West African Guinean Dance [Beg Level]

Schedule

Sun Jun 04 2023 at 12:00 pm to 01:30 pm

Location

Cumbe: Center for African and Diaspora Dance | Brooklyn, NY

Advertisement
Learn the basics of West African dance in these introductory classes designed to make the shyest new dancers feel welcome, and have fun.
About this Event

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. 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.

Dr. Darian Marcel Parker is a choreographer, author, and entrepreneur who has presented work at venues such as Riverside Theater, Harlem Stage, Triskelion Arts, and York College. He produced and was one of the choreographers of “The Power of the Unknown—An Evening of Choreography,” which debuted in January of 2016. He has been awarded the Jerome Foundation Travel Grant to study music and dance in Mali, the Harlem Stage Fund for New Work, and the New Haven Arts Council Mayor’s Grant. His show credits include the Hollywood film “Step-Up 3D,” the G’Bassikolo Mexican National Tour, the Fats Waller National Tour, Dance African Chicago, and Dance Africa New York. Dr. Parker has also worked with various dance companies, including Les Ballet de Kouman Kele (Nzingha Camara), Sewee African Dance Company (Mouminatou Camara), Harambee Dance Company (Sandella Malloy), Kouffin Keneke African Dance Company (Aly Tatchol Camara), and Organic Magnetics (Maija Garcia). He has served on the faculties of Forces of Nature Dance Theatre’s Youth Arts Academy, Harlem School of the Arts, Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy, and Inner Visions Dance Studio as a Malian and Guinean dance instructor.

(Sub) Tamara Jones is a dancer and choreographer in New York. She has been a member of several different dance companies including Harambee Dance Company and Umoja Dance Company. Throughout her dance career, Tamara has had the opportunity to perform on many stages and venues, including Symphony Space, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), for Essence Magazine Events, Summer Stage, the International African Arts Street Festival, New Jersey Performing Arts Center NJPAC and Broadway Dance Center’s Tribute to Savion Glover 2005. She also choreographed Jona Briddle for “The Jonah Show,” a tribute to Hip Hop pioneer and for Brickhouse Studios founder Kelly Peters at Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre. Yearly, as a part of Nabisco’s Black History Program, Tamara teaches an Afrobeats and African dance class to employees to help celebrate African culture.

Aside from dance, Tamara Jones has also explored a career in acting as she was a dancer in the 2016 Indi Film “The Magnificent Cooley T,” starring Jackie Long and Tiearra Marie and produced by Steven Leeds. She was also in “A Meyers Christmas,” a movie produced by Will Packer and directed by David E. Talbert (2017).. Ms. Jones shares her passion for dance through teaching. She currently teaches West African, Tap and Hip Hop to ages 6 and older. She teaches Sub African dance at Broadway Dance Center, Afrobeats at Ripley Grier Studios and at Grammy Award Winning singing artist Chrisette Michelle’s new dance studio, RH Studios. She also shares are passion for dance through her instruction at a free class at Union Square’s Reebok store, sponsored by Reebok.


(Sub) Dashawn Boykin is a choreographer/dancer in NEW YORK, He had a passion for dance at a very young age. He has been a member of several companies such as: Motherland Rhythms, Chilu Awali Arts & Culture Harambee Dance Company and Bokandeye Dance Ensemble. Dashawn further his career with also being on stage and venues, including Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Madison Square Garden ( MSG ), New Jersey Performing Arts Center ( NJPAC ) , Palace Theatre and much more. Dashawn also trains in different dance styles; Traditional West African, Afrobeats , House and HipHop. He found his love in Traditional West African Dance and Afrobeat Dance Mix With Drill Music to express the extra twist on his vision of choreography to appeal to the audience through the love and passion of his work.


Advertisement

Where is it happening?

Cumbe: Center for African and Diaspora Dance, 1368 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

USD 5.00 to USD 30.00

Cumbe: Center for African and Diaspora Dance

Host or Publisher Cumbe: Center for African and Diaspora Dance

It's more fun with friends. Share with friends