classes
6-7:30 p.m., Thursdays
Where
The Depot Art Center, downtown Steamboat Springs
Cost
$80 per class for the entire summer, which can only be used for one night--Tuesday OR Thursday ($7.25 per class)
OR
$90 for a ten punch pass that can be used on either night
OR
$10 drop-in
Info
Call Jen Lowe at (970)846-6377.
Mixed level dance class in Oak Creek
Mondays, 6-7:45 p.m.
Let's Dance Studio, on main street Oak Creek
Contact Nicole Idzahl for info: (970)846-8293
Mixed level drum class
Sundays, 5-6:30 p.m. (starting May 18)
Colorado Mountain College Alpine Campus
Call Colorado Mountain College to register (non credit class registration): (970) 870-4444
Fall dance classes will be through Colorado Mountain College
starting Aug. 26. Watch for registration! Or call Colorado Mountain College for more information (970) 870-4444
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| RECENT GUEST ARTIST: Senegalese Sabar Dance & Drum Workshop with Ibou Ngom |
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![Ibou Ngom [Click here to view full size picture]](media/arts/tn_ibou.jpg)
About Ibou
Ibrahima (Ibou) NGom is a native of Senegal, West Africa and has been a resident of Santa Cruz for the past six years. Born into a Griot family of traditional musicians he has been carrying on his family musical lineage since childhood. Ibou facilitates community drumming and dancing with adults and students of all ages. Ibou has toured and performed internationally with two prominent Senegalese Ballet Companies as Master Drummer with the 2nd National Ballet du Senegal, and Ballet Sinemew.
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| RECENT GUEST ARTIST: Guinea Dance & Drum Workshop with Abdoulaye Camara |
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![Abdoulaye Camara [Click here to view full size picture]](media/arts/tn_abdoulaye.jpg)
About Abdoulaye
Born in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, Abdoulaye met the tradition in daily life in his grandmothers village. He was taught how to dance by his mother, grandmother, brothers and cousins, who where professional dancers.
At seven years old Abdoulaye started at his country's comprehensive school, where dance was a subject of its own, introduced at that time by the regime to maintain people's knowledge of tradition in Guinea. At 13 years old, he was selected for the local ballet. He danced with many different ballets until the age of 18, when he left Guinea.
Abdoulaye danced in Ballet Foret Sacreé from Senegal,then travelled to Gambia where he first danced in ballet Senegambia and African Ballet, who made tours in Europe and other parts of the world. He established his own ballet company, Allatantou Ballet in Gambia, with about thirty members, whom he guided and instructed in his own choreography. He now lives in Sweden and teaches dance and drum workshops throughout Europe, the U.S. and Guinea.
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| RECENT GUEST ARTIST: Ivory Coast Drum with Dr. Djo Bi and Mali Dance with Djeneba Sako |
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Master drummer Dr. Djo Bi from Ivory Coast returned to Steamboat for a series of drum workshops, along with master dance teacher and choreographer Djeneba Sako, from Mali.
"Doctor" Djo Bi Irie Simon is one of the most respected master drummers currently living in the United States. Musicologist, historian, composer and dancer, Djo Bi has been teaching drumming workshops and performing around the world for more than 15 years. Students rave about his excellent teaching style and how much FUN they have in his classes.
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| RECENT PERFORMANCE: Art in the Park |
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![African Ensemble at Art in the Park, 2007 [Click here to view full size picture]](media/arts/tn_art_in_the_park_2007.jpg)
At Steamboat's annual Art in the Park celebration, the Steamboat African Dance and Drum Ensemble performed some of the fabulous new dances we recently learned from our esteemed African teachers. The free performance was on the grass in front of the stage at Elk Park, on the west end of downtown Steamboat Springs.
We thank our many, many fabulous fans for their ongoing support of our troupe and African dance and drum in Steamboat Springs!
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| RECENT GUEST ARTIST: Zimbabwe dance with Rujeko Dumbutshena |
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![Rujeko Dumbutshena [Click here to view full size picture]](media/arts/tn_rujeko_promo_jpeg.jpg)
Rujeko belongs to the Shona tribe of Zimbabwe. While exposure to the traditional life of Zimbabwe keeps her rooted in centuries of African cultural heritage, her participation in western forms of education provides her with a comprehensive modern and global perspective. Her unique background and knowledge of both Western and African music, dance and culture provide the perfect platform for Rujeko to act as a bridge between the two cultures.
Leaving Zimbabwe in 1992, Rujeko began the journey of sharing her culture with the world. She has been teaching and performing at prestigious institutions throughout the US, Canada and Australia since 1994. Through performances at venues such as the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the Lincoln Center in New York, and the Sydney Opera House, Rujeko has gained a wide array of performance experience. She has also received outstanding response from both students and colleagues for her teaching at universities throughout the US. She is currently on faculty at Sarah Lawrence College.
In addition to teaching and performing Rujeko is both artistic director and co-founder to the Panjea Foundation a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing African and Western traditions together through cultural exchange tours, music and dance conferences and workshops. The Panjea Foundation has been in existence since 1998.
Rujeko’s life experience and skills allow her to act as a crucial meeting point of cultures. She is dedicated to sustaining communities through teaching the healing and soul-lifting cultural practices of her people and to making significant contributions to the study and performance of African dance on a global level.
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| RECENT GUEST ARTIST: Ivory Coast dance with Djan Tie |
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![Djan Tie [Click here to view full size picture]](media/arts/tn_dtpic2.jpg)
Djian Tie is renown for his precision, speed, grace, fluidity, inventiveness, mastery of various genres, memorable costuming and power. For more than 20 years, Djian Tie has electrified audiences all over the globe with the revered traditional dance and music of his Gourou People of the Ivory Coast. Well-versed in the traditional dances of the entire West Coast of Africa, plus modern, jazz, soca, contemporary, aerobics and hip-hop, he may surprise you with a little flamenco or even break dancing.
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| RECENT GUEST ARTIST: Congolese dance & drum with Titos Sompa |
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Congolese dance and drum workshop with Titos Sompa
About Titos Sompa
Originating from the Congo, Brazzaville, Titos Sompa is a charismatic and extraordinarily gifted performing artist, teacher and healer. Since arriving in America from Paris where he taught music and dance and toured Europe with his band, Les Echos Noir, he has inspired artists, students and audiences with his African cultural orientation that holistically integrates music, dance, singing, folklore and spirituality. Titos was the first to introduce the earthy and fluid Congolese style of simultaneous dancing and singing to American audiences.
A renown dancer, choreographer and musician, noted especially as a master Congolese drummer, percussionist, and kalimba player, Titos utilizes his multiple talents to make known and keep alive Congolese musical and cultural traditions that offer healing, spiritual grounding, and affirming community to the Western world. Titos founded the first Congolese dance company (Tanawa Dance Company) in America, joined the New York dance and theater scene, and performed with James Earl Jones and Ann Miller, along with such jazz greats as Elvin Jones, Eddie Jefferson, Sun Ra, Ron Carter, Leon Thomas, Pharoah Sanders, Dave Murray, and Arthur Blythe among others.
Seeing African culture as a sustaining force, Titos has taken on the responsibility of preserving and passing on Congolese culture. His task involves dispelling all the ignorance, mythology and distortions about Africa, while he makes known the wisdoms, variety, beauty, inspiration and power of African cultures. Through spirituality, he enables people to tap into the power within and the guidance of our ancestors. He devotes special attention to young people with programs for schools that teach self esteem, promote values and behaviors that build community awareness, and help them imagine a future. Titos is a powerful messenger with powerful gifts which he shares with a world much in need.
Titos says: "It is important that we pay attention to the young kids in our community. We need to let them know who they are and where they come from. If they can grab onto it, then they can be the teachers for future generations... We must listen to what our children say to have better communication with them. If we respect one another, then we are able to learn from one another. That is what African teaching is all about."
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This page last updated on 5/15/2008.
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![Abdoulaye Camara [Click here to view full size picture]](javascript:showPic(new picObj('media/arts/abdoulaye.jpg', 'Abdoulaye Camara',381,600));)
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![African Ensemble at Art in the Park, 2007 [Click here to view full size picture]](javascript:showPic(new picObj('media/arts/art_in_the_park_2007.jpg', 'African Ensemble at Art in the Park, 2007',360,164));)
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