With Live Drumming

Learn the basics of West African dance in these introductory classes designed to make the shyest new dancers feel welcome, have fun, and build the confidence to get on the dance floor. If you’ve always wanted to start dancing but felt intimidated, our Absolute Beginner classes are for you! Or if you want to get back to basics and learn the footwork from the ground up, these are also for you. The amazing Darian Parker will return to Cumbe to breakdown and share the soulful and intricate dances of Mali, West Africa. Class begins with a warm-up that is designed to improve flexibility, strengthen the core, improve stamina, and get acquainted with West African music. The second part of the class starts with a brief history and context of the dances (that will inform your execution of the movements) and continues with an extensive breakdown of technique. Then, you’ll practice what you’ve learned as you move across the floor.

In this Dance for Us! series, students will take a 6-week dive into West African dance (Tuesdays 6-7:30pm) which will culminate in a performance for students to share what they learned. The workshop classes will be donation-based ($5 – $30) and we will offer free childcare so that as many people as possible, regardless of income, can participate.

*Dance for Us! is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.